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Thunderbird will not save an email as Draft during the writing of an email

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Thunderbird refuses to save an email while I am composing my messages. I constantly get this message during my composing: "Your draft message was not copied to your drafts folder (Drafts) due to network or file access errors. You can retry or save the draft locally to Local Folders/Drafts-Joe Goldblatt." Retry Save Don't Save

What is wrong? How do I fix?

Thunderbird refuses to save an email while I am composing my messages. I constantly get this message during my composing: "Your draft message was not copied to your drafts folder (Drafts) due to network or file access errors. You can retry or save the draft locally to Local Folders/Drafts-Joe Goldblatt." Retry Save Don't Save'' What is wrong? How do I fix?

All Replies (5)

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If this routinely happens, then the message is probably correct: that is, there is a problem on network between your PC and your email host. Thunderbird is just the messenger. You might try contacting the email provider for assistance.

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This ONLY happens on the laptop. Doesn't occur on smartphone, tablet, desktop. And the laptop is the only place I use Thunderbird.

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re: Doesn't occur on smartphone, tablet, desktop.

Maybe you have too many cached connections. If you are connecting to server on those devices, maybe the connections are still open. Switch those devices off to close the extra connections. Servers do put limits on the number of opened allowed connections. Wait a short while as it does take the server some time to catch up, then open a new write message, type something in content and attempt save as draft.

If still no joy:

  • Right click on mail account in Folder Pane and select 'Subscribe'
  • click on 'Refresh'
  • Select 'Drafts' and click on 'Subscribe'
  • click on OK

Then in Account Settings

  • Select 'Copies & Folders' for the account
  • Drafts - select 'Other' and choose 'Drafts on mail account name'

Exit Thunderbird. Wait a few moments for background processes to update and restart Thunderbird.

then open new Write message - type somethign and attempt Save as Draft

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I have this problem too. I have tried all the "solutions" I have found and nothing makes a difference. I changed email hosts thinking it may be a problem with the email host. That made no difference.

Is there a way to report this to the development team as a bug? It would be nice to get some help from someone who may be able to analyze the problem and fix it.

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dclark said

I have this problem too. I have tried all the "solutions" I have found and nothing makes a difference. I changed email hosts thinking it may be a problem with the email host. That made no difference. Is there a way to report this to the development team as a bug? It would be nice to get some help from someone who may be able to analyze the problem and fix it.

The people who deal with fixing bugs do not offer support, they fix bugs. But first we have to prove it is a bug. This problem which occurs for a few people intermittantly is usually because there is a network problem or there are too many cached connections because they access the server on other devices and those devices are still using connections to server. Or the computer has another program interfering by scanning when a file gets opened or scanning when a file gets uploaded to a server or they do not have the correct settings. It is less likely to be a bug. Otherwise this forum would be inundated with thousands of people unable to save a draft and that is not occurring.

It's helpful to provide some info because at this point there's no info about your particular setup. Q: What operating system are you using? Q: What version of Thunderbird are you using? Q: Are you using an imap or Pop mail account ? Q: If a Pop mail account, has it been set up as a deferred account more commonly known as Global Inbox? In which case you do not see the pop account in the Folder Pane because you are using the 'Local Folders' mail account.

Q: What Anti-Virus product are you using? Q: What server are you using ?

Please post the following information:

1. Post an image which shows the 'Account Settings' > 'Copies & Folders' settings for the account.

Menu icon > Help > More Troubleshooting Information Under 'Mail and News Accounts' section 2. Copy all the text data and post it into this forum question OR better still post an image showing the info.