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This article explains how to fix issues with message deletion caused by a missing or corrupted trash folder.

If you cannot delete messages in Thunderbird, it may be caused by a corrupted trash folder. Here is how to delete the corrupted trash folder and create a new one: # First, open your Profile folder: #*At the top right of the Thunderbird window, click the menu button [[Image:New Fx Menu]], then select {menu Help}, and then {menu Troubleshooting Information}. The ''Troubleshooting Information'' tab will open. #* Under the '''Application Basics''' section, click on {button {for win}{for not tb52}Show Folder{/for}{for tb52}Open Folder{/for}{/for}{for mac}Show in Finder{/for}{for linux}Open Directory{/for}}. A window with your profile {for not mac}files{/for}{for mac}folder{/for} will open. # Close Thunderbird. # Open the {filepath Mail} (or {filepath ImapMail}) folder in your file manager (according to whether you are using POP or IMAP with the affected account). # Open the folder with your incoming mail server name (something like {filepath imap.googlemail<!-- -->.com} or {filepath pop.googlemail<!-- -->.com}). # Select the {filepath Trash} and {filepath Trash.msf} files and delete them. In some accounts, these may be named {filepath Bin} or {filepath Deleted}. # Restart Thunderbird. #* If you are using IMAP, a new Trash folder will be automatically created by Thunderbird. #* If you are using POP: #*# In the folder list, right-click on your account name and select {button New Folder...}. #*#Enter '''Trash''' as folder's name and confirm by clicking on {button Create Folder}. <br> The trash will reappear and you will be able to delete mail again. = recurring problem? = Here is a Linux script to generate the trash folder every time you start Thunderbird: <pre> #!/bin/sh for f in ./`cat ./profiles.ini | grep 'Path=' | sed s/^Path=//`/Mail/*;do [ -d "$f" ] && touch "$f"/Trash done; thunderbird </pre>