Then I'd suggest you create backups of your Thunderbird profile on a regular basis. https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data#w_backing-up-a-profile

i would really like to LOCK selected emails, (before my wife deletes them also) come on programmers, you can do it.

Why not just file them out of harm's way in another folder?

There is a setting "never delete starred messages". So you just set a star on your keepers. But I'd still want them out of the way.

I don't want them out of site, i'd like them front and center, but locked.

I have never seen 'never delete stared messages" where is it?

regards

Have you thought about using your calendar to remind you about things that need to be done?

Here is that setting: Tools|Account Settings|{select account}|Synchronisation & Storage→Always keep starred messages

However I have to withdraw that advice. I don't use stars myself, but having ensured the feature is enabled, and having restarted Thunderbird, I find it is just as eager as ever to delete messages. I think this setting to keep starred messages is to exempt particular messages from auto cleanup. If you press "del" then it assumes you know what you are doing.

You're doing two things I would expressly avoid. My rules, in this respect, are:

• Don't leave valuable messages in with all the traffic. File them; there are other ways to remind me to attend to stuff that needs it.
• Don't share an account. I have enough trouble deciding what I think is important and needs filing, without having to negotiate with and circumvent another user meddling with the same account.

I probably am being too podantic about what I want, but is it really that hard a thing to do. Do the actual Mozilla programmers read this forum. Why wouldn't they want to give the users what they want and would actually use often. there really is a lot of rubbish facilities in this programme that most people would never use. hello programmers -- are you there pls answer. wife and I always share accounts and always will. a simple lock on a tag, that all we ask.