Just realized, this is happening on the newer computer as well, Windows 11, decent processor speed.

Wishing now that I had left it on the more stable annual release version. These problems may be due to the more frequent updates after Mozilla suggested up grading the program.

A few things to try before giving up:

1. Rebuild the folder index manually (just once):

   Right-click the affected folder.

   Choose Properties.

   Click Repair Folder.

2. Disable Global Search (optional workaround if above doesn't work):

   Go to Settings > General.

   Under Indexing, un-check 'Enable Global Search and Indexer'.

Let me know if that helps!

Thanks for the reply. Since it started seeming like it was all of the folders, on both computers, I did a full uninstall, and removed the profile directories as well.

Now I'm reinstalling the annual update version, and it also automatically sets up the accounts for Hotmail now so the settings will be right.

I'll see how long it takes to download all of the folders, it won't be that long.

I do like having the global search enabled, but will check that if the problem returns.

I should delete more messages, and do try to weed them out now and then.

Now, downloading messages for the new install, the display in the status bar looks like it is logging in, check mail server capabilities, downloading one message, then logging in, check mail server capabilities, downloading one message, then doing that over and over again. It will never download all the messages doing this.

1. Go to Settings > Account Settings > Synchronization & Storage
2. Make sure "Keep messages for this account on this computer" is checked
3. Also check "Synchronize the most recent [X] days" – consider increasing that integer if it's set low

If that does not help, then try to go to Tools > Activity Manager to see a log of Thunderbird’s recent activity with your mail server. It may show repeated connection resets or errors that aren’t popping up or indicated otherwise

After reinstalling the extended support version again, it still did not seem to be downloading messages like it used to.

In the past, it would first download all of the folder names, which still happens, and then all of the message headers in each folder, then it would download message bodies per the settings as you mention.

This time it only downloaded the message count for the first 20 or so folders, then the rest, it wasn't until I clicked on the folder that it would retrieve that. And the general downloading, even saying only 30 days to download, was very sluggish.

I wonder if Hotmail/Outlook is throttling the downloads to non-Microsoft programs.

So I gave up on the old Windows 10 machine, but it did the same thing on the faster Windows 11 computer.

Will quit working with it for a while, maybe try again in a few months.

I didn't see your message about checking the log, and uninstalled already, but it would have been interesting to see what it was doing in that regard.

I wonder if Hotmail/Outlook is throttling the downloads to non-Microsoft programs.

^hmmm possible

I am going to close this issue for now based on the above comment. "Will quit working with it for a while, maybe try again in a few months". Feel free to file a support ticket if the issue persists next time you attempt.

This has been known to happen with hotmail.

How long has this been happening? And with which versions of Thunderbird?