Someone else came on here a few days ago with a similar problem. When they posted a partial screenshot of the folders set up it was clear that there were some strange set ups with system folders under others that shouldn't be there.

Unfortunately, I never saw a resolution to that thread but I suggested then that some of the strange functionality (or lack of it) could be down to the system folders being in the wrong places, causing conflicts.

When i look at the structure in your screenshot, I wonder about the same thing...

...like, why do you have two 'Sent' folders under one server account - and as sub-folders to the Inbox? And a Junk and Spam box that would seem to have one and the same function? And two Trash folders - one with the official icon and one without?

I think there's more to your problem than simply a lack of functionality in a few of the folders.

btw, are these IMAP or POP3 accounts?

Thank you for your answer. I get your point. some of double-function systemfolders were there from my first use of Thunderbird. Both accounts are imap. Sorry forgot to mention. ok will see if I can't get rid of some of the folders via server. Thanks again!

Looks like something (presumably a bug) has caused those folders to be flagged as 'Drafts' folders, which would in turn cause Thunderbird to think the messages stored there are drafts.

The problem can be fixed by removing the 'Drafts' flag from the folder. There are two ways that can be done. One requires installing an add-on (extension) to be able to explicitly see and change the folder flags. The other way is make a couple changes to the account settings to indirectly cause the flag to be removed.

The add-on can be found here:

https://addons.thunderbird.net/thunderbird/addon/folderflags/

After installing it, in Thunderbird right-click on the folder that has the problem, choose Properties, select the Flags tab, uncheck Drafts, then click OK.

Alternatively, you may also fix the problem as follows. There is no need to do this if you've already fixed the problem with the add-on. This is only in case you're not curious about the flag and just want to fix the problem without having to install an add-on:

1. Open the account Copies & Folders settings.
2. Under Drafts and Templates, choose Other, then, as strange as it may sound, select the folder that has the problem.
3. Change the Drafts folder setting back to what it was. This is where having selected the right folder in the previous step matters, because it's when the folder that had been chosen to store drafts stops having that role that the flag is removed.

Closing and reopening the account settings pane between steps 2 and 3, to make sure the changes are applied, doesn't seem to be necessary.

Awesome!!! Thanks so much. This worked perfectly!!! Thanks!