This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

when pressing delete button emails are not going to trash and are either permanently deleting or disappearing

  • 2 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Matt

more options

I have just started using Thunderbird again as Outlook driving me nuts with continually asking me to reconnect to outlook.com even though i have already done it. Now with t'bird when I delete an email using the delete button, I cannot find the email in the Trash. Initially it would say that I was going to delete the email permananently and it would be gone. I have an old "Deleted" folder from when I previously used Thunderbird, and at first the emails were going in to that, once I selected it in Server Settings. But they are no longer going in there, and now just disappearing. When I choose, in Server Settings, where to delete emails to, it will not allow the local folder "Trash" to be selected. Anybody got an answer?

I have just started using Thunderbird again as Outlook driving me nuts with continually asking me to reconnect to outlook.com even though i have already done it. Now with t'bird when I delete an email using the delete button, I cannot find the email in the Trash. Initially it would say that I was going to delete the email permananently and it would be gone. I have an old "Deleted" folder from when I previously used Thunderbird, and at first the emails were going in to that, once I selected it in Server Settings. But they are no longer going in there, and now just disappearing. When I choose, in Server Settings, where to delete emails to, it will not allow the local folder "Trash" to be selected. Anybody got an answer?

All Replies (2)

more options

I recommend deleting/removing your Hotmail/Outlook account from Thunderbird, then creating it again.

First, copy (not move), any messages that are important to Thunderbird's "Local Folders" so they will be saved on your computer.

Second, make sure that Thunderbird is up-to-date. The current version is 45.7.0. Click on "Help" in the menu and choose "About Thunderbird". If it is not up-to-date, then it will start downloading an update. If it has been a long time since you previously used Thunderbird, then it might be faster and better to Download & install the latest version of Thunderbird.

Then:

1. Thunderbird menu: Tools: Account Settings. (If you cannot see the Thunderbird menu, press the Alt key or F10 key on your keyboard to show the menu)

2. Select your Hotmail/Outlook account on the left side.

3. Click the "Account Actions" button on the bottom left and choose, "Remove Account".

4. Click the OK button for the "Account Settings" window.

5. Quit Thunderbird.

6. Start Thunderbird.

7. Thunderbird menu: Tools: Account Settings. (If you cannot see the Thunderbird menu, press the Alt key or F10 key on your keyboard to show the menu)

8. Click the "Account Actions" button on the bottom left and choose, "Add Mail Account".

9. Enter your name, e-mail address, and password, then press the "Continue" button.

10. Continue with the setup until the correct settings are obtained.

more options

Thunderbird has a trash folder. Outlook.com has a deleted folder.

First right click the account in the folder pane and select subscribed. Ensure the "deleted folder has a tick and is subscribed.

Second Right click the account again and select settings. In server settings for the account ensure that when I delete a message is set to Deleted on (whatever your account is)