First, IMAP is not something Thunderbird can change: IMAP has a specific, rigid, structure, as does POP. What thunderbird does is use it as designed. I wish you well in finding an email client that treats IMAP as thought it was POP. Second, you are unclear on your intent. If it is to have all messages appear as one, that is available if using Unified Folders setting. Third, you have not explained what you are doing in moving messages to local folders. Details are helpful. Thank you.

Unified folders does not work with IMAP. You could write software to treat IMAP just like POP3. I now have to use "Message Filters" to move all of my email from all of my different email accounts into the Local Folders. And, it is inconsistent. Sometimes it works...sometimes it does not. And now, Thunderbird fails to identify anything I have marked as JUNK and move it to the JUNK folder. IS THIS NOT CLEAR???

Well, unified folders work very well with IMAP. I have three IMAP accounts and it works great. No, there is no need for Mozilla to make IMAP work like POP. If people want POP, they should use accounts that allow POP and not put the onus on the email client. Possibly, if you share screenshot of one of your message filters, we can help. What you're wanting to do seems straightforward. To clarify, a unified folder is only a view, not the actual move of messages to a single folder. I think, with example of your filter, we can help you resolve your concern.

Well...I just checked unified folders and it made a complete mess. It's still showing each individual email account, not once, but twice...

Here's a picture of my mess...

Ok. I deselected "All folders" view but things are still a mess...see attached screen shot...

It may help to know how and why you set up your IMAP accounts under Local Folders. If you let thunderbird handle account placement the IMAP accounts will be placed in a special folder for IMAP accounts. I have never seen IMAP accounts in Local Folders.

I reviewed your latest screenshot. See attached. You show unified inbox dropdown showing the accounts for unified. That is NORMAL. Close the dropdown and it should display just messages. Likewise, open the dropdown icons for the Local Folders to show what the folders are. Generally, these are for message folders that are unique to an account. That guarantees that all message folders are accessible. In summary, I think you are just possibly misinterpreting what you are seeing.

How do I "open the drop down icons". I want ALL my messages from my 6 different email accounts in ONE inbox folder...like I had with the pop3 setup. I don't want six different folders in one inbox. What are folders doing in my inbox anyways???????

Ok. I deselected "All folders" view but things are still a mess...see attached screen shot...

There is no mess here. What you see is correct way that folders are presented to the user in Unified Folders view. You can view your multiple accounts' messages in one "Inbox" folder by clicking on Inbox, or you can view them as individual accounts. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/switching-folder-pane-view

It may help to completely forget how pop combined inbox works or trying to copy things to Local Folders - that does not exist for imap. What you have is Unified Folders view or All Folders view.

Junk detection still doesn't work and I don't want folders in my inbox...please fix this...

Junk detection still doesn't work and I don't want folders in my inbox...please fix this...

Please don't mix multiple issues in a single support question - it gets too confusing and messy.

Please post this issue at https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/new/thunderbird