Windows 10 reached EOS (end of support) on October 14, 2025. If you are on Windows 10, see this article.

Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Denne tråden ble arkivert. Still et nytt spørsmål dersom du trenger hjelp.

2 Qs PRIMARY Q: Should one compact before deleting TB email or vice versa

  • 2 svar
  • 1 har dette problemet
  • 15 views
  • Siste svar av HOMME

HOMME
HOMME

HELLO, MY PRIMARY QUESTION: Apparently compacting is part of deletion. But should one Compact before Deleting TB email or Vice Versa OR does it matter which comes first?

SECONDARY NOTE & QUESTION;i have read the article on compacting but still do not know exactly what this word means- (e.g. does it means compressing & why is it absolutely necessary for deletion? In this regard the TB compacting article says in PERTINENT part; "IF the message is marked as DELETED or moved, Thunderbird SKIPS that message and moves onto the next message." The preceding quote would seem to say that compacting is not part of deletion, yet i know (or think I know) that both deleting a email and compacting it are necessary for its TOTAL DELETION in TB. Can anyone explain this seeming contradiction? ( I used to use Outlook and i do not remember the term "compacting" with that system).

ANY ANSWER TO EITHER QUESTION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU

HELLO, MY PRIMARY QUESTION: Apparently compacting is part of deletion. But should one Compact before Deleting TB email or Vice Versa OR does it matter which comes first? SECONDARY NOTE & QUESTION;i have read the article on compacting but still do not know exactly what this word means- (e.g. does it means compressing & why is it absolutely necessary for deletion? In this regard the TB compacting article says in PERTINENT part; "IF the message is marked as DELETED or moved, Thunderbird SKIPS that message and moves onto the next message." The preceding quote would seem to say that compacting is not part of deletion, yet i know (or think I know) that both deleting a email and compacting it are necessary for its TOTAL DELETION in TB. Can anyone explain this seeming contradiction? ( I used to use Outlook and i do not remember the term "compacting" with that system). ANY ANSWER TO EITHER QUESTION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU

Valgt løsning

Deleting a message marks it for deletion and hides it. Compacting actually removes it and frees up the disk space. Delete then compact.

Despite the poorly chosen name compacting has nothing to do with compressing files as in zipping them.

Les dette svaret i sammenhengen 👍 0

All Replies (2)

user01229325
user01229325

Valgt løsning

Deleting a message marks it for deletion and hides it. Compacting actually removes it and frees up the disk space. Delete then compact.

Despite the poorly chosen name compacting has nothing to do with compressing files as in zipping them.

HOMME
HOMME Eieren av spørsmålet

Thank you MUCH Airmail. 

your reply was right on target for me. Good straightforward answer. I have had a lot of trouble with this concept of "COMPACTING" i appreciate  you taking the time to respond.