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.

Can a new email account (gmail) be added to only get new messages, not all the history?

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 15 views
  • Last reply by GTMail

GTMail
GTMail
more options

I need to setup a laptop to check email while away from home for a few weeks. I want to setup T-bird to handle it. I would like to only receive new email going forward, not all this history on the accounts. The last time I configured a T-bird account for Gmail, it downloaded every message that was out on Gmail for several years.

I need to setup a laptop to check email while away from home for a few weeks. I want to setup T-bird to handle it. I would like to only receive new email going forward, not all this history on the accounts. The last time I configured a T-bird account for Gmail, it downloaded every message that was out on Gmail for several years.

Chosen solution

From the web interface, move the Inbox messages to another folder, then add the account as POP type in TB, so that only the Inbox messages are downloaded. TB will default to IMAP when you add the account, so just click Manual.config. and enter POP settings:

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Using_Gmail_with_Thunderbird_and_Mozilla_Suite

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (4)

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Chosen Solution

From the web interface, move the Inbox messages to another folder, then add the account as POP type in TB, so that only the Inbox messages are downloaded. TB will default to IMAP when you add the account, so just click Manual.config. and enter POP settings:

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Using_Gmail_with_Thunderbird_and_Mozilla_Suite

GTMail
GTMail Question owner
more options

I tried those steps. On the web, I moved the existing messages to a folder. I set up Thunderbird as a POP account. When I told it to Get Messages, It went out and grabbed all the messages from the email account.

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Did TB download all the Gmail folders, including Sent etc.? When you select Tools/Account Settings/gmailaccount/Server Settings, is the Server Type listed as POP?

GTMail
GTMail Question owner
more options

Yes, it downloaded all the emails and folders. I did some checking on the Gmail website and found a setting there for POP3: Download ALL, Download from this point forward, Disable POP. It defaults to download all. I changed it to Download from this point forward. That took care of the issue. Three steps are required for Gmail: 1) Download TB and set the account to use POP instead of IMAP. 2) Log on to your Gmail web account and go to Settings, Forwarding and POP/IMAP. 3) Select Enable POP for mail that arrives from now on.

After doing these steps, start Thunderbird and it should only receive new email messages.

I will mark the issue solved, but wanting to provide you what I learned to help others in the future. Thank You , Greg Nackers