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How do I exclude an existing account from the Get Messages button action?

  • 4 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by TimDWest

TimDWest
TimDWest
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I have 3 email accounts in Thunderbird (version 45.6.0) all of which are shown when I click the Get Messages dropdown (although one has a padlock, which presumably means I've already managed to do what I'm asking, though I can't remember or find out how!) I now want to prevent a second account having its mail fetched when I click the Get Messages button (I realise I could just go via the dropdown, but I'd like to avoid this in case I do press the button) I've cleared the two Check for new messages... options under Server Settings for the account I want to stop, but the button still fetches for that account. No doubt the answer will be simple, but I've been through Options and Account Settings several times and I can't find it :-(

I have 3 email accounts in Thunderbird (version 45.6.0) all of which are shown when I click the Get Messages dropdown (although one has a padlock, which presumably means I've already managed to do what I'm asking, though I can't remember or find out how!) I now want to prevent a second account having its mail fetched when I click the Get Messages button (I realise I could just go via the dropdown, but I'd like to avoid this in case I do press the button) I've cleared the two Check for new messages... options under Server Settings for the account I want to stop, but the button still fetches for that account. No doubt the answer will be simple, but I've been through Options and Account Settings several times and I can't find it :-(

All Replies (4)

Tonnes
Tonnes
  • Locale Leader
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This is a little odd, because the Get Messages button should only fetch messages for the currently selected account, as shown in the tooltip when hovering the button, unless you are using a very old version of Thunderbird. Only when clicking the small arrow on the right side of the button and choosing the top entry should make Thunderbird get mail for all accounts. (See this bug for more info.)

Since you also see a padlock, could it be you have installed some add-on affecting this behavior, such as Easy Get Mail Button or Easy Get Mail Button New? Check Tools > Add-ons if you don’t know, or start Thunderbird in Safe Mode by holding the Shift button when starting it (or by selecting Help > Restart with Add-ons Enabled) and choosing "Continue in Safe Mode" when prompted for comparison.

Does this help?

TimDWest
TimDWest Question owner
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Thanks Tonnes, I'm using 45.6.0 which should be up-to-date AFAIK. The tooltip (and therefore presumably the button too) works as you state, so I think I've possibly been misled by the padlock and/or pressing the button to coincide with a timed fetch in the past/now. This should therefore be problem solved :-) Just to follow on with the padlock, I have 11 plug-ins all of which are disabled/Never Activate and 3 extensions (Adblock Plus, LIghtning and Mail Merge) all enabled & none of which are obviously cause for the padlock. I could try disabling them to find out if any of them are responsible, but its probably not worth pursuing. Thanks again :-)

Zenos
Zenos
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I think the padlock simply means the account uses SSL or TLS over an encrypted connection. Many users simply don't appear to notice it until something goes wrong and then they suddenly assume the icon only just appeared.

This add-on:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-GB/thunderbird/addon/get-selected-mails/

lets you group various accounts so you can separate those you want from those you don't.

TimDWest
TimDWest Question owner
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That would make sense for the padlock :-) It had been present in the folder pane (in front of the envelope) all the time (on my gmail account) and I hadn't ever noticed it, even when I saw it on the Get Messages dropdown. The history: I'd transferred the gmail account to run under Outlook (can't remember why) a while ago. Then a few days ago I transferred my ntlworld account as well. Slight complication in that my own domain account (still in Thunderbird at that point) also uses the smtp.ntlworld.com server. I'd tried upping the security from None (changing port from 25 to 465 etc), but it wouldn't have it. Yesterday I could not send anything via smtp.ntlworld.com in Thunderbird, but could in Outlook, unable to see any difference in settings, so I've had to transfer the lot to Outlook :-( pita, but hey ho! Thanks for your help guys :-)