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.

Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Backup seens to be missing some e-mails

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

IconeDesign
IconeDesign
more options

Hello,

For some time, I've being selecting my e-mails (usually with Ctrl + A) and using File >> Save As >> File to backup my e-mails. This way all e-mails are stored individually.

I've notice tough that for some folders the mail count between Thunderbird and the backup folder doesn't match.

For ex.: On thunderbird, selecting all e-mails shows me 197 e-mails. On my backup folders, shows only 185. There is a difference in file size as well. Thunderbird says is 83,5 mb meanwhile the folders has roughly 82,3 mb

Am I missing e-mails? Or is that normal? Doesn't happens with all folders though.

Using POP.

Hello, For some time, I've being selecting my e-mails (usually with Ctrl + A) and using File >> Save As >> File to backup my e-mails. This way all e-mails are stored individually. I've notice tough that for some folders the mail count between Thunderbird and the backup folder doesn't match. For ex.: On thunderbird, selecting all e-mails shows me 197 e-mails. On my backup folders, shows only 185. There is a difference in file size as well. Thunderbird says is 83,5 mb meanwhile the folders has roughly 82,3 mb Am I missing e-mails? Or is that normal? Doesn't happens with all folders though. Using POP.

All Replies (1)

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

First check you have this view: View > Folders > All or Menu icon > Folders >All

Test: If I select a folder I created and use Ctrl + A it will show: 22 conversations. however, one of those conversations has a thread with a response, so in reality there are 23 emails which is displayed in bottom status bar. After using Save As, it shows 23 .eml files in the desktop folder.

A folder size can be misleading. In Thunderbird the mbox file may have 'marked as deleted' emails. these 'marked as deleted' emails are removed when you compact the folder, thus reducing the file size.

however, there is some differences depending upon where you are looking. I notice that in the Folder Pane folder 'Size', it says that folder is 5MB Same mbox file shows 4,828 KB in the size column. when I hover over the mbox file it says :4.71 MB hover over the 'saved as' folder also says 4.71 MB