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Get mail from server and leave nothing on server

JimmyJoeBob
JimmyJoeBob
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I remember on older versions of Thunderbird there was a check box that said in effect, "Remove mail from Server after Download" or "Leave mail on Server after Download". I can't remember which one it was. My wife thought that since you removed that option from the first page of Server settings, it meant you had it defaulting to "delete from server after downloading to client". Imagine her surprise when it stopped downloading emails. Upon checking the Spectrum server, she found it had 15,600 emails for her going back several years. We had to delete the email account to get rid of all those emails.

Is there a way that I can keep emails on my PC until I decide to delete them but have them removed from the remote server as soon as they are downloaded to the copy of Thunderbird on my PC? That's if Folks. Thanks.

I remember on older versions of Thunderbird there was a check box that said in effect, "Remove mail from Server after Download" or "Leave mail on Server after Download". I can't remember which one it was. My wife thought that since you removed that option from the first page of Server settings, it meant you had it defaulting to "delete from server after downloading to client". Imagine her surprise when it stopped downloading emails. Upon checking the Spectrum server, she found it had 15,600 emails for her going back several years. We had to delete the email account to get rid of all those emails. Is there a way that I can keep emails on my PC until I decide to delete them but have them removed from the remote server as soon as they are downloaded to the copy of Thunderbird on my PC? That's if Folks. Thanks.

All Replies (1)

user01229325
user01229325
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I suggest you Google IMAP vs POP so you know how the two protocols work and differ. The lack of a Leave on the Server option indicates you are using IMAP. IMAP is server based email and the messages are on the server. You just view them remotely from your computer or other devices. Delete a message anywhere and it is gone everywhere.