Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Both Message List and Message Pane have disappeared

  • 3 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 11 views
  • Last reply by msetter

msetter
msetter
more options

When I opened Thunderbird, the generic welcome message was in the place of the normal message pane and message list. Clicking on the various folders did NOT remove this pane. Initially, the welcome message changed to indicate the folder that had been selected, but this no longer happens, as can be seen in the attached screenshot. Closing and restarting Thunderbird does not change this behavior. How can I see my messages. My only option now is to perform searches.

When I opened Thunderbird, the generic welcome message was in the place of the normal message pane and message list. Clicking on the various folders did NOT remove this pane. Initially, the welcome message changed to indicate the folder that had been selected, but this no longer happens, as can be seen in the attached screenshot. Closing and restarting Thunderbird does not change this behavior. How can I see my messages. My only option now is to perform searches.
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

Does it occur whilst using Thunderbird in Safe Mode ?

Close Thunderbird. Hold down the shift key while starting Thunderbird.

It should start in Safe Mode. Info here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/safe-mode-thunderbird

If it works in Safe Mode: Via 'Menu Bar': 'Tools' > 'Options' > 'General' tab uncheck 'when thunderbird launches, show the Start Page in the message area' click on OK

Then exit and restart Thunderbird as normal.

Did this work ? If no: 'Tools' > 'Add-ons' disable one addon at a time and restart each time to see if there is an addon causing a conflict. Report back on findings.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (3)

msetter
msetter Question owner
more options

F8 does nothing. Clicking Tools>Options does not open anything. Clicking View>Layout and then Message Panes does nothing (and it remains unchecked)

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Chosen Solution

Does it occur whilst using Thunderbird in Safe Mode ?

Close Thunderbird. Hold down the shift key while starting Thunderbird.

It should start in Safe Mode. Info here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/safe-mode-thunderbird

If it works in Safe Mode: Via 'Menu Bar': 'Tools' > 'Options' > 'General' tab uncheck 'when thunderbird launches, show the Start Page in the message area' click on OK

Then exit and restart Thunderbird as normal.

Did this work ? If no: 'Tools' > 'Add-ons' disable one addon at a time and restart each time to see if there is an addon causing a conflict. Report back on findings.

msetter
msetter Question owner
more options

Thank you! I had two add-ons: ImportExportTools and Provider for Google Calendar. It was the Google Calendar that caused the problem. Once that was disabled, I could access the Message List and Message Pane, Tools>Options, and Tools>Add-Ons. 

  Yet another reason to dislike Google.