Hello

For most users including me, this kind of need is solved by right click, open in conversation. Note that in some cases, the thread is broken, notably when a message *originates* from outlook.com and aliases (live.com...). I'm not sure if Thunderbird or Microsoft is at fault. But I have not yet found a problem when the message is sent by me.

Yeah, as stated in my problem, opening these threads up in Conversation tabs does not let me see the responses I've sent side-by-side with the emails they're responding to. (If I can find a copy of the emails I responded to them with at all.)

None of them are using those sorts of addresses / aliases, it's mostly been standard gmail.com or .edu addresses. I will also note I'm using a Mac, but I don't see how that would affect this particular problem too dramatically.

I think I might have found a possible solution when looking into various Thunderbird addons (Copy Sent To Current / Thunderbird Conversations), but I do also wonder if these or any other setting can work retroactively as the emails that originally kicked this off this problem for me were quite important ones I would want a copy of and I am a little vexed that they don't show up in Sent Mail either. If I am missing something on that end, I'm confused why it wouldn't simply be a setting that's toggled on by default.

The Open in Conversation function depends on the global search database being enabled in Settings. Rebuild the database and see if it helps.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/rebuilding-global-database

As for sent messages not appearing in the gmail Sent Mail folder, make sure 'Place a copy in' is not checked in the Copies & Folders section of Account Settings, as gmail automatically copies sent messages there anyway.

I'm not the one using Gmail, just a few of the people I am emailing. When I first downloaded Thunderbird I created an email address with Mailfence as the startup offered for me.

But I'll see about rebuilding the database and the 'Place a copy in' options. (So I should check that box if I am not using a Gmail account?)

If the mail provider doesn't automatically copy sent messages, specify the target for sent mail in Account Settings, which might be named Sent, Sent Mail, Sent Items etc., depending on the provider.

Well OK then! That sounds like it may well be my solution for emails going forward at least.

I suppose I may just have to give up on the ones I already sent out (maybe ask the people on the other end to forward a copy to myself, hmm), but that is good to know going forward.

Thank you!