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Thunderbird Account removal - does it only affect local files?

  • 2 replies
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  • Last reply by bryanmccrae

bryanmccrae
bryanmccrae
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I have two accounts set up in Thunderbird that access the same server, one via POP, one via IMAP, both using the same email address. I only use the IMAP account now. If I remove the POP account, will that affect what is one the server in any way, also will it affect the local IMAP account in any way?

Is there anything I should be aware of before deleting the account?

Thanks. Bryan

I have two accounts set up in Thunderbird that access the same server, one via POP, one via IMAP, both using the same email address. I only use the IMAP account now. If I remove the POP account, will that affect what is one the server in any way, also will it affect the local IMAP account in any way? Is there anything I should be aware of before deleting the account? Thanks. Bryan

Chosen solution

If you're happy that the IMAP based account shows you everything you want to see, then I'd happily go ahead with deleting the POP version.

When you delete an account, you're asked if you also want to remove the "data", meaning stored messages, filters etc. Leaving this option unchecked means that the data will be kept, but hidden. Of course it also means that you don't release any disk space.

But to answer your question directly, you can delete either account without affecting the other. In one case, POP, it's all stored locally, in the other it's all stored on the IMAP server. Deleting either doesn't touch what the other account uses. My main concern would be that there are old messages in the POP account that may not still be on the server and so would not be visible in the IMAP account.

Since I am a hoarder by nature, I'd probably copy all the messages from the POP account into the Local Folders account (or even the IMAP version) and deal with duplicates later on.

Unfortunately, it's not easy to compare email accounts to check for duplicates, or more importantly, unique (or non-duplicated!) messages.

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All Replies (2)

Zenos
Zenos
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Chosen Solution

If you're happy that the IMAP based account shows you everything you want to see, then I'd happily go ahead with deleting the POP version.

When you delete an account, you're asked if you also want to remove the "data", meaning stored messages, filters etc. Leaving this option unchecked means that the data will be kept, but hidden. Of course it also means that you don't release any disk space.

But to answer your question directly, you can delete either account without affecting the other. In one case, POP, it's all stored locally, in the other it's all stored on the IMAP server. Deleting either doesn't touch what the other account uses. My main concern would be that there are old messages in the POP account that may not still be on the server and so would not be visible in the IMAP account.

Since I am a hoarder by nature, I'd probably copy all the messages from the POP account into the Local Folders account (or even the IMAP version) and deal with duplicates later on.

Unfortunately, it's not easy to compare email accounts to check for duplicates, or more importantly, unique (or non-duplicated!) messages.

bryanmccrae
bryanmccrae Question owner
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Thanks, deleted now and all seems ok.