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Thunderbird emptying Trash folder without being set to do so

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by RoseQueen

RoseQueen
RoseQueen
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Thunderbird trashed my historical files and folders when I was forced to input everything again recently, so I'm already mad enough about it, but this latest quirk really aggravates me.

I frequently refer to the Trash folder, so I don't have it set for automatic deletion upon exit. Additionally, under the "Synchronization & Storage" section, I have "Don't delete any messages" checked.

Yet this morning, I looked for a September email and there was nothing in the Trash folder from before December 7.

I don't understand this at all and I really don't want my Trash emptied unless I empty it or I set it so it can empty the oldest messages when there get to be x-number of them. How can I stop it from doing what it wants and get it to do what I want? TIA!

Thunderbird trashed my historical files and folders when I was forced to input everything again recently, so I'm already mad enough about it, but this latest quirk really aggravates me. I frequently refer to the Trash folder, so I don't have it set for automatic deletion upon exit. Additionally, under the "Synchronization & Storage" section, I have "Don't delete any messages" checked. Yet this morning, I looked for a September email and there was nothing in the Trash folder from before December 7. I don't understand this at all and I really don't want my Trash emptied unless I empty it or I set it so it can empty the oldest messages when there get to be x-number of them. How can I stop it from doing what it wants and get it to do what I want? TIA!

All Replies (3)

Matt
Matt
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If your account is configured as IMAP and I suspect it is. You are bound through synchronization to the rules imposed on your account by your provider. Many of them routinely empty the trash for you as deleted mail is supposed to bye no longer wanted.

Matt
Matt
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See https://thunderbirdtweaks.blogspot.com/2019/09/i-lost-my-profilemail-on-update-to.html which contains information that will probably fix your original issue.

RoseQueen
RoseQueen Question owner
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Matt, you referred me to that blog link previously when I posted about the problem, but unfortunately Thunderbird seems to have overwritten my profile instead of just supplanting it.

Yes, it's an IMAP account, but it's always been an IMAP account and never did this previously. Also, once I download a message, it's no longer on Spectrum's server, so I can't see how piling up old messages in the Trash affects them at all.

However, if that's the case (which I seriously doubt), can I route my trashed messages to a different folder, either existing or newly created, so Spectrum has no say in the matter?