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

Can't delete mails in Trash and Junk I can put them there but not delete

  • 1 reply
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

more options

I move old mails to trash. I also move the junk to trash and then want to delete them. I delete everything and withing seconds it is all back. It takes about 20 minutes of deleting the SAME messages up to 10 times till they are finally gone. Why?

I move old mails to trash. I also move the junk to trash and then want to delete them. I delete everything and withing seconds it is all back. It takes about 20 minutes of deleting the SAME messages up to 10 times till they are finally gone. Why?

All Replies (1)

more options

re : I move old mails to trash. I also move the junk to trash and then want to delete them. I delete everything.

Do you do the following?

  • right click on 'Trash' folder and select 'Empty trash/deleted'
  • then right click on 'Junk' folder and select 'Compact'
  • then right click on folder eg: Inbox' and select 'Compact folder

or compact all folders:

  • 'Menu icon' > 'File' > 'Compact folders'

Note: when you delete emails they are hidden and marked as deleted, but they are not fully deleted until you compact the folder. Compacting removes 'marked as deleted' emails.