You need to supply more information in order to understand the extent of the problem. Your question is a bit like saying my car wont move. But I don't know if it has an engine or is missing wheels or whether you've just lost your keys or whether it's a broken toy. So can you answer some questions so we get a better understanding and it may help if you can post some images that help to explain your problem. '''Q:''' What OS are you using - Windows, Mac, Linux ? '''Q:''' What version of Thunderbird are you using? '''Q:''' Did Thunderbird start up and it acted like it was new - did it ask you to create a mail account? '''Q:''' What type of mail account are you talking about Pop or Imap ? '''Q:''' Is the mail account still visible in the Folder Pane? '''Q:''' Do you only only use the default set of folders or have you created several folders yourself to organise and store emails ? '''Q:''' Do you still see all the folders in the account ? You say 'all my messages are gone' '''Q:''' Gone from which folders - just the Inbox or every folder? '''Q:''' If this is an imap account do you need to subscribe to see missing folders? * Right click on imap mail account in folder pane and select 'Subscribe' * click on 'Refresh' * Select folders * click on 'Subscribe' * click on 'OK' If this is an imap account then it can only display whatever is on the server. Logon to your webmail account via a browser. '''Q:''' Do you see all your folders and emails ? '''Q:''' Do you access your emails via any other device eg: desktop, laptop, phone ? If yes, please state what device and are those devices using a pop or imap account ? '''Q:''' Have you got a filter operating which is altering the view of the Folder Pane or Inbox ? Check you have these settings: * 'Menu icon' > 'View' > 'Folders' > 'All' * 'Menu icon' > 'View' > 'Threads' > 'All' '''Q:'''Is there any 'Quick Filter Bar' icon highlighted? if yes - click on the highlighted icon to remove the filter. '''Q:''' When you select Inbox, what is shown in the Message List ? If you click on where you expect to see an email in list, doe it magically display in the Message Pane ? If yes, it sounds like you have an invisible list so try this: * right click on the column headers to see drop down and choose 'Restore column Order'