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When I save an e-mail as a file, it opens (seems stuck) to the same old one saved earlier. How do I unstick it?

  • 6 cavab
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by jcgaskill

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I use a MAC desktop and Thunderbird with latest update. Recently, when I've tried to open an e-mail that I saved earlier as a file with the .eml suffix, what opens is always the same unrelated e-mail that I saved earlier to an unrelated file. It seems stuck on that same unrelated e-mail, no matter what the file or what e-mail I intended to save. For example, I save (i.e., drop-down menu: Save As - File) an e-mail that I received regarding Topic A; then I go to the folder or file to which I saved it and locate the e-mail under the correct name in which I saved it; I double click and then click on Open; what always opens is an e-mail of a few months ago that I received from Bernie. It doesn't happen on my MAC Air laptop.

I use a MAC desktop and Thunderbird with latest update. Recently, when I've tried to open an e-mail that I saved earlier as a file with the .eml suffix, what opens is always the same unrelated e-mail that I saved earlier to an unrelated file. It seems stuck on that same unrelated e-mail, no matter what the file or what e-mail I intended to save. For example, I save (i.e., drop-down menu: Save As - File) an e-mail that I received regarding Topic A; then I go to the folder or file to which I saved it and locate the e-mail under the correct name in which I saved it; I double click and then click on Open; what always opens is an e-mail of a few months ago that I received from Bernie. It doesn't happen on my MAC Air laptop.

All Replies (6)

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You can open the .eml file with a text editor first to verify what's in there. To import .eml files back into Thunderbird you can install this add-on. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools/

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I don't understand how this will help me open an e-mail that I saved to a file and avoid the problem that each time I try to do so it opens the same old unrelated e-mail. Can you explain it in plain English to me, someone who is not well-versed in the computer-ese shorthand?

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I don't think I fully understand what you're doing and what you're trying to achieve.

When you open the .eml file with a text editor you'll a) open the message, and b) see what's in there.

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Until recently, I've been able to save e-mails to files and folders by clicking "Save As" on the dropdown File menu. In the last few weeks, whenever I open any one of the many e-mails that I've saved over time as files, it doesn't open the e-mail that I'm trying to open. Instead, what opens up is always the same old email of a couple of months ago that has no relationship to the one I'm trying to open. Somehow, it's stuck on that same old e-mail. So, yes, your response is technically correct: (a) I open the message, and (b) I see what's in there. But what I always see is the same old unrelated e-mail message. My question is how do I get past that e-mail that it's stuck on to the e-mail that I saved but won't open up? Sorry to be such a pest.

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what I always see is the same old unrelated e-mail message.

Then my best guess is you always open the same old unrelated file. Without anymore details about what exactly you did/do when saving messages to a file I don't think I'l be able to help any further. Also I have no idea what you're trying to achieve by saving messages as .eml files and then opening them again.

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Nonetheless, thanks for your patience.