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set default account option is grayed out for my main account

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  • Last reply by Zenos

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My original main email account used to be the top of the drop-down list (thus default) for creating new mail. Since I added a few gmail accounts, one of them appears first under Inbox and is now the top of the drop-down list. I can't figure out how to get my old primary account back as the default. In the account settings, it says that my desired default account is " a special account and has no identities associated with it". In the Tools-Account Settings menu, the "set as default" option is grayed out for this account. What does "special" mean and how can I return this account to being my default "from"?

My original main email account used to be the top of the drop-down list (thus default) for creating new mail. Since I added a few gmail accounts, one of them appears first under Inbox and is now the top of the drop-down list. I can't figure out how to get my old primary account back as the default. In the account settings, it says that my desired default account is " a special account and has no identities associated with it". In the Tools-Account Settings menu, the "set as default" option is grayed out for this account. What does "special" mean and how can I return this account to being my default "from"?

Chosen solution

In which case you are using what is normally called Local Folders which is a special private pseudo-account for offline storage.

Somewhere there will be an actual email account, though if it is using POP and has been set to use the Global Inbox, it may be hard to see.

Set View|Folders|All and see it if can be found. If not, you'll need to go to Tools|Account Settings and look at its properties there.

I guess at some point you have changed "Local Folders" to something else, which is going to make giving you advice difficult, and will make following any advice more difficult for you.

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In which case you are using what is normally called Local Folders which is a special private pseudo-account for offline storage.

Somewhere there will be an actual email account, though if it is using POP and has been set to use the Global Inbox, it may be hard to see.

Set View|Folders|All and see it if can be found. If not, you'll need to go to Tools|Account Settings and look at its properties there.

I guess at some point you have changed "Local Folders" to something else, which is going to make giving you advice difficult, and will make following any advice more difficult for you.

Modified by Zenos