Why won't messages deleted in Thunderbird ACTUALLY delete?
This problem doesn't exist on my other computer or my phone when I delete imap messages, but when I delete from this computer, while it does show up in the Thunderbird Trash folder on this computer, it doesn't actually go there in webmail or on any other device. Any ideas? Thanks.
Chosen solution
re: When I delete emails in Thunderbird on the computer in question, they show up in the Trash on that computer, but they do not actually delete from the server, they remain in the original folder (Inbox, Sent).
quote: It is perfectly appropriate for a deleted message in a IMAP account to be visible in webmail or other email clients. Deleting a message just sets a flag, and it's up to the GUI what it should do when there is a message with that flag set. However, once Thunderbird compacts (expunges) that folder, the deleted message shouldn't be visible any more from webmail or any email client because it has been physically deleted.
IMAP accounts provide several options to delete messages that aren't available in POP accounts. Tools -> Account Settings -> Server Settings -> "When I delete a message" has choices for "Move it to the Trash folder", "Mark it as deleted" and "Remove it immediately". unquote.
More info on different methods are detailed at the link:
If you right click on the eg: inbox folder and select 'compact' this should remove traces of deleted emails.
to compact a folder: right click on a folder and select 'compact'
to compact all folders: File > Compact folders
did you set it up the auto expunge? Tools -> Account Settings -> Server Settings for the imap mail account select: Clean up ("Expunge") Inbox on Exit this will compact the Inbox folder when you exit Thunderbird. If you check "Empty Trash on Exit" it will also empty and compact the Trash folder when you exit.
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re 'but when I delete from this computer,'
Is the mail account on this computer Imap or Pop? If Pop: then the deleted email will go into Deleted folder. Pop mail accounts do not see the server folders. They can only download off the server Inbox to the Thunderbird mail account Inbox. So anything you do in a Pop mail account will not effect the server folders. You have the option to 'leave messages on the server' and also to remove anything you delete.
If imap then deleting is a bit different.
see info:
You need to expunge/compact folder to remove all traces of 'marked as deleted' emails, then when folder synchs with server it will update to remove the email. You set this here: Tools -> Account Settings -> Server Settings for the imap mail account select: Clean up ("Expunge") Inbox on Exit this will compact the Inbox folder when you exit Thunderbird. If you check "Empty Trash on Exit" it will also empty and compact the Trash folder when you exit.
Thanks very much, Toad-Hall. I'm using imap and what I don't understand is why my issue doesn't occur on my other two computers or my phone when I delete there? It wasn't an issue on this computer until very recently either...
"on my other two computers" - are they both also using Thunderbird and IMAP?
Is it gmail? Are you looking at All Mail?
I can't make out whether they do or do not delete, or if your concern is that when deleted they don't appear in Trash on webmail?
I think you need to double check where Thunderbird has been told to place deleted items in this account and on the affected computer.
> "on my other two computers" - are they both also using Thunderbird and IMAP?
They are all using imap, yes.
> Is it gmail? Are you looking at All Mail?
No, it's SmarterMail.
> I can't make out whether they do or do not delete, or if your concern is that when deleted they don't appear in Trash on webmail?
When I delete emails in Thunderbird on the computer in question, they show up in the Trash on that computer, but they do not actually delete from the server, they remain in the original folder (Inbox, Sent). This has never been the case and only started recently on the one computer.
Thanks very much for your help.
Chosen Solution
re: When I delete emails in Thunderbird on the computer in question, they show up in the Trash on that computer, but they do not actually delete from the server, they remain in the original folder (Inbox, Sent).
quote: It is perfectly appropriate for a deleted message in a IMAP account to be visible in webmail or other email clients. Deleting a message just sets a flag, and it's up to the GUI what it should do when there is a message with that flag set. However, once Thunderbird compacts (expunges) that folder, the deleted message shouldn't be visible any more from webmail or any email client because it has been physically deleted.
IMAP accounts provide several options to delete messages that aren't available in POP accounts. Tools -> Account Settings -> Server Settings -> "When I delete a message" has choices for "Move it to the Trash folder", "Mark it as deleted" and "Remove it immediately". unquote.
More info on different methods are detailed at the link:
If you right click on the eg: inbox folder and select 'compact' this should remove traces of deleted emails.
to compact a folder: right click on a folder and select 'compact'
to compact all folders: File > Compact folders
did you set it up the auto expunge? Tools -> Account Settings -> Server Settings for the imap mail account select: Clean up ("Expunge") Inbox on Exit this will compact the Inbox folder when you exit Thunderbird. If you check "Empty Trash on Exit" it will also empty and compact the Trash folder when you exit.
Cheers, Toad-Hall. This:
"Move it to the Trash folder" is very similar to deleting a message in a POP account. The main difference is that if you set mail.imap.expunge_after_delete to true using the Config editor Thunderbird will compact the folder after it successfully copies the message to the trash folder.
seems to have fixed the issue.