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Thunderbird: Copies of messages not being saved in SENT folder

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  • 2 have this problem
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  • Last reply by kakaako

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Hi all,

Two days ago, copies of messages I send stopped being automatically saved to my TBird SENT folder. This is the case whether I send the messages to myself or other addressees.

I use Windows 10, TBird 115.6.1, and Gmail (with POP3 for the affected account).

BTW, this is not happening with an IMAP account I also use with TBird. Copies of messages I sent continue to be automatically saved to that account's Sent folder (as usual).

After researching this problem for several hours today, I've found that it's not an uncommon issue. The general advice is to navigate to Tools > Account Settings > Copies & Folders, check the Place a copy in, select Other, then point to the Sent folder of the affected account. (Alternatively, a copy can be requested to be placed in the Sent folder under Local Folders, which is actually what I've had set for many years of using TBird).

I tried sending multiple test emails to no avail. Nothing solved the problem of no copies in SENT. Despite that, every time I sent a new email, my Sent folder message count showed the addition of one more message, but no message appeared. Right now my Sent folder says there are 14 messages there, but none actually appear. The folder is empty.

I then tried several other alternative suggestions from Mozilla and other websites. Nothing works. Copies of emails I send are being saved to my Sent folder on Gmail webmail. Just not in Thunderbird.

I also tried the REPAIR option for my Sent folder. No effect. Shut down the program, re-started it, etc.

I verified that I had set TBird as an exclusion in Windows Security.

As a last resort (since this is a very troublesome problem!) I created a new "Copies" folder under my Local Folders and set the "Place a copy in" that new folder instead of into Sent. That did actually work. Copies of emails I sent after that did show up in that new "Copies" folder.

I would appreciate any assistance you can give, as I suspect my TBird Sent folder has somehow become suddenly corrupted. If so, can you suggest how to proceed. Thanks very much!

Hi all, Two days ago, copies of messages I send stopped being automatically saved to my TBird SENT folder. This is the case whether I send the messages to myself or other addressees. I use Windows 10, TBird 115.6.1, and Gmail (with POP3 for the affected account). BTW, this is not happening with an IMAP account I also use with TBird. Copies of messages I sent continue to be automatically saved to that account's Sent folder (as usual). After researching this problem for several hours today, I've found that it's not an uncommon issue. The general advice is to navigate to Tools > Account Settings > Copies & Folders, check the Place a copy in, select Other, then point to the Sent folder of the affected account. (Alternatively, a copy can be requested to be placed in the Sent folder under Local Folders, which is actually what I've had set for many years of using TBird). I tried sending multiple test emails to no avail. Nothing solved the problem of no copies in SENT. Despite that, every time I sent a new email, my Sent folder message count showed the addition of one more message, but no message appeared. Right now my Sent folder says there are 14 messages there, but none actually appear. The folder is empty. I then tried several other alternative suggestions from Mozilla and other websites. Nothing works. Copies of emails I send are being saved to my Sent folder on Gmail webmail. Just not in Thunderbird. I also tried the REPAIR option for my Sent folder. No effect. Shut down the program, re-started it, etc. I verified that I had set TBird as an exclusion in Windows Security. As a last resort (since this is a very troublesome problem!) I created a new "Copies" folder under my Local Folders and set the "Place a copy in" that new folder instead of into Sent. That did actually work. Copies of emails I sent after that did show up in that new "Copies" folder. I would appreciate any assistance you can give, as I suspect my TBird Sent folder has somehow become suddenly corrupted. If so, can you suggest how to proceed. Thanks very much!

Chosen solution

Returning to report that I solved this problem after discovering a post here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1316689

As the user noted, "somehow" a VIEW setting for the SENT folder had changed. I'm suspicious of the change, too, as I hadn't fiddled with those settings...but Thunderbird had (with their new and very annoying Threaded default setting).

Solution: Highlight the SENT folder; select VIEW; under THREADS, check ALL. Done. All the messages instantly re-appeared.

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Chosen Solution

Returning to report that I solved this problem after discovering a post here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1316689

As the user noted, "somehow" a VIEW setting for the SENT folder had changed. I'm suspicious of the change, too, as I hadn't fiddled with those settings...but Thunderbird had (with their new and very annoying Threaded default setting).

Solution: Highlight the SENT folder; select VIEW; under THREADS, check ALL. Done. All the messages instantly re-appeared.