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Mail only appears in "All Mail" but nowhere else. Why?

DanielBragg
DanielBragg
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I use mail filters extensively for sorting my incoming mail. Now, I am finding mail that *only* can be found via the "All Mail" folder, but it is nowhere else - not in my InBox, not in any sub-folders. How can this happen?

Note, my IMAP provider is Gmail. Gmail uses Labels, which Thunderbird translates into Folders. I was under the impression that mail that had no labels would appear in the InBox. If this is the case, how can mail *not* be in my InBox, but still be found in my "All Mail" folder?

I use mail filters extensively for sorting my incoming mail. Now, I am finding mail that *only* can be found via the "All Mail" folder, but it is nowhere else - not in my InBox, not in any sub-folders. How can this happen? Note, my IMAP provider is Gmail. Gmail uses Labels, which Thunderbird translates into Folders. I was under the impression that mail that had no labels would appear in the InBox. If this is the case, how can mail *not* be in my InBox, but still be found in my "All Mail" folder?

Chosen solution

Daniel, while the forum geeks suggest you ask a new question all the time, here in Thunderbird land we are a little more casual, it just means we have to work harder to follow you. So while your on a role, just keep asking away.

All Mail is Gmails archive folder. I am sure you would be aware Google really don't want you to delete mail. That is why they make it so hard.

So once you do not have mail filed in a folder/Label, it is archived. Thunderbird even maps your archive folder to all mail as that is it's purpose.

Personally I think you should just unsubscribe the folder and forget it exists.

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All Replies (2)

Matt
Matt
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

Daniel, while the forum geeks suggest you ask a new question all the time, here in Thunderbird land we are a little more casual, it just means we have to work harder to follow you. So while your on a role, just keep asking away.

All Mail is Gmails archive folder. I am sure you would be aware Google really don't want you to delete mail. That is why they make it so hard.

So once you do not have mail filed in a folder/Label, it is archived. Thunderbird even maps your archive folder to all mail as that is it's purpose.

Personally I think you should just unsubscribe the folder and forget it exists.

DanielBragg
DanielBragg Question owner
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Thanks, Matt. I will try to not be a forum geek myself, then ;-)

This does explain the situation, but I'll keep the "All Mail" folder around a little longer, until I can find and correct the mail rule that is deleting this mail. Most of them I actually want to keep!