This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Hierdie gesprek is in die argief. Vra asseblief 'n nuwe vraag as jy hulp nodig het.

I deleted all files in optus webmail and they all disappeared in thunderbird

  • 1 antwoord
  • 1 het hierdie probleem
  • 2 views
  • Laaste antwoord deur christ1

ThunderbirdSurprise
ThunderbirdSurprise
more options

Hi - I have an email account with Optus. When I open Thunderbird it downloads emails from the Optus Server. I received an email from Optus saying "Mail Quota Warning" so I did as I did before I started using Thunderbird (when I used Outlook) and went into Optus Webmail and deleted all emails in all folders eg. In, Out, Sent, Trash etc. But when I then opened Thunderbird ALL my emails were gone! This did not happen when I was using Outlook. Is the problem with my Thunderbird settings or my Optus Webmail settings (unlikely since I have not changed them). If the problem is with my Thunderbird settings eg. Preferences, then which Preferences? Thanks Geoff Lee. PS. I think Thunderbird is at fault because it uses IMAP by default instead of using POP3 which is supposed to stop the problem of losing all your emails. But how can I change to POP3?

Hi - I have an email account with Optus. When I open Thunderbird it downloads emails from the Optus Server. I received an email from Optus saying "Mail Quota Warning" so I did as I did before I started using Thunderbird (when I used Outlook) and went into Optus Webmail and deleted all emails in all folders eg. In, Out, Sent, Trash etc. But when I then opened Thunderbird ALL my emails were gone! This did not happen when I was using Outlook. Is the problem with my Thunderbird settings or my Optus Webmail settings (unlikely since I have not changed them). If the problem is with my Thunderbird settings eg. Preferences, then which Preferences? Thanks Geoff Lee. PS. I think Thunderbird is at fault because it uses IMAP by default instead of using POP3 which is supposed to stop the problem of losing all your emails. But how can I change to POP3?

Gewysig op deur ThunderbirdSurprise

All Replies (1)

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
more options
But when I then opened Thunderbird ALL my emails were gone! This did not happen when I was using Outlook.

Presumably you didn't use IMAP with Outlook.

Is the problem with my Thunderbird settings or my Optus Webmail settings

This isn't a matter of wrong settings, it's simply the way how IMAP works.

I think Thunderbird is at fault because it uses IMAP by default instead of using POP3 which is supposed to stop the problem of losing all your emails.

My best guess is Thunderbird defaults to IMAP because it's the more modern protocol primarily used by email providers. That default may not be desirable for you, but it certainly is for others. You could have changed the default to POP upon initial account setup, which you evidently did not.

In order to change from IMAP to POP see https://support.mozilla.org/kb/faq-changing-imap-pop