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Changed from IMAP to POP3 and lost templates folder

  • 3 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by doriard

MeMills
MeMills
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I changed my account settings from IMAP to POP3 and lost the templates folder. It doesn't appear under the section for that particular account. When I go into Account Settings and change the settings for templates and drafts folders to Other, then close and reopen the program I see a folder for Drafts but none for templates. I had a lot of templates stored and now cannot find them - is there a way to retrieve them somehow or have they been deleted?

I changed my account settings from IMAP to POP3 and lost the templates folder. It doesn't appear under the section for that particular account. When I go into Account Settings and change the settings for templates and drafts folders to Other, then close and reopen the program I see a folder for Drafts but none for templates. I had a lot of templates stored and now cannot find them - is there a way to retrieve them somehow or have they been deleted?

Chosen solution

Ah, well, I have changed hosting provider since then, so probably lost all my templates in that case. I just discovered how to create a new Templates folder within Thunderbird by saving a blank email as a template - confusing!

OK - all is now solved Thank you

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All Replies (3)

Zenos
Zenos
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They are most likely on your email server. That's where IMAP puts your folders.

If you weren't expecting this to happen, then I suspect you haven't fully grasped the difference between IMAP and POP. Why did you change?

If you think you want to stay with POP, set the account up again, (i.e. another instance of the account, alongside the POP-connected account) but using IMAP. Then you can see all the folders on the server, and move or copy their contents into the POP account's folders.

MeMills
MeMills Question owner
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Chosen Solution

Ah, well, I have changed hosting provider since then, so probably lost all my templates in that case. I just discovered how to create a new Templates folder within Thunderbird by saving a blank email as a template - confusing!

OK - all is now solved Thank you

doriard
doriard
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I am trying to switch back from IMAP to POP3 (to see if it will eliminate intermittent long 30sec delays when deleting an email from the inbox). I have both types of accounts setup now and I could copy the saved IMAP folders to my POP3 account, but I got to thinking... if I leave the IMAP folders on the server and leave both account types intact, I could use the IMAP folders as remote backup and save all emails I want to the IMAP account folders (use them as if they were local folders). I would have duplicate inboxes, but I have the POP3 account setup to delete from server when deleted locally, so the IMAP inbox root area would be self-cleaning.

Does this make sense? Do you think it will work?

Modified by doriard