The 'Sent Mail' folder sounds like a server default folder for storing sent messages. You cannot delete server default folders. eg: Gmail uses a 'Sent Mail' folder.

If you logon to webmail account via a browser, you will see the 'Sent Mail' folder.

What server are you using?

It is possible you have a setting in Account Settings to put copies of sent mail into the 'Sent' folder and the server is also by default putting copies into the 'Sent Mail' folder.

Advise you set up your account settings to use the 'Sent Mail' folder, so that everything is going into one folder.

• Right click on imap mail account and select 'Settings'
• select 'Copies & Folders'
• Select: 'Place a copy in'
• Select 'Other' and choose 'Sent Mail on mail account name'
• click on 'OK'
• Restart Thunderbird to ensure all settings are up and running.

Note : Gmail will use the 'Sent Mail' folder automatically and you do not need to set the option.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/thunderbird-and-gmail
• https://support.google.com/mail/answer/78892?hl=en

After making sure the Account Settings are using the 'Sent Mail' folder, move all sent emails from the 'Sent' folder into the 'Sent Mail' folder. So they are all in the same location. Then try to delete the 'Sent' folder. If that does not work try unsubscribing from seeing the 'Sent' folder and then access webmail to try to delete it.

Todd,

Thanks for responding. I use gmail for two accounts (IMAP). I went on server for both and only see "sent" and not "sent mail". I looked at copies and folders in Thunderbird and changed to other - sent.

I closed Thunderbird and sent a message - it appeared in sent mail folder. Did I miss something?

Sorry I mistyped . It appeared in both sent and sent mail.

re :I use gmail for two accounts (IMAP). I went on server for both and only see "sent" and not "sent mail".

Gmail stores all incoming and outgoing mail in the 'All Mail' folder. Gmail applies labels to those emails to make them show in other various folders. Some folders are default server folders. Gmail creates and uses 'Sent Mail' label for sent emails, so I'm not sure why you did not see it in the webmail account, so perhaps you have that label set as hidden. See image below which shows Gmail Settings > Labels tab. In the image you can see I have set gmail default label called 'Important' as 'hide', so you do not see it listed in the left pane. I suspect you have 'Sent Mail' set as 'hide'. You need to check this setting and set the label so it displays.

Gmail will automatically put all sent mail in 'Sent Mail'. Which is why they state: Copied from gmail advise help website: In Thunderbird... Copies & Folders tab In the "When sending message, automatically" section, uncheck "Place a copy in." In the "Drafts and Templates" section for "Keep message drafts in," select Other and then Your Gmail address and then [Gmail] and then Drafts.

You see it in 'Sent' because you have told Thunderbird to put it in 'Sent'. You need to use the settings as advised by gmail.

Thanks for your help. At one point you said I should unsubscribe a folder.I'm not sure what that means. Right now everything is going into sent mail not send. I can live with the unused folder.

Joel

re : At one point you said I should unsubscribe a folder.I'm not sure what that means.

In Thunderbird, to see imap folders, the folders are marked as 'subscribed' in order to see them in the Folder Pane. You will find that all default server folders are automatically subscribed. This is how you 'subscribe' or 'unsubscribe' from seeing non default server folders eg: folders you may have created. Right click on gmail imap mail account name in Folder Pane and select 'Subscribe' A small window opens showing the folder list. Folders that have a checkbox selected are 'subscribed' and should be displayed in the folder pane.

Try to unsubscribe from seeing 'Sent': click on 'Sent' to highlight click on 'Unsubscribe' button click on 'OK'