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Unified Folders Has Different Behavior on Two Computers

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I have Thunderbird 68.10.0 on two Windows 10 computers, and I use "unified folders" on both. On both, in the Folder pane under "Inbox" there is a line for each of my email accounts. However, on computer "A" when I select the "Inbox" line itself, I see all messages from all account inboxes combined in the message list, whereas on computer "B" I see nothing in the message list when I select the "Inbox" line.

> How do I configure "B" to have the same behavior as "A"?

Further info: -- "A" also shows entries for "Unread" and "Total," but not "Size" (if I have those columns displayed) on the "Inbox" line, but "B" shows nothing in those columns for the "Inbox" line. -- When I right-click on "Inbox" on "A," I have five options, but on "B" I have eight. -- This isn't new behavior from a recent update; I am just finally asking after years. -- The analogous thing applies to Drafts, Sent, Archives, Junk and Trash folders for my accounts. Drafts and Sent lines display Unread and Total, but Archives, Junk and Trash only display Total.

I have Thunderbird 68.10.0 on two Windows 10 computers, and I use "unified folders" on both. On both, in the Folder pane under "Inbox" there is a line for each of my email accounts. However, on computer "A" when I select the "Inbox" line itself, I see all messages from all account inboxes combined in the message list, whereas on computer "B" I see nothing in the message list when I select the "Inbox" line. > How do I configure "B" to have the same behavior as "A"? Further info: -- "A" also shows entries for "Unread" and "Total," but not "Size" (if I have those columns displayed) on the "Inbox" line, but "B" shows nothing in those columns for the "Inbox" line. -- When I right-click on "Inbox" on "A," I have five options, but on "B" I have eight. -- This isn't new behavior from a recent update; I am just finally asking after years. -- The analogous thing applies to Drafts, Sent, Archives, Junk and Trash folders for my accounts. Drafts and Sent lines display Unread and Total, but Archives, Junk and Trash only display Total.

Isisombululo esikhethiwe

Everything to do with computer A is correct.

Computer B, is confused, re :When I right-click on "Inbox" on "B" I have eight. for some reason it is behaving as if the 'Inbox' is not Unified. You would see 8 options by default on a standard folder not a virtual Inbox.

On computer B 1. Set the folders back to standard format.

  • 'View' > 'Folders' > 'All'

2. Delete the information storing data for the Unified view and global search.

  • Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • Click on 'Open Folder' button

A new window opens showing the contents of your profile name folder

  • Exit Thunderbird now - this is important
  • Delete: global-messages-db.sqlite
  • Delete: panacea.dat
  • Delete: virtualFolders.dat
  • Delete: xulstore.json
  • Click on 'Mail' folder
  • Delete: 'smart mailboxes' folder

3. Start Thunderbird

4. Set view back to Unified.

  • 'View' > 'Folders' > 'Unified'


Please report back on results.

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All Replies (5)

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Isisombululo Esikhethiwe

Everything to do with computer A is correct.

Computer B, is confused, re :When I right-click on "Inbox" on "B" I have eight. for some reason it is behaving as if the 'Inbox' is not Unified. You would see 8 options by default on a standard folder not a virtual Inbox.

On computer B 1. Set the folders back to standard format.

  • 'View' > 'Folders' > 'All'

2. Delete the information storing data for the Unified view and global search.

  • Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • Click on 'Open Folder' button

A new window opens showing the contents of your profile name folder

  • Exit Thunderbird now - this is important
  • Delete: global-messages-db.sqlite
  • Delete: panacea.dat
  • Delete: virtualFolders.dat
  • Delete: xulstore.json
  • Click on 'Mail' folder
  • Delete: 'smart mailboxes' folder

3. Start Thunderbird

4. Set view back to Unified.

  • 'View' > 'Folders' > 'Unified'


Please report back on results.

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Note on collateral damage: Popup on restart said, "Unable to load address book file abook-2.mab. It may be read-only, or locked by another application. Please try again later." Another quit and restart appear to have fixed this.

Thanks very much for your help!

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Good to hear all is now ok.

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This did not work. I still am missing messages that were in the original 3 mail accounts inboxes before running the unify instructions to create a global inbox.

Where did these messages go? Some were read some were not.

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N4NW Do you have two computers showing different results? Are the three accounts imap accounts? If yes, are the missing emails shown on the server in the webmail account accessed via a browser?

re :before running the unify instructions to create a global inbox. Are you talking about using 'View' > 'Folders' > 'Unified' ? Do you have emails shown in the account Inbox, but not in the virtual Unified Inbox?

If you do not have exactly the same setup and issue as the person who created this question, then you may have an entirly different issue. If the 'Chosen Solution' does not work for you then create your question. Posting in this question is only sending emails to the person who originally asked the question and they may not be able to help nor appreciate you sending emails to them.