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How to set up thunderbird with several IMAP accounts and using one inbox and outbox

  • 3 replies
  • 2 have this problem
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  • Last reply by Cody44

Cody44
Cody44
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I have just installed Mozilla as I need to set up several email accounts using IMAP. I need to read all emails and refer to old ones sent when using my Ipad. I have set up 4 profiles and they each have their child inbox, outbox, deleted etc. This is awkward for me as I need to have a global inbox, outbox and deleted items. Basically one place where all emails from all accounts are kept. I have tried to set to unified but then find that the emails going in or out are not syncronised with my other devices.

I hope the above makes sense and look for someone who can point me into the right direction.

Thanks

Mark

I have just installed Mozilla as I need to set up several email accounts using IMAP. I need to read all emails and refer to old ones sent when using my Ipad. I have set up 4 profiles and they each have their child inbox, outbox, deleted etc. This is awkward for me as I need to have a global inbox, outbox and deleted items. Basically one place where all emails from all accounts are kept. I have tried to set to unified but then find that the emails going in or out are not syncronised with my other devices. I hope the above makes sense and look for someone who can point me into the right direction. Thanks Mark

Chosen solution

With IMAP, the mail client shows you what is on the server. If you put something into a folder in Thunderbird, it copies this to the server. So, in principle, a common shared Inbox isn't possible. The messages from accounts B and C would get copied up to account A, and vice versa.

We can approximate a communal Inbox. The built-in solution is to use Unified Folders, which creates virtual folders.

View|Folders|Unified

So you'll have a composite Inbox folder, and ditto for folders common to all accounts: Sent, Drafts and Trash/Bin/Deleted. It fails where you have unique folders in one or more accounts, since it doesn't know what else to blend them with.

I prefer a do-it-yourself approach which is pretty much the same technology; this is a Saved Search folder, where you create your own new folder which combines the contents of other folders. So not only can you have a common Inbox, but also a folder for all Unread messages, or messages involving specific correspondents, or pertaining to a specific project or interest, across a range of accounts.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/using-saved-searches

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All Replies (3)

Zenos
Zenos
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Chosen Solution

With IMAP, the mail client shows you what is on the server. If you put something into a folder in Thunderbird, it copies this to the server. So, in principle, a common shared Inbox isn't possible. The messages from accounts B and C would get copied up to account A, and vice versa.

We can approximate a communal Inbox. The built-in solution is to use Unified Folders, which creates virtual folders.

View|Folders|Unified

So you'll have a composite Inbox folder, and ditto for folders common to all accounts: Sent, Drafts and Trash/Bin/Deleted. It fails where you have unique folders in one or more accounts, since it doesn't know what else to blend them with.

I prefer a do-it-yourself approach which is pretty much the same technology; this is a Saved Search folder, where you create your own new folder which combines the contents of other folders. So not only can you have a common Inbox, but also a folder for all Unread messages, or messages involving specific correspondents, or pertaining to a specific project or interest, across a range of accounts.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/using-saved-searches

Modified by Zenos

Cody44
Cody44 Question owner
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Thanks Zenos,

I have tried this and the problem I have found is that the messages do not appear on other devices. I think possibly because I have played around with the configuration so much. I will attempt to work on this as I think Thunderbird should be able to deal with my requirements.

I will come back and give an update after a late night on it! :)

Thanks

Mark

Cody44
Cody44 Question owner
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Thanks Zenos,

Deleted my accounts from Thunderbird and started again fresh... Went straight to do View|Folders|Unified and checked both incoming mails and outgoing mails on other computers and all mails now showing.

Have several emails to set up and will get these done over the weekend.

I think reading your post gave me the confidence knowing that unified folders must work! :)

A virtual beer to you!