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Timed deletion of emails from server

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by sfhowes

Old_Deuteronomy
Old_Deuteronomy
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Hi, As I have two devices (PC and laptop, with the PC being my ‘main’ device) I have been having problems with ensuring that emails are not deleted from the server until a safe time after being downloaded (to avoid one device not being able to see messages because the other has deleted. In ‘Server settings’, the PC has an entry ‘Leave messages on server …’, but my new laptop with recently installed Thunderbird does not.

On looking into this, I find that the PC’s Server Name is set up as pop.mail.yahoo.com, whereas the laptop Server Name is set up as imap.mail.yahoo.com. I’m not sure how this has come about as I used Thunderbird’s set-up and find an email address for both devices (albeit a few years back for the PC). How can I set up the laptop to ensure it doesn’t delete emails from the server before the PC has had a chance to download them? I guess I’m asking how do I change from IMAP to pop. It’s important that I don’t lose emails because I’ve looked at them at different times on different devices.

Apologies if this has been answered somewhere, I must have not asked the right questions of help.

Thanks for your consideration of this niggle. Kind regards OD

Hi, As I have two devices (PC and laptop, with the PC being my ‘main’ device) I have been having problems with ensuring that emails are not deleted from the server until a safe time after being downloaded (to avoid one device not being able to see messages because the other has deleted. In ‘Server settings’, the PC has an entry ‘Leave messages on server …’, but my new laptop with recently installed Thunderbird does not. On looking into this, I find that the PC’s Server Name is set up as pop.mail.yahoo.com, whereas the laptop Server Name is set up as imap.mail.yahoo.com. I’m not sure how this has come about as I used Thunderbird’s set-up and find an email address for both devices (albeit a few years back for the PC). How can I set up the laptop to ensure it doesn’t delete emails from the server before the PC has had a chance to download them? I guess I’m asking how do I change from IMAP to pop. It’s important that I don’t lose emails because I’ve looked at them at different times on different devices. Apologies if this has been answered somewhere, I must have not asked the right questions of help. Thanks for your consideration of this niggle. Kind regards OD

All Replies (3)

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
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You should probably change the POP account to IMAP, as that is the preferred way to sync mail between several devices (desktops, laptops, phones etc.) with the same account.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/switch-pop-imap-account

Old_Deuteronomy
Old_Deuteronomy Question owner
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Thanks for your speedy answer. I understand why you make your recommendation. but my concern is that IMAP does not allow me to set a time period before emails are deleted from the server. If I am away with my laptop and view emails, then come home a few days later, will the emails still be available on the server for me to view (and download) on my tower PC? The PC is my base for backing up my emails (by copying the Thunderbird folder from /<username>/AppData/Roaming/Thunderbird) to an external HDD (Western Digital My Passport).

What I do not understand is how long the original mail will remain on my server, after transferring to Thunderbird (on any of my devices) via an IMAP account, before being deleted. Thanks

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Mail will remain in the Inbox, Sent and other folders according to the Retention Policy you set for those folders (right-click, Properties). Some services may automatically purge Trash/Deleted or Spam/Bulk after a certain period, such as 30 days. Any mail you wish to keep off the server can be copied to Local Folders.