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

Un-Threaded Email Messages?

  • 5 cavab
  • 2 have this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by lbrandewie

more options

Hey Folks,

I have a problem with recent versions of Thunderbird which "thread" messages. The problem is, replies get hidden under the original message and the original message doesn't highlight or in any way show that there is a new message at the bottom of the thread.

I'm getting more and more lost email messages. They're new, according to the interface, but I can't find them to save my life.

I checked the settings and I don't see any way to un-thread messages. Am I missing a setting? If not, can someone tell me the most recent version of Thunderbird that does not thread messages? Can this still be downloaded?

Thanks,

Leo

Hey Folks, I have a problem with recent versions of Thunderbird which "thread" messages. The problem is, replies get hidden under the original message and the original message doesn't highlight or in any way show that there is a new message at the bottom of the thread. I'm getting more and more lost email messages. They're new, according to the interface, but I can't find them to save my life. I checked the settings and I don't see any way to un-thread messages. Am I missing a setting? If not, can someone tell me the most recent version of Thunderbird that does not thread messages? Can this still be downloaded? Thanks, Leo

All Replies (5)

more options

This is the official (to my knowledge) documentation. Well worth the read https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/message-threading-thunderbird

Here is my own documentation on threading, duplicating the above, but it may help: You need to highlight each folder and click View>sort by>unthreaded. If this applies to just a few folders, just repeat the process as necessary. If you have many folders or plan to add many new folders, you may wish a different approach, below:

More info: To change default for *new* folders, In config editor, you can change default that applies to NEW folders you set up: mailnews.default_view_flags 0=unthreaded

Config editor is available at Tools>settings>general and scroll to bottom right.

 ------------

To set many *existing* folders, follow these steps: (I creates a crude video that walks through the steps. The video was created with table view for the message list pane.

   https://davidkirk.org/SettingDefaultFolderView.mp4  that demonstrates the following steps:
   First, highlight a folder that you have set to unthreaded	
   In the Message List view, in the column header, on the far right, open the options button that shows    
    context menu. :
   At the very bottom is the option:
   -> "Apply current view to..."
   -> "Folder and its children..."
   -> Hover over an account
   -> In the next menu don't select a folder. Instead select the account name itself.

ALSO, for future installations of Thunderbird, 
- install Thunderbird and exit prior to setting up accounts
- create a simple text file with name of user.js with these lines: 
     // Set default threading to UNthreaded  ###   <== this line is optional, just for documentation
     user_pref("mailnews.default_view_flags", 0);
- copy the user.js file into the profile
- now, when you start Thunderbird, unthreading will be the default. Problem solved. 

more options

Thanks!

Leo

more options

Okay, that did not work. When I highlight a folder and right-click on it there is no "View" option. Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks again,

Leo

more options

No rightclick. click view>sort by and tick unthreaded for the first folder. That assumes menu bar is shown. If not, click alt key to show menu bar.

more options

Gotcha, thanks.