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Cannot delete Sent folder

  • 18 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Chris Ilias

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I am running Thunderbird as a client to a self-hosted IMAP server. Sent emails are directed to a folder: Sent Items, but there is another 'Sent' folder that does not have a delete option. How do I remove this folder?

I am running Thunderbird as a client to a self-hosted IMAP server. Sent emails are directed to a folder: Sent Items, but there is another 'Sent' folder that does not have a delete option. How do I remove this folder?

Chosen solution

You need to unsubscribe to it, I believe such "system" folders can't be deleted.

Right-click on the email account header, in the left pane folder list view, then choose "Subscribe..." and uncheck the appropriate checkbox.

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All Replies (18)

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Chosen Solution

You need to unsubscribe to it, I believe such "system" folders can't be deleted.

Right-click on the email account header, in the left pane folder list view, then choose "Subscribe..." and uncheck the appropriate checkbox.

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That worked! It took a bit for the folder to disappear, but it did after a couple of minutes. Thanks.

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Thanks for sharing the result! I am glad this helped. If you have a minute, don't forget to come back and mark my post as a solution.

Have a great day!

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Found the list,unchecked folders I did not want and they are still there. Do I have to close Thunderbird for it to update unwanted folders?

Modified by rjh3

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I unsubcribed all folders I did not want,still unable to delete folders. Keep getting message unable to rename folder when trying to delete it. Keep going back to unsubscribe and they are still showing a check mark as subscribed?

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@rjh3 please submit your request under a new question.

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Fabián Rodríguez said

@rjh3 please submit your request under a new question.

I have folders on my sidebar that I cannot delete.I.E Sent messages (already have a sent folder) Error Trash Deleted messages(have a trash folder I use) I have tried unsubscribe and they are still there. Also having problem with sending messages,they end up in my inbox and I keep getting error reports.

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Fabián Rodríguez said

You need to unsubscribe to it, I believe such "system" folders can't be deleted. Right-click on the email account header, in the left pane folder list view, then choose "Subscribe..." and uncheck the appropriate checkbox.

Modified by rjh3

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I have tried this numerous times. I have 3 folders that are not system folders. I have a sent,sent mail,junk,junk mail,deleted messages?? I must be doing something wrong since I cannot get rid of these folders. Also when sending e-mails I get a "sending log in"??what is this?Sending sent mail to folder keeps failing and am sure because I have a"sent" and a "sent mail" folder. Tried unsubscribe and it is not working. Please advise. Hate the new version of Thunderbird,very frustrated.

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Please explain further..what boxes need to be checked or unchecked to unsubscribe? Thanks

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I did this successfully. At the level of the main account (myuser@wherever.com), right click > Subscribe. This will give you a list of folders. Highlight the one you want to unsubscribe and click the 'Unsubscribe' button. My folder was empty to begin with. I don't know if the folder to be unsubscribed needs to be emptied first. Also, be sure cell phone is not using the folder(s) to be unsubscribed. That's why I got messages in both 'Trash' and 'Deleted'.

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Still cannot delete folders. Keep getting message "you cannot rename a folder"? after unsubscribing? Also getting message unable to send message to sent folder,"retry" , "unable to copy to sent folder and when I look it is there. I now have another problem , in writing a message I get a Reply to: under my from name,how do I get rid of this ? Instead of just the "To" box under the "From" box. I have spent an abundant amount of time trying to resolve these issues I am ready to dump Thunderbird. I have used it for 10 years and never experienced these problems. Tried removing tools etc and trying to choose which ones I want and still cannot get rid of it. Thanks

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I have now lost my tool bar and cannot retreive it. I will uninstall TB and reinstall, if this does not correct my multiple problems I will go to another E-mail provider. Along with the tool bar I am unable to change Fonts so that my messages are readable.I chose my tool bars a week ago and now they are not showing??

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P.S. I have to use the pull down menus to do everything.

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rjh3 said

Still cannot delete folders. Keep getting message "you cannot rename a folder"? after unsubscribing?

Once you've unsubscribed there's no need to rename the folder -- it's no longer in use. You can create a new folder with the new name but the unsubscribed folder is out of action and should no longer appear in your folder list. I don't think you can rename "system" folders (or delete them, hence the original reason for this post).

Also getting message unable to send message to sent folder,"retry" , "unable to copy to sent folder and when I look it is there.

Sounds like the sent folder you're trying to unsubscribe is designated as the 'Sent' folder in Account Settings > Copies & Folders > "When sending messages ...". You'll likely have trouble unsubscribing if set this way, or if your cell phone mail settings also have the system Sent folder set.

I now have another problem ...

I'd suggest posting a new question for this one.

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Fabián Rodríguez said

You need to unsubscribe to it, I believe such "system" folders can't be deleted. Right-click on the email account header, in the left pane folder list view, then choose "Subscribe..." and uncheck the appropriate checkbox.

When I right-click on both the Important and starred folders, I do not see Subscribe as an option. Why not? I want to remove both the starred folder and the important folder, but can find no way to remove them. Please help, tell me why I can not see the subscribe choice!

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Hi basic792, Fabián's post was marked as the solution by the person who asked the original question (MarkFoley). Your issue may have similar symptoms, but it is likely a different cause/solution. You should use https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/new where volunteers can get more details about your setup.

Because this thread is solved and more people might start using it for their own questions, I'm going to lock it.