I suggest you switch to table view, as that offers a one-line heading on message list pane with words such as SUBJECT CORRESPONDENTS DATE. CLick the DATE button to change order of sort. Then switch back to Card view

I did as you wrote, in this case all messages are sorted, except for grouped nested replies to messages. I need to sort responses to the same message by date, not all messages by date. The newest answers should be at the top and the oldest answers at the bottom.

I did as you wrote, in this case all messages are sorted, except for grouped nested replies to messages. I need to sort responses to the same message by date, not all messages by date. The newest answers should be at the top and the oldest answers at the bottom.

Ah I see, You are talking about 'threads', such as a continuing conversation of replies.

When you use: Sort by Date, Descending, Unthreaded All emails are separate, in date order with newest at top.

When you use: Sort by Date, Descending, Threaded All top level emails are sorted by date with newest at top Any top level emails which have threads will display the threads appended in order received. So the top level folder which was sorted by Date and Descending will contain 'replies' in Date order with newest at bottom. This is the same as an ongoing conversation, eg: if you have ever used 'Chat' in a Help forum or Facebook Message then reponses are appended as if in an ongoing conversation. Thunderbird does the same.

This has been raised before by various people as an enhancement request, but so far, nothing has changed.

Some people say, it's difficult to locate new mail.

All top level emails in a collapsed state with unread mail in thread will be underlined.

Quick way to see all new/unread mail would be to use the Quick Filter toobar click on the envelope icon with tooltip 'Show only unread messages' Afterwards uncheck that icon to disable the filter and return to normal view. This is quick and easy and saves a lot of messing around looking for emails.

Alternative : Right click on top level email and select : Open > Open Message in Conversation This opens all emails in a new tab.

Benefits - Less cluttered view of all relevant emails as it is only specific to one topic - one group/thread. It will also include any responses you made that relate to that thread. You can sort all emails by Date Descending - newest at top Easy to close everything in one go - close the tab.