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.

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

Archive working differently for my 2 accounts

  • 7 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 15 views
  • Last reply by Matt

more options

I have 2 IMAP accounts set up in my Thunderbird, but their structures seem set up differently and it's impacting my ability to archive emails.

For my [edited] @customyarn.com email, I'm able to archive an email, and it disappears from my Inbox, and goes to the Archive folder. I'd like to be able to do this for my [edited] @urbancraftuprising.com email too, but for that one, when I click Archive on an email, nothing happens and it stays in my inbox. I notice that this account doesn't have the same file structure (see screenshot), and no Archive folder to speak of, although I've configured these two accounts identically as far as I can tell (see other screenshot).

Any idea what's going on here? I'd love to be able to either archive or delete all these emails in my inbox and clear it out!

Thanks!

I have 2 IMAP accounts set up in my Thunderbird, but their structures seem set up differently and it's impacting my ability to archive emails. For my [edited] @customyarn.com email, I'm able to archive an email, and it disappears from my Inbox, and goes to the Archive folder. I'd like to be able to do this for my [edited] @urbancraftuprising.com email too, but for that one, when I click Archive on an email, nothing happens and it stays in my inbox. I notice that this account doesn't have the same file structure (see screenshot), and no Archive folder to speak of, although I've configured these two accounts identically as far as I can tell (see other screenshot). Any idea what's going on here? I'd love to be able to either archive or delete all these emails in my inbox and clear it out! Thanks!
Attached screenshots

Modified by James

All Replies (7)

more options

It appears you did not specify a folder for the archives.

more options

I know, these folder structures seem different for some reason. When I'm in the lindsey@urbancraftuprising.com settings, it allows me to click "Archive options" and then this box pops up. However, no Archive folder appears under this account.

Even if I select "New Folder" and just name it "Archives" nothing happens, no new folder appears.

Furthermore, I'm noticing that when I'm in my Inbox, EVERYTHING appears there--from real incoming mail to junk to sent mail and everything in between.

Seems like there is some setting here that is off but I can't for the life of me figure out what it is!

more options

If everything looks crazy, I suggest installing thunderbird over the top of what you have. That can often fix any misconfigurations that may have happened when first installed.

more options

I wouldn't say it looks crazy, I just wonder if the IMAP needs to be configured differently for the @urbancraftuprising.com address since it's on a different server than @customyarn.com.

But what do you mean by installing it over top? Just downloading a new installation, without installing the old one?

more options

Yes, installing new may correct any errors. Showing all mail in inbox is not the norm. And there should be option to assign a folder for archives.

more options

I just reinstalled it and unfortunately it didn't make a difference :-/

more options

Unfortunately as Thunderbird stores all your settings in your profile, reinstalling the software only resets certain operating system integration features like right click send to mail recipient. Not account settings.

As both of your accounts are IMAP I strongly recommend using a folder on that IMAP server to archive email. While Thunderbird "can" copy mail from one server to another is is prone to error and sometime silent failure. It is at best a work in progress in my opinion and not to be trusted with business records.

Generally an IMAP server notifies of the archive folder in the capa command. Sometimes this just goes wrong and manual intervention is required.

I suggest you start by going to the Synchronization and storage entry for the account that is offering difficulties and check if it has an archive folder and that it is subscribed (I am guessing it has one that is not subscribed) Regardless make sure the archive folder is subscribed.

BTW I do not understand your initial statement that the two accounts do not appear to have the same structure, as you only posted images of a single account I have nothing to compare.

Then ensure that the option in copies and folders is set to "archives folder on: Not the second option.