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Thunderbird will not PERMANENTLY delete multiple emails from Inbox

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Running v 60.6.1 (32-bit) of Thunderbird on Windows 10 and connecting to imap email with GoDaddy.

When in the INBOX:

  • Clicking DELETE while on an email sends it to the TRASH bin.
  • clicking SHIFT+DELETE while on an email brings up the dialog box and then will permanently delete the email (skipping the Trash bin)

It seems that something has recently changed in Thunderbird that does NOT allow the SHIFT+DELETE command to function properly when selecting multiple emails. I believe this had previously worked in Thunderbird, as I regularly delete multiple emails that I do not need in my Trash and just want to permanently dispose of them. I think a recent update to Thunderbird "broke" this functionality. It still works for a single email, just not when you select multiple emails in the INBOX. I couldn't find any settings in the Config Editor that would alter this behavior.

Has anyone else experienced this or know of a fix?

Thanks!!

Running v 60.6.1 (32-bit) of Thunderbird on Windows 10 and connecting to imap email with GoDaddy. When in the INBOX: * Clicking DELETE while on an email sends it to the TRASH bin. *clicking SHIFT+DELETE while on an email brings up the dialog box and then will permanently delete the email (skipping the Trash bin) It seems that something has recently changed in Thunderbird that does NOT allow the SHIFT+DELETE command to function properly when selecting multiple emails. I believe this had previously worked in Thunderbird, as I regularly delete multiple emails that I do not need in my Trash and just want to permanently dispose of them. I think a recent update to Thunderbird "broke" this functionality. It still works for a single email, just not when you select multiple emails in the INBOX. I couldn't find any settings in the Config Editor that would alter this behavior. Has anyone else experienced this or know of a fix? Thanks!!

Modified by Matt

All Replies (9)

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Shift+Delete doesn't permanently remove messages - it just ignores the step of placing them in the Trash folder. Compact the original folder to permanently remove deleted (or Shift-deleted) mail.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Undelete_a_message

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Yes...I am aware of how SHIFT+DELETE is supposed to work. The issue is that it has stopped working when I select MULTIPLE emails. It only functions that way when selecting one single email. When selecting multiple emails, SHIFT+DELETE still sends them to the Trash bin.

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I use Shift+Delete all the time on multiple messages and it never sends them to Trash. What are your delete settings in Server Settings for the account? Some services, like gmail, recommend 'Just mark it as deleted'. Does the same thing happen in safe mode (hold Shift when you launch TB)?

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Setting is: When I delete, move it to this folder (Trash).

Safe Mode has no different effect.

I also have two different email accounts set up and both are acting the same.

It is quite baffling, as it worked properly for me in the past. Something changed over the past few weeks though. And the fact that it continue to function properly for single emails, and only fails when multiple emails are selected makes it even more puzzling.

Thanks!

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Does it happen with other folders or just Inbox? If it's just Inbox, right-click the folder, Properties, Repair Folder - not that it's likely to help.

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Just tested...same thing in other folders. SHIFT+DELETE still moving to Trash.

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If you want to test the possibility there's some hidden problem with your profile, create a new one with Profile Manager, add one account, and see if Shift+Delete still malfunctions. If it does, that would suggest the issue is either a bug (doubt it) or related to the particular mail provider.

To start PM, close TB, Winkey+R, type thunderbird.exe -p

The existing profile is not affected, and you can start TB in either profile.

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Good thinking! I will try that. Unfortunately it will take awhile as I have a ton of Email that is synching when I first created the new profile. I probably won't have any updates to post until Tuesday.

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New profile exhibits the same issue that SHIFT+DELETE doesn't skip the TRASH bin when multiple emails are selected.