Multiple emails from same sender not downloading!
Recently Thunderbird has stopped downloading multiple emails when the sender is the same, there are no settings to override or change this!
How do I know this is happening? I have specific emails automatically forwarded to an additional address on my email server. Those forwarded emails are arriving to that forwarded address without error. However the same emails, that used to be downloaded, are not available in Thunderbird!
In this situation, I have mails for job offers that range from 1 to 3 mails at a time (per day), all from the same sender (auto mailer). One, and only one, Thunderbird downloads. The others are not. No, they are not in the spam, junk or trash folders, they simply are ignored, but marked as downloaded on the server - and Thunderbird ignores them after that.
I consider this a major programming error as this behavior was not happening in the past. This needs to be addressed and an update provided asap, as there is no reason for this to be happening. Not one.
The only changes was Thunderbird updating, no new add-ons were added or removed. I do not remember what the last version was that was working correctly, but this change started near the end of 2018.
Had I not had an auto-forward on on this sender, I wouldn't have known it was happening. If the programmers are abusing the end user in this way, I wonder how many other mails I, and many others, are not getting and how many Thunderbird (and inevitability Mozilla) may be sending without us even knowing it.
Mozilla needs to address this - publicly.
All Replies (9)
Still waiting for something to happen here!
delusionalmatt said
Still waiting for something to happen here!
You have made a lot of accusations about what has happened and offered no proof, so what exactly do you want someone to do? I am not missing mail, I have seen no one else missing mails in the way you claim. Therefore I can only assume it is something on your system or settings that is causing you to see this.
So perhaps you might like to try some diagnostic steps while you try and determine why it is only you.
BTW if the mail is showing downloaded the party is over for those I guess they will never be "new" again to test changes. So you will need new examples as you go to test on.
My guess at this point is it is quite probably some sort of anti spam or anti something managed by your anti virus product. t could also be like the Google mail where they do not ever offer mail from yourself. It just goes into some digital bit bucket somewhere.
So you might test using safe mode;
- Restart Thunderbird with add-ons disabled (Thunderbird Safe Mode). On the Help menu, click on "Restart with Add-ons Disabled". If Thunderbird works like normal, there is an Add-on or Theme interfering with normal operations. You will need to re-enable add-ons one at a time until you locate the offender.
- Restart the operating system in safe mode with Networking. This loads only the very basics needed to start your computer while enabling an Internet connection. Click on your operating system for instructions on how to start in safe mode: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, OSX
- If safe mode for the operating system fixes the issue, there's other software in your computer that's causing problems. Possibilities include but not limited to: AV scanning, virus/malware, background downloads such as program updates.
But to establish Thunderbird is not accepting the mail, you would need to see somewhere where it is refusing these mails. The only way to do that is log the connection and trawl through the logs. See https://wiki.mozilla.org/MailNews:Logging to locate the action that is causing troubles.
Additionally; What mail provider is it? Is the account IMAP or POP? Does the mail server pass the tests here? https://www.htbridge.com/ssl/
Additionally please post the Mail and News Accounts information and the Extensions information from the troubleshooting information on the help menu. Note the information can be selected with your mouse and a right click offers a copy menu.
I have done extensive testing, including installing a clean download and setting up the software on an entirely different computer with NO extensions.
I can safely say Thunderbird not only does not download from a specific sender, it also deletes the mail from the server (pop)!
The specific email address is "jagent@route.monster.com". Other emails from anyone else, are downloaded correctly. It would appear someone at Mozilla is intentionally doing this in the program code. As I said, I tested with a clean installation and this is happening. The server-side forwarding from the same sender is working and the mails remain on the server until Thunderbird accesses the account. No, the server forwarding is not deleting the mail!
This needs to be addressed asap.
I will also be informing additional people of this to get this resolved.
I do consider this 100% intentional by someone working with/for Mozilla.
With this, how many other addresses are being intentionally blocked?!
re : it also deletes the mail from the server (pop)!
It is a normal default setting for servers to allow a download and then server deletes copy of email stored on server. This is not a Thunderbird thing, it is how all pop mail accounts work. If you want to keep messages on the server after the server has popped the email, then you need to do the following:
- Right click on pop mail account name in Folder Pane and select 'Settings'
- Select 'Server Settings'
- Select 'Leave messages on server'
- click on 'OK'
re : Those forwarded emails are arriving to that forwarded address without error.
So all the same sender (auto mailer) emails are visible in the webmail account and they are all in the server 'Inbox'. Logon to webmail to confirm how many of these particular of those emails are currently in the 'Inbox'. Make a note of the number and also the total number of new emails that need to be downloaded.
Regarding those same sender (auto mailer) emails as seen in the webmail account: Q: What is in the 'Subject' line? Q: Is there any mention of 'Re:' or similar at the start of the Subject ?
In Thunderbird, click on 'Get Messages'
After download:
'Menu icon' > 'Activity Manager'
Q:How many emails does it say were downloaded?
Q:Is that exactly the same as shown in the Inbox?
Q:Does it say any were moved to any other folder?
Q: Have you created any Message Filters ?
re :I have done extensive testing,
You were asked to start your computer using 'safe mode with Networking'. Did you do this test ? You would need to run in this mode for a while to see what effects this was having on downloading emails, in particular you needed to run in that mode long enough to establish known new same sender (auto mailer) emails in webmail account were downloading . What happened when you Restarted the operating system in 'safe mode with Networking' and then started Thunderbird ?
All emails from the mentioned domain are available only, and I mean exactly that, mails from the mentioned email address are automatically deleted. No prompts, no activity my side, completely automated. All other, and I mean exactly that, mails are left on the server as desired.
As far as Thunderbird default pop setting to being delete, this setting was changed to "Leave messages on server" and "Until I delete them".
This needs to be looked into verses pointing at the user that actually knows the settings and has taken the time to test it.
re :, no activity my side... mails from the mentioned email address are automatically deleted.
You have stated this many times, but you need to establish at what point are they being deleted - assuming they are deleted.
I need some feedback information on all the various questions and what it says in the 'Activity Manager'. If Thunderbird downloaded or deleted those emails then it would be stated in the 'Activity Manager'.
So check the server webmail account for number of emails. Then start Thunderbird. Does it state X emails were deleted in the Activity Manager? Does it state the correct number of emails were downloaded - in other words it downloaded all of those missing emails as well as the ones you see OR does it say it only downloaded the number you see in Thunderbird?
Regarding those same sender (auto mailer) emails as seen in the webmail account:
Q: What is in the 'Subject' line?
Q: Is there any mention of 'Re:' or similar at the start of the Subject ?
Do you have this setting:
- Menu icon > View > Messages > All
- Menu icon > View > Threads > All
What setting are you using for 'Sort by'? eg: Sort by > Date and Descending and Unthreaded ?
You were asked to start your computer using 'safe mode with Networking'. Did you do this test ?
Have you considered that you mail provider or server software might be refusing mail from that address. That is far more likely that any of the things you have suggested.
Email comes with no guarantee of delivery, nor does it come with an guarantee of notification to the sender for refusal to accept mail. Unless you can demonstrate that the mail was actually present on the mail server by viewing it in a web mail client then I suggest you look at why delivery to your address fails. The very name of route in the email address might be a clue.