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

do not delete tagged messages

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by SafeTex

more options

Hello I sometimes have to delete lots of old messages but do not want to delete tagged messages (pending, to do, awaiting reply are some of my tags). I've looked for a setting or add-on to achieve this but can't find one. Is it possible? Thanks

Hello I sometimes have to delete lots of old messages but do not want to delete tagged messages (pending, to do, awaiting reply are some of my tags). I've looked for a setting or add-on to achieve this but can't find one. Is it possible? Thanks

All Replies (2)

more options

A couple of ideas:

1:

  • Create suitable folder to receive tagged emails
  • Use 'Quick Filter Bar' Tag icon to 'show only messages with tags on them'
  • Highlight all emails - select first email then 'Ctrl + A'
  • Right click on highlighted emails > 'Move to' and choose folder.
  • Clear the 'show only messages with tags on them' by clicking on the icon to show all remaining emails that have no Tags.
  • Highlight remaining emails or subset and click on 'Delete'


2: If all your 'tagged' emails were also marked with a star, then you could set a retention policy on the folder.

  • Use 'Quick Filter Bar' Tag icon to 'show only messages with tags on them'
  • Highlight all emails - select first email then 'Ctrl + A'
  • Right click on highlighted emails > Mark > Add star
  • Clear the 'show only messages with tags on them' by clicking on the icon to show all remaining emails that have no Tags.

Note using the following setting on the selected folder will delete from Thunderbird AND off the server once you click on 'OK'. So be sure this is the action you want.

  • Right click on folder and select 'Properties'
  • Select 'Retention Policy' tab
  • Uncheck 'Use my account settings' to offer more choices.
  • Select 'Delete messages more than eg: 7 days'
  • Select: 'Always keep starred messages'.
  • click on 'OK'

As all tagged emails are now starred they should not be deleted. If in doubt as you may like to test this action - suggest you create a copy of all tagged emails and put them in eg: 'Local Folders' or create a backup of entire profile if you have not one recently.

After using the 'Properties' > 'Retention Policy' option on folder, you could reset to use account settings or leave as is. If left to auto delete, then it might be a useful precaution to use a filter to add a star by default to all new mail. Removing the star upon reading if deciding to discard and leaving star but adding tag as required.

Modified by Toad-Hall

more options

Thanks Toad Hall