Why are all Gmail messages in my sent folder suddenly showing as drafts?
I've just noticed that when I select a letter in my sent folder it has a banner stating "This is a draft message." ... Then also a button to "Edit" and an "X" to clear the banner. Not sure how long this has been going on, but I've had this account and used Thunderbird for years without this issue. At Gmail the same message shows as [Imap]/Sent. Every message has this banner. I have multiple gmail accounts in Tbird, but only this one is having that problem. Any ideas? Thanks in advance for your help. ~ Barb
Running Thunderbird 31.2.0 and Windows 8.1
Chosen solution
Hi Barb,
Your image reveals a Gmail folder in yellow. This is TB's way of signalling user-added content the same btw as the billed folder. There's a history behind this on which I can only speculate. But TB won't get out of this mess without help. My advice: Disable the old account. Server settings - untick check for new messages at startup and check for messages every xx minutes.
Now set-up this account brand-new. Connect to the remote server (importing folder structure and any possible stored mails) , and after that's finished copy (just drag and drop) from the old account Inbox / Sent Mail / Billed to the new account. Mind you the content from Sent Mail goes to Sent !!, Drafts can be ignored and billed is a new folder setup the same way as in the old account. Keep the old account (again disabled) for a couple of days to make sure everything runs fine, then go to account actions and remove it.
/Frans
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Here's a screenshot if that helps. Thanks again
Modified by 4bporeo2
Hi Barb,
saving them as draft is "normal" for TB if it has difficulties sending. My guess is that for whatever reason TB experiences delays in delivering the message at your Mail-Provider. Thus the situation can arise where the mail is both in draft (TB's build-in precaution) and Sent (after prolonged trying TB was able to deliver the message)
/Frans
Hi Frans and thanks very much for your response!
I can't be 100% certain, but I think this is a new "problem", yet every single sent message for this account is showing that banner. I have several Gmail accounts I manage through T-bird, but this is the only one that is happening in.
But ... In double checking that just now, I see that the problem is specific to this folder only! May I ask you, can you offer any insight on why there are 2 sent folders within the account? The "sent drafts" are occurring in the top "sent" folder. The sent emails within the [Gmail] / Sent folder are fine and do not show that draft banner. I have expanded the directory tree and attached another screen shot for your consideration. It shows the same message except this time in the other "sent" folder.
Do I need both sent folders? Which one would I remove?
Thanks in advance for any help you may offer.
Best regards, Barb
Chosen Solution
Hi Barb,
Your image reveals a Gmail folder in yellow. This is TB's way of signalling user-added content the same btw as the billed folder. There's a history behind this on which I can only speculate. But TB won't get out of this mess without help. My advice: Disable the old account. Server settings - untick check for new messages at startup and check for messages every xx minutes.
Now set-up this account brand-new. Connect to the remote server (importing folder structure and any possible stored mails) , and after that's finished copy (just drag and drop) from the old account Inbox / Sent Mail / Billed to the new account. Mind you the content from Sent Mail goes to Sent !!, Drafts can be ignored and billed is a new folder setup the same way as in the old account. Keep the old account (again disabled) for a couple of days to make sure everything runs fine, then go to account actions and remove it.
/Frans
Thanks, Frans! That sounds like a do-able solution ... I'll give it a try. ~ Barb