drag and drop message to folder
I have been using Thunderbird forever. Am on Windows 11 using version 128.7.1esr. Dragging and dropping messages to folders no longer works. Frequently it misfunctions, moving folders into other folders and entirely losing emails that then don't even show up in trash or searches. No add-ins are installed. I have tried operating as administrator and then starting. Nothing. Can you help? Am perfectly willing to back up to a previous version if I can retain my saved messages (which are downloaded to my computer and no longer available online).
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It sounds like you're encountering some significant issues with drag-and-drop functionality in Thunderbird, especially with moving emails to folders. The fact that emails disappear completely and aren’t even found in Trash is concerning, but we can troubleshoot it.
Here are some steps that may help resolve the issue: 1. Check Thunderbird Version & Update:
You mentioned you're using version 128.7.1esr. Although ESR (Extended Support Release) versions are generally stable, it's still worth checking if there’s an update, as bugs can sometimes affect even these stable releases. Go to Help > About Thunderbird to see if there is a newer version of 128.x.x ESR. If so, updating might resolve the issue.
2. Try Safe Mode:
Thunderbird has a Safe Mode that disables custom settings, themes, and extensions. This is useful to test if the problem lies with any of those.
Close Thunderbird. Open Thunderbird in Safe Mode by holding the Shift key while launching Thunderbird. In Safe Mode, try the drag-and-drop functionality again. If it works correctly, then the issue could be caused by settings, themes, or extensions.
If the issue doesn't occur in Safe Mode, you'll need to check your custom settings, themes, or extensions. 3. Check Profile Folder and Repair Folders:
Sometimes Thunderbird’s profile folder can get corrupted. You can try repairing your folders:
Repair Folders:
Right-click on the folder where you’re trying to drag-and-drop emails.
Select Properties > Repair Folder.
This can help if the folder structure is corrupted and can’t handle the drag-and-drop properly.
Check Profile Folder:
Go to Help > Troubleshooting Information > Open Folder (this opens your profile folder).
Check if there are any issues with your profile (such as missing or corrupted files).
4. Rebuild Index Files:
The issue of disappearing emails could be due to corrupted index files, and Thunderbird often doesn’t display emails properly if the index file is damaged. You can try rebuilding the index files for your folders:
Right-click the affected folder (e.g., Inbox). Select Properties > Repair Folder. This will rebuild the index for that folder, which may help restore your emails.
5. Check for Permission Issues:
Given that you’ve tried running as administrator, it’s worth ensuring that there are no file or folder permission issues:
Check Folder Permissions: Make sure the folder where Thunderbird is storing your messages has proper read/write permissions. This is important, especially if you’ve stored your email locally (on your computer). Right-click the folder where your email is stored, go to Properties, then check the Security tab for any restrictions.
6. Try Creating a New Profile (Backup First):
If the issue persists, the profile might be corrupted. You can create a new Thunderbird profile to see if the issue still happens. This step is safe as long as you back up your emails before proceeding:
First, back up your current Thunderbird profile:
Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Folder > Open Folder.
Copy the entire folder to a backup location.
Then, create a new profile:
Close Thunderbird.
Open the Profile Manager by running Thunderbird with the -P parameter (e.g., Win + R, type thunderbird.exe -P).
Click on Create New Profile and follow the prompts.
Set up the same email accounts, and test if the issue persists with a fresh profile.
7. Revert to a Previous Version:
If the issue started after updating to version 128.7.1esr, you might want to try downgrading to a previous version temporarily.
To do this safely:
Back up your profile (as mentioned above). Download a previous version of Thunderbird from here. Install the version you want to revert to. After installation, restore your profile and check if the issue resolves.
Important: Be sure to back up your emails first, since downgrading could potentially cause compatibility issues with newer versions of Thunderbird. 8. Check for Conflicting Software:
If you're running any security software (like antivirus or firewall), it might interfere with Thunderbird's ability to move emails. Some security software can prevent Thunderbird from working with files properly, especially with drag-and-drop operations.
Temporarily disable any antivirus or firewall software to see if that resolves the issue.
9. Review Thunderbird Logs:
You can also enable logging to check for any errors during the drag-and-drop operation:
Open the Error Console by going to Tools > Developer Tools > Error Console. Check for any errors related to the drag-and-drop operation.
If none of these methods work, or if the issue continues after performing these steps, you may need to consider reaching out to the Bugzilla (Thunderbird's bug tracker) to report the issue for a deeper investigation.
Let me know if you need further clarification or help!