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hundreds of solutions to the problem of permanently threaded messages
There are many answers to the question of how to disable message threading. All are from earlier versions than mine, which is 115.7.0 -- as witnessed: Sorry! 0 results found for ‘disable threading in version 115.7.0’ for ‘Thunderbird'
Thunderbird seems to have so many minor changes and alterations in the recent past, that basic usability is affected. Not a good thing.
Once before, a few years ago, Thunderbird got so out of control that I had to go to a different mail client. Are we back to that?
All Replies (7)
Actually, there is just one approach and it does work:
This is the official (to my knowledge) documentation. Well worth the read: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/message-threading-thunderbird
Here is my own documentation on threading, duplicating the above, but it may help: You need to highlight each folder and click View>sort by>unthreaded. If this applies to just a few folders, just repeat the process as necessary. If you have many folders or plan to add many new folders, you may wish a different approach, below:
More info: To change default for *new* folders, In config editor, you can change default that applies to NEW folders you set up: mailnews.default_view_flags 0=unthreaded
Config editor is available at Tools>settings>general and scroll to bottom right.
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To set many *existing* folders, follow these steps: (I creates a crude video that walks through the steps. The video was created with table view for the message list pane.
https://davidkirk.org/SettingDefaultFolderView.mp4 that demonstrates the following steps:
First, highlight a folder that you have set to unthreaded In the Message List view, in the column header, on the far right, open the options button that shows context menu. : At the very bottom is the option: -> "Apply current view to..." -> "Folder and its children..." -> Hover over an account -> In the next menu don't select a folder. Instead select the account name itself. ALSO, for future installations of Thunderbird, - create a simple text file with name of user.js with these lines: // Set default threading to UNthreaded ### <== this line is optional, just for documentation user_pref("mailnews.default_view_flags", 0); - install Thunderbird and exit prior to setting up accounts - copy the user.js file into the profile - now, when you start Thunderbird, unthreading will be the default. Problem solved.
I need to get rid of the threading thunderbird placed on the e-mail subjects. Not column thread toggles. "Thread" is a word used in two ways.
Are you using any addons that focus on conversations?
David, I just tried to do what you suggest, and when I go to Config editor there is no "mailnews."
Thunderbird folks, if you are listening, based on the number of threads I see about this problem, MANY people hate threading, and want it gone. Gmail has a simple option to disable threading. Why doesn't Thunderbird?
I regret that you are having difficulties. Please recheck in config editor, as there are more than a dozen entries beginning with 'mailnews' - I understand your dislike of threading, as I also prefer unthreading, but it seems this ship has sailed. I created the above-mentioned user.js and I copy it into the profile after installing thunderbird and it becomes a non-issue.
Hi David!
Ok, I looked again, and I was looking at mail.news, not mailnews, so I have now found it! Thanks so much for your kind and patient reply!
I just saw your note. Somehow, it got lost in archives. You are very welcome. :)