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subfolder icon changes to "letter"

  • 6 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 48 views
  • Last reply by tom311

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Recently the icon for several of my subfolders has changed from a folder to a letter. Why is this happening? How can I control/prevent it? I can't seem to delete these either. Any advice?

Recently the icon for several of my subfolders has changed from a folder to a letter. Why is this happening? How can I control/prevent it? I can't seem to delete these either. Any advice?

Chosen solution

I believe the effected folders have got a folder flag for drafts.

Please use this addon:

How to install addon:

If you download the xpi file - image below is a guide.

Once addon extension is installed and is visible in 'Menu app icon > Addons and Themes' > Extensions: Right click on effected folder and select 'Properties' Select the 'Flags' tab uncheck any flag that has been set, let me know what flags were set. click on OK

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All Replies (6)

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UPDATED:

Can you offer me some information as I'm trying to put together data for the developers to see if we can find out what is going on.

Please tell me: What OS you use - Windows 10, 11, MAC, Linux ? What version of Thunderbird are you using?

This setting is commonly used: View > Folders > ALL But do you use any of the other views eg: Favourite, Unified, Unread, Recent ? Do you use those other views on a regular basis or sometimes? Which views do you use ?

For those folders with an incorrect 'drafts/letter' icon - have they been set up as a 'Favourite' ? Right click on folder with a 'drafts/letter' icon - is 'Favourite folder' selected ?

Please post an image showing the Folder Pane, so we can see the problem.

Do you experience a problem with any of the 'drafts/letter' icon folder emails ? eg: when you select an email so it displays in the Message Pane, does it look like a draft email, so buttons like 'Reply,forward etc' are missing ? OR are emails ok it is just the folder icon looking like a draft icon ?

Many thanks for helping.

I'm posting another comment with some instructions on attempt to fix.

Modified by Toad-Hall

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In Thunderbird Menu app icon (3 lines) > Help > More Troubleshooting information Under 'Application Basics' - 'Profile Folder' - click on 'Open Folder'

A new window opens showing contents of your profile name folder.

Exit thunderbird now - this is important.

Scroll down, locate and delete the following files:

  • folderTree.json
  • global-messages-db.sqlite
  • panacea.dat
  • session.json
  • virtualFolders.dat

Click on 'Mail' folder

  • Delete this folder: 'smart mailboxes'

Start Thunderbird

Please report back on whether this sorted the problem.

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Thanks OS - Windows 11 Thunderbird version 91.8.0 (32-bit) [Although my laptop is 64 bit] Setting selected: View > Folders > ALL Don’t use any of the other views - ever Folders with an incorrect 'drafts/letter' icon have NOT been set up as a 'Favourite' ? A right click on folder shows 'Favourite folder' is not selected Image showing the Folder Pane attached Note: the one with the blue line was created as a subfolder within the past month (and showed as such) but has changed to “letter” within the past week or so. The issue just started since the beginning of 2022.

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Tried the deleting process but no change.

FYI - when I right click on the "letter" image, there is no option to delete like there is when a subfolder image is right clicked.

I am curious about whether others have experienced this.

Just to add...These subfolders are populated both by dragging items from the Inbox and by sending a copy using Write>Options>Send a copy to.

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Chosen Solution

I believe the effected folders have got a folder flag for drafts.

Please use this addon:

How to install addon:

If you download the xpi file - image below is a guide.

Once addon extension is installed and is visible in 'Menu app icon > Addons and Themes' > Extensions: Right click on effected folder and select 'Properties' Select the 'Flags' tab uncheck any flag that has been set, let me know what flags were set. click on OK

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Thank you! That did the trick. Each was flagged as Draft. I unchecked it and the symbol changed to folder. I was able to delete the unwanted subfolder and rename the one I kept to the desired name.