re :Every time I get an email Thunderbird automatically marks them as read

Normal action: If you click on a received email and you see content in Message Pane then email is automatically marked as read as per preferences settings. Are you saying that when you start Thunderbird and without you doing anything - all emails newly downloaded into Inbox are always marked as read - nothing is ever in bold?

Does the 'Inbox' folder have number of unread mail immediately after the folder name? eg: Inbox (2) What colour is the 'Inbox' folder name when you receive new mail and before you click on that folder or any of it's contents ?

re :it is removing old emails from my inbox

Depends upon what settings is set up on that folder and also on the account. It is also possible you are clicking on the A key when you have focus on the open email which auto Archives emails - I've come across instances where people did not realise this occurred. Is it possible you have been marking emails as 'Ignore thread' ? Do you have this setting : View > Threads > All

re: removing old emails ....but not my deleting them from my server.

Depends upon account settings and whether email was actually archived. It also depends upon the type of mail account you are using and whether you have compacted folders.

Please supply some information so we can understand your particular setup and find out what is going on. What OS are you using Windows 10, MAC, Linux ? What version of Thunderbird are you using? Do you read emails using the 'Message Pane' which displays below the list of emails?

Are you using a POP or IMAP mail account ? Not sure? then look here:

• Right click on mail account name folder in Folder Pane and select 'Settings'
• Click on 'Server Settings'
• Top right ...'Server Type:' what does it say..POP mail server or IMAP mail server ?

What server are you using...eg: gmail, yahoo, BT, comcast etc?

If this is a POP account: You probably have 'Leave messages on server' selected - please confirm Do you have 'Until I delete them' selected ? Yes or NO ?

Under Message Storage: Do you have the 'Empty Deleted folder on exit' selected ? Yes or No ?

In left pane - Click on 'Disk Space' What is selected ? eg: 'Don't delete any messages' ? OR is this selected 'Delete messages more than 30 days old ?

If this is an IMAP account: When I delete a message...what is selected? eg: 'Move it to this folder' and you have selected the 'Trash on mail account name'

Under Message Storage: Have you selected 'Clean up (Expunge) Inbox on Exit? Yes or No Do you have the 'Empty Deleted folder on exit' selected ? Yes or No ? In left pane - click on 'Synchronisation & Storage' What is selected ? - you may find it easier to post an image.

What is set up in Preferences for this setting? Menu app icon > Preferences > General Scroll down to 'Reading & Display' by default the following is selected, do you have these settings? Checkbox: 'automatically mark messages as read' ? Checkbox: 'Immediately on display' ?

Provide some Filter settings info: Select 'Inbox' folder. Check the 'Quick Filter Bar' - do you have any of the 'Quick Filter Bar' icons highlighted ? If yes, then click on highlighted icon to remove that filter.

Do you have any 'Message Filters' which you created ?