TB 60.9.0 JRose And now the other account will allow neither creation nor deletion of folders, the same with the first account mentioned.

I presume you created new mail accounts set up as Imap and not try swapping the server settings of a pop account.

Imap behaves very differently from POP. Imap only shows what is on server, so emails are stored on the server. You subscribe to see folders that are on server. You cannot assume that just because you have copies downloaded to imap folders that they are like a backup because the folders synchronise with server. Imap account folders and server folders are in effect one and the same.

re : Have created many folders in one imap account Are those folders currently empty ? Are they subfolders to the Inbox or sub folders to the imap mail account name folder? Can you post image showing the folders so we can understand the hierachy you have created?

When you try to create a folder, what process do you use and at what point is it failing? For example: right click on imap mail account name and select 'New folder'. Is 'New Folder' greyed out? Does clicking on 'New folder' open the window to create a new folder? Is the 'Create Folder' button greyed out? Do you enter data and click on 'Create folder', but nothing happens?

Maybe it is creating the folder but you cannot see it in Thunderbird. If you logon to webmail account, do you see the new folder(s)? Is new folder under 'My Folders' ? If yes, have you subscribed to see it in Thunderbird?

How to subscribe to see imap folders:

• Right-click on your mail account name folder in Folder Pane and select 'Subscribe'
• click on 'Refresh'
• Available IMAP folders on the server will be listed.
• Select the ones that you want to add to your mail client
• click the 'Subscribe' button.
• Press the 'OK' button

To delete : unsubscribe from seeing the folder and then delete. Note you cannot delete default folders.

"I presume you created new mail accounts set up as Imap and not try swapping the server settings of a pop account." Correct. I wish I had known that was an option.

"Do you enter data and click on 'Create folder', but nothing happens?" That is what has been happening for several days until your very informative post. With it, I believe I can find my way.

My 40K emails from the past arranged in files and folders; are they stored on my computer?

They are also on Comcast because I have always left them on the server. If I use TB message filter to store them in the files and folder structure I have created in the new Imap accounts, would that then have them stored in files and folders on Comcast? That would be a help not having to back them up periodically.

Creating a new mail account and setting up as Imap is the only and correct method. So it was good to hear you had done this correctly. Some people in the past have tried altering the server settings and this caused all kinds of problems as the two are set up entirely differently and stored in different folders in the profile.

They are also on Comcast because I have always left them on the server. That's good as it means you can now organise them into various imap folders. If I use TB message filter to store them in the files and folder structure I have created in the new Imap accounts, would that then have them stored in files and folders on Comcast? Yes.

That would be a help not having to back them up periodically. If they are on server, then you still only have only the one copy.

I am totally lost here. I recently terminated my Comcast account as I moved to a retirement facility. They had total coverage with Dual Path. Which, of course I subscribed to. Does this have anything to do with my not being able to create a new folder in Thunderbird? Imap verses POP? I do not have the ability to understand all this, and would sincerely appreciate any help you folks could offer. I am a 91 year old female, and do keep up fairly well, except in a circumstance as this. Thank You very much. Rita

That has been my problem, Rita. I switched from POP to IMAP and have been sorry ever since. IMAP is very different from POP which put the folders only on my computer. With IMAP the folders are also on the server, Comcast, in my case. I have been learning enough to work with it but am now struggling with a failure to immediately transfer emails from the some server folders to those folders on Thunderbird. They transfer eventually, but that can be several hours! Maybe help from someone who knows what goes will help both of us.

Oh, thank you very much!! I am understandably intimidated with trying anything new. I have difficulty in 'backing out' of the error. Yes, perhaps someone who knows what goes might send us a life line.

Most of my problems have been solved in the discussion above. Rereading some of that I note that what appears in Thunderbird is only a mirror of what is on the server, the actual emails stay on the server. My only current problem is that mirroring takes a very long time with some of the folders. If nobody picks up on this I will click on Toad Hall above. He is the one who helped me. Maybe just clicking on his name above would be best for you as well.

POP is simple. Emails arrive on the server in the Inbox.

Thunderbird pop account can only access the server Inbox and download emails. There is no synchronising between the two 'Inbox' folders. This means you can have different emails in server 'Inbox' and Thunderbird pop 'Inbox'. If you choose to leave copies of messages on the server and delete some email from Thunderbird, those emails are not necessarilly deleted off server. The two are independent. Folders you create in a Pop account are only in that pop account on your computer.

IMAP is like having a virtual view of the server. You subscribe to see folders and their content that are stored on the server and synchronisation occurs between the server folders and those in the thunderbird imap account. When you move emails between folders, the folders sycnhronise with server to update the server folders. When you delete and email, then it is deleted off the server. So really, the server folders and Thunderbird imap folders are one and the same.

Folders you create in an imap account will also get put on the server and you subscribe to see folders. How to subscribe to see folder:

• Right click on imap mail account name in the left Folder Pane and select 'Subscribe'
• OR access it via 'File' > 'Subscribe'
• Select the name of the folder
• click on 'Subscribe'
• click on OK.

It is helpful to know more clearly about the mechanics. My continuing problem is synchronization when messages are filtered into folders. It often takes as much as a hour to do so and sometimes they will be going back and forth from the inbox to the folder until I turn off the filter for a moment. I was unable to include a screen shot of the message filter page Continued appreciation of your help.

I am not playing the senior card here, but I am 91, started with Mozilla since the Netscape days, and have stayed loyal ever since. With each 'update' there is a disruption in tried and true use. I was so used to what worked, and now it doesn't! I have my own domain, and server that is safe. I cannot, for the life of me understand why Thunderbird changed the way I could very simply create and name a new folder. All the tech explanation does nothing to help me find my way to a resolution. Pathetic. This is no way to treat those of us who have supported your efforts for all these years. Not one size fits all. We Seniors cannot always keep up with the decisions made with 'improvements, How difficult would it be for you to provide us an assured way to just freakin' create and name a new folder?

RitaLouise re:All the tech explanation does nothing to help me find my way to a resolution. You said: Imap verses POP? I do not have the ability to understand all this, and would sincerely appreciate any help I provided information explaining the differences between pop and imap as per your request which should be useful.

re : I cannot, for the life of me understand why Thunderbird changed the way I could very simply create and name a new folder. There has not been any changes. But if you changed to imap then there is the difference in how things are stored.

re: How difficult would it be for you to provide us an assured way to just freakin' create and name a new folder?

So far you have not told me anything other than I cannot create a folder.

Earlier in this question I asked the following: Q: When you try to create a folder, what process do you use and at what point is it failing? For example: right click on imap mail account name in Folder Pane and select 'New folder'. Q: Is 'New Folder' option greyed out? Q: Does clicking on 'New folder' open the window to create a new folder? Q: Is the 'Create Folder' button greyed out? Q: Do you enter a name for the folder and click on 'Create folder', but nothing happens?

Maybe it is creating the folder but you cannot see it in Thunderbird. Q: Please logon to webmail account, do you see the new folder(s)? If yes: Q: have you subscribed to see it in Thunderbird? If no: Then subscribe to see the new folders.

So perhaps you can offer some answers to questions to help move things forward.