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.

Archiving GMAIL Leaves Messages on Server

  • 4 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by jdbrody

jdbrody
jdbrody
more options

Hello, I'm trying to archive old gmail messages to free up storage space. On my server settings, under "Message Archives", it says to keep messages in "Archives" folder on Local Folders. However, when I archive messages they remain on the server.

Interestingly, there are two inboxes listed under the gmail account: an "Inbox" and an "All Mail" folder. The archived messages do not appear in the "Inbox" folder on Thundebird, but they seem to be re-downloaded into the "All Mail" folder.

Am I missing a step to get Thunderbird to delete the old messages?

Many thanks! This is version 91.11.0 on Linux.

Hello, I'm trying to archive old gmail messages to free up storage space. On my server settings, under "Message Archives", it says to keep messages in "Archives" folder on Local Folders. However, when I archive messages they remain on the server. Interestingly, there are two inboxes listed under the gmail account: an "Inbox" and an "All Mail" folder. The archived messages do not appear in the "Inbox" folder on Thundebird, but they seem to be re-downloaded into the "All Mail" folder. Am I missing a step to get Thunderbird to delete the old messages? Many thanks! This is version 91.11.0 on Linux.

Chosen solution

OK, it's a tradeoff. If a user wants to keep profile smaller, the easiest approach is to remove AllMail folder from Thunderbird, letting AllMail continue to grow online. To reduce overall Gmail message storage, the solution is to delete from inbox and also from AllMail folder. To reduce overall Gmail message storage, but keep the messages anyway, the solution is to archive on TB and delete from Allmail. So, YES to your question.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (4)

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

If you want message deleted from AllMail folder, you must delete it from there. Gmail keeps all messages there, otherwise.

jdbrody
jdbrody Question owner
more options

Many thanks David! To be sure I'm understanding correctly:

  1. Archiving from "Inbox" will remove the "inbox" label on the server, leave the message undeleted and copy to the archive
  2. Archiving from "AllMail" will simply copy to the archive and not do any deletion on the server.

So to free up my gmail account, I should archive messages from "AllMail" and then manually delete them?

Many thanks, Justin

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Chosen Solution

OK, it's a tradeoff. If a user wants to keep profile smaller, the easiest approach is to remove AllMail folder from Thunderbird, letting AllMail continue to grow online. To reduce overall Gmail message storage, the solution is to delete from inbox and also from AllMail folder. To reduce overall Gmail message storage, but keep the messages anyway, the solution is to archive on TB and delete from Allmail. So, YES to your question.

jdbrody
jdbrody Question owner
more options

Thanks so much!