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Thunderbird POP3 account with "Leave messages on server" configured deleting emails from GMAIL server regardlesss

  • 4 replies
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  • 23 views
  • Last reply by Phil Shaw

Phil Shaw
Phil Shaw
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I just set up Thunderbird Version 128.0.1esr on my Windows 11 desktop computer to replace the MS Outlook app. The wizard configured a POP3 TLS/OAuth2 profile for pop.gmail.com. I changed the default server configuration to leave messages on server unconditionally. I also set my inbox properties to "don't delete any messages". Nonetheless, my inbox at mail.google.com and android gmail app inbox are wiped out immediately as soon as Thunderbird retrieves the messages. The emails remain in the Thunderbird inbox but are not visible on the server. I've tried all combinations of message retention options and Thunderbird seems to ignore them and delete messages from the server inbox as soon as it retrieves them. Any ideas? I want to store my messages on my desktop but I need mobile access to my inbox when I'm away from my desktop.

I just set up Thunderbird Version 128.0.1esr on my Windows 11 desktop computer to replace the MS Outlook app. The wizard configured a POP3 TLS/OAuth2 profile for pop.gmail.com. I changed the default server configuration to leave messages on server unconditionally. I also set my inbox properties to "don't delete any messages". Nonetheless, my inbox at mail.google.com and android gmail app inbox are wiped out immediately as soon as Thunderbird retrieves the messages. The emails remain in the Thunderbird inbox but are not visible on the server. I've tried all combinations of message retention options and Thunderbird seems to ignore them and delete messages from the server inbox as soon as it retrieves them. Any ideas? I want to store my messages on my desktop but I need mobile access to my inbox when I'm away from my desktop.

All Replies (4)

david
david
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With IMAP, messages are still accessible in the desktop.

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Phil Shaw
Phil Shaw Question owner
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Thanks, but with IMAP, my emails are not in my desktop storage. I have trust issues with Google. If not, I would just log in to mail.google.com from a browser to look at them and wouldn't need a desktop email client like Thunderbird.

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Wayne Mery
Wayne Mery
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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I fail to see the logic in your changes - you write that you don't trust google and choose pop for that reason, but then choose to use the option "Leave messages on server".

That said I see only one bug report that might match your issue, and it is quite old https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=821587.

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Phil Shaw
Phil Shaw Question owner
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I log in to mail.google.com to purge messages from the server rather than have the desktop email client do it. Thanks for pointing out the bug report. I don't think that's my problem because it's occurring with new messages, but it's enough to tell me it's potentially buggy. I'd try a Thunderbird reinstall but the import process from my converted outlook PST file was ugly and I don't want to repeat it. I guess I'll be sticking with Outlook, (despite also having Microsoft trust issues). Thanks for your help.

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