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.

How do I get rid of bookmarks like [Gmail], gmail & imap.gmail.com

  • 3 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 10 views
  • Last reply by Zenos

JohnSumner
JohnSumner
more options

1. How do I get rid of bookmarks named [Gmail], gmail & imap.gmail.com. These headings are mixed in with the usual Inbox, Draft, Sent, etc..

2. I have set my deleted mail (deleted from Inbox) to be saved in Trash (followed by my account name). Currently my deleted mail just disappear - a problem when you want to recap.

1. How do I get rid of bookmarks named [Gmail], gmail & imap.gmail.com. These headings are mixed in with the usual Inbox, Draft, Sent, etc.. 2. I have set my deleted mail (deleted from Inbox) to be saved in Trash (followed by my account name). Currently my deleted mail just disappear - a problem when you want to recap.
Attached screenshots

All Replies (3)

Zenos
Zenos
more options

Your gmail and imap.gmail.com are a bit odd. I've had those too and I don't know where they come from.

You might try visiting the gmail website, log into your email account there, and remove the labels. And then delete them in Thunderbird.

As for [Gmail]…

I have several gmail accounts and they all have this sub-structure. When I meet something like this, I ask myself:

  • who put it there? (it wasn't me)
  • what's it for?

If I don't know the answers to these, my inclination is to leave well alone. The subfolders beneath [Gmail] include Spam and Bin. Now, where would spam and deleted messages go if these labels/folders weren't available? What if messages are incorrectly categorized as Spam, or deleted by mistake? How would you recover them?

You can flatten the file system here by setting [Gmail] as the top-level folder in this account. Go to Tools|Account Settings|{select account}|Server Settings→Advanced|IMAP Server Directory and set it to [Gmail].

I haven't tried this in anger myself. I tested it once and it appeared to work, but I really couldn't find a justification for such a change and possible ramifications.

I use Saved Search folders to aggregate multiple similar folders (e.g. Junk/Spam/Bulk Mail, or Trash/Bin/Deleted) across multiple accounts, so I don't tend to care where folders are actually located.

JohnSumner
JohnSumner Question owner
more options

These problems were noticed around the time Windows 10 was installed, but that comment doesn't help. I find the Gmail options over-complicated especially as I only want the basic heading for the Thunderbird bookmarks. I have 4 Gmail accounts and they all seem to have a list of bookmarks of their own.

Zenos
Zenos
more options

They are folders, or labels in Gmail terminology. I find it odd that you consider them to be "bookmarks". "Bookmarks" usually means placeholders set by the user for his own convenience and these things in Thunderbird appear to be somewhat more permanent and persistent. If Google choose to put things into a specific folder then that's what we have to work with.

This is how Google choose to implement IMAP-based email. I've had this argument before that the user should have the ultimate choice, and the answer then is to go re-set the base folder, and grow your own folders effectively within the [Gmail] folder thereby rendering it invisible.

You have two choices; change the account settings, or work with it as it is.