Unify your POP email accounts with a global inbox

Thunderbird can merge multiple inboxes from various POP accounts to make what is called a global inbox, where all of the received mail can be displayed in one convenient place. This article demonstrates how to set up a global inbox in Thunderbird.

1. After opening Thunderbird, select one of the accounts from the left pane to add to a global inbox.

2. Click on View settings for this account under the Accounts heading.

3. A new window will open in which all accounts will be listed in a pane to the left. From that pane, select Server Settings under the account that is to be added to the global inbox.

4. Under the Message Storage heading in Server Settings, click Advanced....

5. Another window will open. In this window, select the Inbox for different account option. After doing so, use the drop down menu to the right to select Global Inbox (Local Folders). Press OK after the selection.

6. Thunderbird will next ask to defer the account. Select OK after reading the message.

7. Thunderbird will go back to the account settings menu. Repeat steps three through six for every account that is to be included in the global inbox.

8. After doing so, restart Thunderbird to access the new global inbox. The chosen accounts' inboxes should be consolidated into one inbox entitled "Local Folders". Notice that all of the mail from the various accounts will now be displayed in that inbox and the individual email branches will be removed from the pane on the left side of the window.

For more information about POP accounts, see FAQ Changing IMAP to POP.