Start at the begining.

You must be talking about an IMAP mail account. So to understand your reasoning, Why did you create a 'Deleted' folder when one already exists as a default folder in all mail accounts?

Is there a reason for not using the server 'Trash/Deleted' folder that is already provided?

What is the name of the default 'Trash' folder which you are choosing not to use?

If you logon to webmail account using a browser, does it show the folder you created called 'Deleted' ? Is it shown as a sub folder to Inbox?

Please make sure you have this view:

'View' > 'Folders' > 'All 

Then provide an image of your Folder Pane, so the forum can see exactly what you see.

You are right, I am using IMAP

I created a deleted folder because the option in Server Setting to 'empty deleted folder on exit' gave the impression it did not mean trash.

There is a folder called Trash.

Logging on to webmail reveals the following folders: Inbox, Sent, Deleted Items, Junk and Deleted.

View > Folders > All has always been selected.

Can you explain, please, where INBOX has come from and why is it collecting my deleted messages?

A screenshot of the Thunderbird window is attached.

As you can see, the Deleted folder is in <Account>\Inbox. I created it by right clicking <Account> and selecting 'New Folder' so it should be a sub-folder of <Account> . Interestingly, that is where The program seems to think it is, judging by the contents of the box beside 'Move it to this folder' in Server Settings

This sounds like you have not got the correct folders selected. You are displaying Two 'Deleted' folders and a 'Trash' folder. however, in webmail there is 'Deleted Items' (this is the server folder for trash/deleted emails) and Deleted' (the one you created)

IMAP mail accounts are designed to see and use folders that are on the server. You subscribe to see those folders. right click on mail account Inbox and select 'Subscribe'. You should be able to subscribe to see : 'Inbox', 'Sent', 'Deleted Items', 'Junk'.

I'm surprised there isn't a Drafts folder, so maybe the server does not have one available. no worries we'll sort that out later. Let's try to get all the correct folders working as expected.

Unsubscribe from seeing the 'Deleted' folder which you created. Then access webmail account and delete the 'Deleted' folder you created.

In Tools > Account Settings > Server Settings for the imap mail account Click on 'Advanced' button Select : 'show only subscribed folders' click on Ok Clickon OK to save settings.

Check the Folder Pane. It should now only show subscribed folders.

Go back into Account Settings > Server Settings When I delete a message Select: 'move it to this folder There should be a 'Deleted Items' folder to select in the drop down selection. Select: 'Clean up(expunge) Inbox on exit'

Click on 'Copies & Folders' for the imap mail account. when sending messages Select: Place a copy in Select: 'Other' and select the Sent folder on the imap mail account.

For Drafts and Templates do the same . Select : 'Other' and the Drafts folder on imap mail account Select : 'Other' and the Templates folder on imap mail account Tell me if these (drafts and Templates) options are not available.

Click on 'Junk Settings' for imap mail account Select : 'Other' and the Junk folder on imap mail account click on OK

Then please show me a copy of the Folder Pane.

Thank you Dealing with each point in the order they appear in your message -

I could see five folders in the subscribe option, Draft is present as well. I am puzzled that all five, including INBOX are shown as subfolders of INBOX. In webmail, all five are shown with the same rank.

Show only subscribed folders was already checked. I had already removed the deleted folder that I had created, so there was no change in the folder pane.

Deleted messages are now set to be sent to Inbox\Trash

Other setting now done where necessary. (some were already correct).

Despite all that, deleted messages are still sent to INBOX\INBOX

Screenshot of current window including Folder Pane is attached

Hello Toad-Hall,

I hope you can find a solution to my problem. After following all your helpful advice, I am still stuck with INBOX as a sub folder of Inbox; all deleted emails are moved there despite the instruction in Server Settings to send than to Inbox\Trash

If this is a harmless, if irritating, quirk, I can live with it. However, when something appears to work normally, apart from odd, apparently harmless, behaviour, experience has taught me that something else, potentially more serious, is likely to be wrong. That is what worries me.

I'd welcome you advice.

I notice that the sub folder spelt 'INBOX' has the deleted icon.

Please check something: Right click on 'INBOX' (not 'Inbox') and select 'Properties' On the 'General Information ' tab Name : INBOX Location: click in this text box to get cursor and then use right arrow on keyboard to get to the end. it should say something like this : mailbox:///C:/Users/UserName/AppData/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/Profile folder name/ImapMail/mail account name/Deleted or Deleted Items or Trash

Please copy the Location info and paste it in this question. I need to know what is written after the mail account name.

Toad-Hall said

I notice that the sub folder spelt 'INBOX' has the deleted icon. Please check something: Right click on 'INBOX' (not 'Inbox') and select 'Properties' On the 'General Information ' tab Name : INBOX Location: click in this text box to get cursor and then use right arrow on keyboard to get to the end. it should say something like this : mailbox:///C:/Users/UserName/AppData/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/Profile folder name/ImapMail/mail account name/Deleted or Deleted Items or Trash Please copy the Location info and paste it in this question. I need to know what is written after the mail account name. <imap://richard19@imap.plus.net/INBOX/INBOX> That is the complete text in the Location box. I do not know if this helps you, or not, but I have for several years set the local folder to be on the data partition. The current one is E:\Thunderbird IMAP

For some unknown reason, your 'Deleted Items' imap folder has been called 'INBOX' (using uppercase).

Right click on INBOX folder and see if there is a 'Rename' option. If yes, use it to rename INBOX to 'Deleted Items'

OR Locate your Profile folder and the INBOX mbox file and the INBOX.msf file.

Help > Troubleshooting Information click on 'Show folder' It should open on your Profile folder, but you may need to navigate to where you set it up.

Close Thunderbird now - this is important.

right click on the INBOX file and choose 'Rename' then type 'Deleted Items' and click on OK. Delete the INBOX.msf file (a new one will be created).

Restart Thunderbird.

Folder Pane 'Deleted Items' name - is this now correct? TEst - delete an email.

Report back on results.

I followed your advice, no problems, and it all seemed to work but the unwanted files returned and when I tried to delete them (exiting and restarting after every attempt) it got worse with subfolders appearing under the ones I had tried to delete, It was as if the Delete function was working as New Subfolder.

I uninstalled Thunderbird and deleted the Profile files, then did a fresh install. The result, before any visits to settings, is attached. I have never had this trouble with Thunderbird in XP or 7, only now I have a new laptop with 8.1.