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

Thunderbird keeps deleting recovered Mails

  • 1 reply
  • 2 have this problem
  • 3 views
  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

more options

Hello,

By mistake, I deleted all my mails in the inbox in thunderbird. Unfortunately, they didn't show up in deleted items nor in trash. But I found all mails on Outlook Web App under recover deleted mails. So I recovered all mails. So far, so good. Now I have all the mails back in OWA. But when I open Thunderbird again, the deleted mails do not show up. It seems that Thunderbird does not synchronize the folder. But now when I close Thunderbird again, all mails are deleted again. The previously recovered mails disappear again from the inbox of OWA and I have to recover them all again.

I have already tried several things. I created a new folder and moved the recovered mails to that folder. All in the hope that this folder will then sync properly. Unfortunately no. The folder does not sync and as soon as Thunderbird is closed again, all mails are also deleted again from the new folder on OWA.

I even reset Thunderbird and linked Thunderbird to the account again. Unfortunately, the same thing happens again. The recovered mails are not displayed in Thunderbird and after closing the program, the mails are deleted again in OWA and I have to recover them again.

Any suggestions?

Best regards

Hello, By mistake, I deleted all my mails in the inbox in thunderbird. Unfortunately, they didn't show up in deleted items nor in trash. But I found all mails on Outlook Web App under recover deleted mails. So I recovered all mails. So far, so good. Now I have all the mails back in OWA. But when I open Thunderbird again, the deleted mails do not show up. It seems that Thunderbird does not synchronize the folder. But now when I close Thunderbird again, all mails are deleted again. The previously recovered mails disappear again from the inbox of OWA and I have to recover them all again. I have already tried several things. I created a new folder and moved the recovered mails to that folder. All in the hope that this folder will then sync properly. Unfortunately no. The folder does not sync and as soon as Thunderbird is closed again, all mails are also deleted again from the new folder on OWA. I even reset Thunderbird and linked Thunderbird to the account again. Unfortunately, the same thing happens again. The recovered mails are not displayed in Thunderbird and after closing the program, the mails are deleted again in OWA and I have to recover them again. Any suggestions? Best regards

All Replies (1)

more options

Sounds like your imap account in Thunderbird may look empty but it has a record of deleted emails which upon exit has Inbox expunged - compacted so all traces of deleted emails are removed - hence they then disappear from OWA.

Removing and reinstalling Thunderbird will have no effect as nothing is wrong with the actual program. It's more likely something has gone wrong with the profile folders which contain the mail account.

I would try this: Start Thunderbird in Offline mode using the following info: In Windows search type: Run select Run app Enter this: thunderbird.exe -offline Click on 'OK'

Thunderbird should start up in 'Offline' mode meaning it has no access to internet. Make a note of the server settings and the stored password as you will need it.

Remove the imap account via:

  • Account Settings
  • Select name of account in left pane
  • click on 'Account Actions'
  • select 'Remove account'

Check all passwords relating to that account are gone.

  • Settings > Privacy & Security
  • Passwords section
  • click on 'Saved Passwords'
  • click on 'Show Passwords'
  • If you see any lines that have username = email address of removed account - select them and click on 'Remove', so there is no record of saved passwords.

Exit Thunderbird. Check all emails are recovered into the Inbox in webmail account

Start Thunderbird normally. create new imap account for the email address. check all the Account Settings etc are as required.