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Thunderbird “just mark as deleted” behaviour

  • 3 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 148 views
  • Last reply by christ1

entodoays
entodoays
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On my computer I use Thunderbird to read my Gmail account on Linux. I set it to "just mark messages as deleted". When I go to a different folder and come back, the messages that were marked as deleted disappear.

I like this behaviour and I tried to set up a friend's Thunderbird (on Windows) that's configured to use Gmail, to do the same. I didn't manage to get the marked messages to disappear when I change folders. The marked messages remain there until I compact the folder.

Is there a setting somewhere in the configuration to set the desired behaviour?

On my computer I use Thunderbird to read my Gmail account on Linux. I set it to "just mark messages as deleted". When I go to a different folder and come back, the messages that were marked as deleted disappear. I like this behaviour and I tried to set up a friend's Thunderbird (on Windows) that's configured to use Gmail, to do the same. I didn't manage to get the marked messages to disappear when I change folders. The marked messages remain there until I compact the folder. Is there a setting somewhere in the configuration to set the desired behaviour?

Chosen solution

I just found how to set the behaviour as requested. The difference was in the IMAP server.

Setting the IMAP server to imap.gmail.com makes messages marked as deleted to stay there until the folder is compacted.

Setting the IMAP server to imap.googlemail.com makes messages marked as deleted to stay only until you change folder and come back to it.

P.S. The Gmail account option to auto-expunge deleted messages (Options-Forwarding & POP/IMAP) needs to be selected (default).

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All Replies (3)

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
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I didn't manage to get the marked messages to disappear when I change folders.

I'd say that is the correct behavior. The question is more why do the messages disappear after changing folders.

entodoays
entodoays Question owner
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Chosen Solution

I just found how to set the behaviour as requested. The difference was in the IMAP server.

Setting the IMAP server to imap.gmail.com makes messages marked as deleted to stay there until the folder is compacted.

Setting the IMAP server to imap.googlemail.com makes messages marked as deleted to stay only until you change folder and come back to it.

P.S. The Gmail account option to auto-expunge deleted messages (Options-Forwarding & POP/IMAP) needs to be selected (default).

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
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Good. When your problem has been fixed can you mark the thread as 'Solved' please? Thank you.