If it's downloading Sent messages I guess this is an IMAP account? If so, in your Account Settings > Synchronisation & Storage, have you selected 'keep messages for this account on this computer'? Also check under the 'advanced' option next to it that Thunderbird is synchronising with the correct folders.

Yes it is an IMAP account and I have "keep messages on this computer" checked. Under advanced I have all folders checked. What is the download progress bar showing me? Sometimes it runs fine, then stops, sometimes it appears to get stuck halfway??

I often find that the suggestions here do not match what I see on my copy. For example, someone posted "...in your Account Settings > Synchronisation & Storage, .....'keep messages for this account on this computer'"

On my copy, Account Settings doesn't have a tab or checkbox for "Synchronisation & Storage". I've scrolled through other places and haven't found it.

Is Thunderbird being changed continuously, or am I just a dunce?

Learn the difference between POP and IMAP email protocols. Thunderbird shows you the options for the protocol that you are using.

So Airmail, if I reword your reply just a tad, you're saying that it would be useful for such helpful hints to be tagged as relevant to POP or IMAP setups.

And if they are not so tagged, then user beware: the options seen in T-Bird dialog boxes may be different depending upon which is being used.

And of course, most of us don't care a rats-@ss about which is which. We just want to get our email without turning over our computer's soul to Micro$oft.

For one if you are using POP then it only downloads the Inbox from the server. Email clients have not knowledge of any other folders unless using IMAP. Why are you even hijacking this thread when it does not apply to you? Your lack of knowledge is a personal problem. There is no need to be nasty because you do not like having that pointed out.

Peace, Airmail, and keep up the good work.

BTW, you seem to know this stuff better than most. Please have a look at my question titled "T-Bird is insanely slow at downloading new messages - 10-20 minutes."

I just found this, which may explain why some people are seeing the "Synchronization and Storage" option in account settings. My email service only uses IMAP so I am stuck with that. Even so, I have clicked all the synchronize buttons on, to keep on the local computer, but it still seems to download my sent items every time I log on.

Check this out http://help.thunderbird.edu/content/what-difference-between-imap-and-pop-protocol