Keep gmail from synchronizing, storing mail or addresses
How (in real detail) do I keep gmail from synchronizing or storing any mail, anywhere up in my new gmail account (including 'All Mail'), once it is downloaded to Thunderbird. I also do not want Gmail to store any addresses. I have TB version 24.4.0 /// I am using Windows. I can't find anything that applies to my situation (or I don't understand it). I've also read all the detail in TB support. I can't delete the email up on Gmail without it deleting it down in TB. (Once I implement the fix, can I then wipe all email up on the Gmail site without anything happening to TB - or is there something 'unexpected' I need to know?) Thank you -Clockfrog
All Replies (2)
As you mention gmail 'All Mail' folder, it sounds like you have an IMAP gmail account.
IMAP mail accounts have a remote view of the folders on the server. You subscribe to see folders on the server. The emails are stored on the server. So, in essence, the folders you see in Thunderbird are one and the same as those on gmail server. if you delete an email via Thunderbird or webmail, it is deleting from the same folder.
Subscribed folder emails are downloaded to a short-term cache, to faciliate quicker access to display emails. They are not stored as a permanent copy on your computer.
If you synchronize folders then a local copy is created for offline use. If you perform any work on those emails, eg: move, delete, read. Then, that folder will resynch with the server and update the server so that both local copy and server are the same. More info at second link below.
If you copy/move an email to any folder under 'Local folders' then those emails are stored on your computer.
The gmail 'All Mail' folder is gmails archive of all of your emails, so you do not need to subscribe to see that folder as it doubles the amount of space required; it can impact on performance and you do not need to see all your emails twice. Info at first link on how to rmove the AllMail folder.
see info on IMAP at these links:
Modified by Toad-Hall
The type of action you describe - 'download to computer and delete off server' - is something you can do with a Pop mail account.
Pop mail accounts can only see the server Inbox. They connect with server, look in server Inbox for any emails not previously downloaded, then downloads those emails to Thunderbird mail account Inbox.
You cannot change an IMAP into a POP mail account.
You would need to create a new Pop mail account.
- 'File' > 'New' > 'Exisiting mail account'.
- enter your name, email address and password you use to access that mail account via webmail.
- click on 'Continue'
- Thunderbird will try to look up configuration
- check details, if it says IMAP then change to Pop and if necessary click on 'Manual Config' button to make any changes to server settings.
- click on 'Done' when finished.
You can choose to download and immediately delete off the server or leave on the server for xx days or leave on the server until you delete an email.
Check your settings before you choose to download. I would suggest that until you are certain that you have managed to download everything, select to 'leave emails on server'. You can modify this here:
- Tools > Account Settings > Server Settings
or
- 3bar menu icon > Options > Account settings > Server Settings
If you have emails in other folders on the server which you need to download:
- logon to webmail via a browser
- select a folder and move emails into server Inbox
- in Thunderbird click on 'GetMail' to download those emails.
- move emails into suitable folders
- Repeat for each folder on the server.
Once you have done this, all future incoming emails to server Inbox will be downloaded to Thunderbird.