Join the AMA (Ask Me Anything) with the Firefox leadership team to celebrate Firefox 20th anniversary and discuss Firefox’s future on Mozilla Connect. Mark your calendar on Thursday, November 14, 18:00 - 20:00 UTC!

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 won't update folders until I click on them

  • 4 majibu
  • 1 ana tatizo hili
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by chris376

more options

I use Thunderbird with four email accounts over three differerent providers. Despite setting them all to "Check for new messages every 5 minutes" under Account Settings > Server Settings, each folder only checks for new mail when I click on them. Is there a setting I am missing? Any help appreciated.


   Name: Thunderbird
   Version: 78.9.0
   Build ID: 20210322094744
   Distribution ID:
I use Thunderbird with four email accounts over three differerent providers. Despite setting them all to "Check for new messages every 5 minutes" under Account Settings > Server Settings, each folder only checks for new mail when I click on them. Is there a setting I am missing? Any help appreciated. Name: Thunderbird Version: 78.9.0 Build ID: 20210322094744 Distribution ID:

Chosen solution

Gmail accounts, with All Mail, are usually set up to not subscribe to that folder (see All Mail section here). Inbox doesn't have that setting since it is checked according to the settings in Server Settings in Tools/Account Settings. With IMAP accounts, the Server Settings may not be relevant, as the Inbox is checked (synced) only when it is selected, and the rest of the time mail is downloaded only when it arrives at the server (the server supports IDLE), i.e. mail is not checked for new every N minutes.

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (4)

more options

Some folders won't check for new mail unless you check the box 'When getting new messages...' in the folder right-click menu, Properties.

more options

Thanks for your reply sfhowes. Two of my email accounts have "All Mail" folders which have the option you mention under Properties, however the other two only have the "Inbox" folder which doesn't.

more options

Suluhisho teule

Gmail accounts, with All Mail, are usually set up to not subscribe to that folder (see All Mail section here). Inbox doesn't have that setting since it is checked according to the settings in Server Settings in Tools/Account Settings. With IMAP accounts, the Server Settings may not be relevant, as the Inbox is checked (synced) only when it is selected, and the rest of the time mail is downloaded only when it arrives at the server (the server supports IDLE), i.e. mail is not checked for new every N minutes.

more options

Thanks for all your help!