My sent messages folder in Thunderbird is suddenly empty. Why is this please? (solved)
I have been using Thunderbird as my mail client on this computer for about 2 years now successfully. Suddenly, my sent messages folder is empty and I don't know why it happened and how I can restore/reclaim the messages, or if that is even possible. Can you advise please?
Modified by Endorphin
Chosen solution
re :I don't know how to view the messages using the text editor
Assuming you have backed up the profile as advised.
Make hidden files visible - scroll down to linux section:
In Thunderbird
- Help > Troubleshooting Information
- click on 'Show folder' button
a window opens showing the contents of your Profile folder name.
- close Thunderbird now.
If this is a POP mail account:
- click on 'Mail' folder
If this is an IMAP mail account:
- click on 'ImapMail' folder
- click on the mail account name
you will see files with same name as your folders. 'Sent' with no extension holds emails. You can open this 'Sent' mbox file using a text editor.
Not sure what text editors you have but 'Gedit', 'Nano', 'Vim' are three I can think of.
Emails are written to the 'Sent' file one after the other in the order saved, so the newest will be at the bottom.
Can you see all the emails? If yes, look for and delete the 'Sent.msf' file - this is the indexing file. A new one will be created when you restart Thunderbird.
Restart Thunderbird.
Confirm - is this a POP or IMAP mail account Sent folder? Are the emails still in the 'Sent' file ?
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I did try going through all the suggestions in that page. No success with it.
When I click on sent folder properties, it informs me that 625 messages are in the sent folder. However, they are not showing up when I click on it. I am unable to view them. Also, when I send a test message, the number displayed in properties increased by one to 626, which indicates all the necessary functions seem to be happening except the above.
Modified by Endorphin
What is the size of the Sent file on disc?
You can open the file with a text editor. Check whether the messages are still there.
Before anything else, it would probably be a good idea to create a full backup of your profile. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Thunderbird_:_FAQs_:_Backing_Up_and_Restoring
The sent messages file is 17.5 mb
I don't know how to view the messages using the text editor. Please advise.
I will back up the profile.
Modified by Endorphin
It sounds like your mail files are corrupted.
Try to rebuild the index file of the troubled folder. Right-click the folder - Properties - Repair Folder
Note: depending on the corruption this may erase messages from the affected folder which cannot be recovered anymore. In that case you'd need to restore them from a recent backup.
Corruption is often caused by anti-virus software messing with Thunderbird mail files. It is therefore recommended to create an exception for the Thunderbird profile folder, so that the real-time scanner won't attempt to scan the profile with your mail.
For more information on the profile location see http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Thunderbird
I don't know how to view the messages using the text editor.
You'd need to be a little more specific than that. What is the problem?
Modified by christ1
I already tried repairing the folder. No change. Also, I am using Linux Mint operating system and no ant-virus.
Where I say "I don't know how to view the messages using the text editor", I was just responding to your suggestion in your previous post. Quote (your words): "You can open the file with a text editor." I cannot be more specific as I don't know anything more about it?
Quote: "What is the problem?" Please see the title of my thread...........
Thanks for the assistance.
Chosen Solution
re :I don't know how to view the messages using the text editor
Assuming you have backed up the profile as advised.
Make hidden files visible - scroll down to linux section:
In Thunderbird
- Help > Troubleshooting Information
- click on 'Show folder' button
a window opens showing the contents of your Profile folder name.
- close Thunderbird now.
If this is a POP mail account:
- click on 'Mail' folder
If this is an IMAP mail account:
- click on 'ImapMail' folder
- click on the mail account name
you will see files with same name as your folders. 'Sent' with no extension holds emails. You can open this 'Sent' mbox file using a text editor.
Not sure what text editors you have but 'Gedit', 'Nano', 'Vim' are three I can think of.
Emails are written to the 'Sent' file one after the other in the order saved, so the newest will be at the bottom.
Can you see all the emails? If yes, look for and delete the 'Sent.msf' file - this is the indexing file. A new one will be created when you restart Thunderbird.
Restart Thunderbird.
Confirm - is this a POP or IMAP mail account Sent folder? Are the emails still in the 'Sent' file ?
Thanks Toad Hall. I did recover the messages list in the folder after seeking help on the Linux Mint forums. More or less following your instructions for a POP account. This is the second time I have resorted to the Linux forums successfully for assistance with Thunderbird problems. I'll mark this as solved.
My Thunderbird does not Save Sent files for more than a day. Setting I have say NEVER delete Sent files. What can I do to change t his? I never had this problem before, I have used Thunderbird for many years. I do now have Windows 10 - is this the problem?? Please Help me.
lizjean,
please start a new thread for your problem.
What is a new thread? My problem is this:
My Thunderbird does not Save Sent files for more than a day. Setting I have say NEVER delete Sent files. What can I do to change t his? I never had this problem before, I have used Thunderbird for many years. I do now have Windows 10 - is this the problem?? Please Help me.
What is a new thread?
Start with your own question. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/new