Compacting Inbox is not working. The process appears to function, but inbox file remains same physical size.
Using Thunderbird 60.7.2 (32 bit). Not sure why 32 bit Thunderbird as PC is running Windows 7 Pro 64Bit. My inbox contains around 13,700 messages. Sometimes messages do not delete. When compact is run (either automatically or manual), it seems that the inbox file does not compact - physical file size is same before and after compaction. Physical size of inbox file is around 2.17GB
How do I confirm that compact has worked correctly?
All Replies (5)
What do you mean "messages do not delete"?
Hello Wayne, when I select a message and press the [Delete] button (keyboard or form action for that message) the email does not delete.
Suggestion: Check Account Settings: Right click on mail account name in Folder Pane and select 'SEttings' Select 'Server Setting' When I delete a message: select 'Move to this folder' select the server trash on imap account click on OK Restart Thunderbird.
Inbox: Move all wanted good emails out of Inbox into other folders for storage and organising.Create some folders if required.
Right click on 'Trash/Deleted Items' folder and select 'Empty Deleted' Then try deleting unwanted email.
Right click on Inbox and select 'compact'.
Did this work ?
Modified by Toad-Hall
Hello Toad-Hall Sorry, your suggestion did not help. We have been using Thunderbird since around the time Thunderbird was created (was using Sea-monkey? prior), so maybe 15-18 years. This issue has arisen over last few months. Over the last few days my issue is reducing in occurrence. I can now delete most emails when I press the [Delete] keys. The other side of the problem is that I cannot download/get emails on demand. The emails will load into my inbox during the next automatic download cycle. Thunderbird has been set to determine when to compact by its own settings - [Tools, Options, Advanced, Network & Disk space] I think my problem is caused by a failed compaction process. This cycle is requested and actioned almost every day (save >20MB). I have found 2 folders within my email labelled nstmp (temporary folders for compaction process).
Have you tried rebuilding the Inbox or any other folder that appears corrupted? This is different from the Repair Folder operation, in that it deletes the mbox file and allows the creation of a new file. I have found this helps with a folder that issues constant compaction requests or a folder that misrepresents its actual size.