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"Find/Search message" does not search within body of emails - FATAL FLAW

  • 1 reply
  • 6 have this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by rsx11m

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I have used Thunderbird for many years. In the past, when I have searched for particular messages, my most common strategy has been to look for a keyword in the message body. Now Edit/Find/Search Messages no longer offers the option of searching the Body of messages. I would paste in a screenshot but I can't see how to do so. Trust me, the pull-down menu offers: Subject, From, Date, Priority, Status, To, CC, and many other useful choices.

But not Body.

I have tried checking for updates, restarting Thunderbird, and restarting my computer, to no avail. I am running version 11.0.1 of Thunderbird on my MacBook Pro, which is running version 10.1.2. Thunderbird for Mac hasn't been updated for a long time, which makes me wonder whether this problem is an unexpected result of recent Mac OS updates.

Suggestions? If I am no longer able to search the body of messages on Thunderbird, I will have to switch to a different email program. That would be time-consuming and SAD.

Thanks for your help.

I have used Thunderbird for many years. In the past, when I have searched for particular messages, my most common strategy has been to look for a keyword in the message body. Now Edit/Find/Search Messages no longer offers the option of searching the Body of messages. I would paste in a screenshot but I can't see how to do so. Trust me, the pull-down menu offers: Subject, From, Date, Priority, Status, To, CC, and many other useful choices. But not Body. I have tried checking for updates, restarting Thunderbird, and restarting my computer, to no avail. I am running version 11.0.1 of Thunderbird on my MacBook Pro, which is running version 10.1.2. Thunderbird for Mac hasn't been updated for a long time, which makes me wonder whether this problem is an unexpected result of recent Mac OS updates. Suggestions? If I am no longer able to search the body of messages on Thunderbird, I will have to switch to a different email program. That would be time-consuming and SAD. Thanks for your help.

All Replies (1)

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Is this an IMAP account for which synchronization isn't enabled? In this case, you have to search on the server.

In the Search Messages window, check "Run search on server" and open the drop-down menu again. Now it should offer the "Body" option to search in.

Modified by rsx11m