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How can I know that a filtered message has come in?

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  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

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I have set up some filters for certain types of messages. They work fine. However, I would like to be able to know when a message comes in. Example: I used to use Eudora, and it would display the boxes that had new email in them at the bottom of the page, so I could decide to open a box and read the new mail or simply close the box. In other words, the box would be opened when a new message went into it, so I was alerted that there was a new message there. I don't want to have to ope every box each time to check for new mail. Hope this makes sense! Is there a way to do something similar to this in Thunderbird? THANKS!

I have set up some filters for certain types of messages. They work fine. However, I would like to be able to know when a message comes in. Example: I used to use Eudora, and it would display the boxes that had new email in them at the bottom of the page, so I could decide to open a box and read the new mail or simply close the box. In other words, the box would be opened when a new message went into it, so I was alerted that there was a new message there. I don't want to have to ope every box each time to check for new mail. Hope this makes sense! Is there a way to do something similar to this in Thunderbird? THANKS!

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Some suggestions you can try:

When a new message arrives, the folder name should display a bold font to indicate it contains new unread mail.

To auto show only those folders with unread mail, you can change the view. via 'Menu Bar' toolbar: 'View '> 'Folders' > 'Unread'

via 'Mail Toolbar' 'Menu icon' > 'Folders' > 'Unread'

Changing back to 'Folders' > 'All' will return the entire list of folders.


You can also use the 'Quick filter' toolbar on an selected folder to show only the unread mail. To enable the Quick filter toolbar: 'View' > 'Toolbars' > 'Quick Filter bar' or 'Menu icon' > 'Options' > 'Quick Filter bar'

select folder. click on the quick filter icon that looks like a pair of sunglasses. It has a tooltip 'show only unread messages' click on it again to go back to displaying all messages.


To have a mail alert to tell you about new mail: 'Tools' > 'Options' > 'General' or 'Menu icon' > 'Options' > 'Options' > 'General'

when new mail arrive: select 'show an alert' select 'show a try icon' you can also choose 'Play a sound' if you like.

click on 'Customise' button Choose info you would like displayed and also the length of time it displays in Tray. click on 'OK'

click on 'OK' to save and close Options.

So that new incoming mail is shown and you can select to see the email from the tray without needing to search for it.