What is WDSEML File & How to Open This File Extension?

Know what is WDSEML file and how to open files with .wdseml extension. Also, find the steps to enable/disable Thunderbird settings that create .wdseml file on your system.

WDSEML stands for Windows Desktop Search Email.

What is WDSEML File?

A WDSEML file is a file associated with Mozilla Thunderbird. Thunderbird is a free, open-source, cross-platform desktop email client and news application. The WDSEML file contains information on emails stored in Thunderbird and helps users to look for specific content in the email messages when executing Windows searches.

More information:

WDSEML files are partial copies of your email messages, not important enough to require your attention. It is known as Thunderbird searchable email files. Its existence simply allows you to search for message content from the Windows search directly. It is not meant to be opened manually by users since it has no need.

Where does Thunderbird store WDSEML file?

Thunderbird creates files with .wdseml extension within .mozmsgs folders at the same place where your mailboxes are stored i.e., in the Profiles folder.

Default Location for IMAP accounts:

C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\cqgji0s7.default-release\ImapMail\

Default Location for POP accounts & Local Folder:

C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\cqgji0s7.default-release\Mail\

If your Thunderbird stores email messages at a custom location, the .wdseml files will be present at that location only. To check the profile location, right-click on your email account >> Settings >> Server Settings >> find the database location in Local Directory.

Correcting A Misinformation!

WDSEML file does not contain actual email messages. It is only a reference file created by Thunderbird to enable Windows search in finding the content of the stored email messages.

How to Open & View WDSEML File Content?

You can use Mozilla Thunderbird application to easily open the WDSEML file. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the WDSEML file.
2. Choose Open With option.
3. Select Mozilla Thunderbird app.
4. If its unavailable, click on More Apps >> look for another app on this pc and select thunderbird.exe from C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\
5. Click OK.

If you are still unable to open it using Thunderbird, then make sure to update the Thunderbird application to the latest version.

1. To do this, press the Alt button to display hidden menu and select Help menu.
2. Then, click on About Thunderbird.
3. It will check for updates. Click on Update button, if available.

How to Disable Settings to Stop Creating WDSEML File?

The WDSEML files are of no significance to users who do not use Windows search function to find email messages content. In that case, it just takes unnecessary space and makes the folders look more complex than it truly is. Its better to simply disable this function.

To disable settings, do the following:

• In Thunderbird, go to Tools menu and select Options (Press Alt key if menu is hidden).

• In the General tab, deselect the Allow Windows Search to search messages checkbox under System Integration.

• Also, click on Check Now… and deselect the same checkbox here. Click Set as Default.

• Restart Thunderbird.
• No further WDSEML files will be generated from now on.

Note: If you want to enable settings to start creating WDSEML file, simply re-check the Allow Windows search to search messages in the aforemetioned steps.

Of course, you will have to delete the already generated files from your system. Which brings us to a new question – What if I delete this file accidentally?

Nothing will happen. As already discussed, WDSEML files do not contain actual data visible in Thunderbird. You can simply go to the Profile location, and delete the entire .mozmsg subfolders containing the .wdseml files. Nothing will happen other than a clean folder space.