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Turn off message threading GLOBALLY for all account/folders/everything.

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  • 2 have this problem
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  • Last reply by david

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Hey Guys,

As the title says, I need to turn message threading off globally, for all accounts, everything. Hate is a strong work but I really hate this. :)

Can we just get a check box for this in the setting menu to will apply this globally *for good*?

I have tried the plethora of solutions floating around these forums, and basically they don't work. Even the official method of going FOLDER BY FOLDER and turning threading off, doesn't actually turn it off.

Many users do not want manipulation of our inbox in any way. We don't want grouping or categories or anything, we just want the inbox, in chronological order.

Hey Guys, As the title says, I need to turn message threading off globally, for all accounts, everything. Hate is a strong work but I really hate this. :) Can we just get a check box for this in the setting menu to will apply this globally *for good*? I have tried the plethora of solutions floating around these forums, and basically they don't work. Even the official method of going FOLDER BY FOLDER and turning threading off, doesn't actually turn it off. Many users do not want manipulation of our inbox in any way. We don't want grouping or categories or anything, we just want the inbox, in chronological order.

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I agree. This was the biggest 'shot in the foot' I've ever encountered, but it is what it is. I've been told this decision will not be reversed. What I posted here at least addresses fixing it, and at the bottom of my reply is a step to set to unthreading as default on first installing Thunderbird.


This is the official (to my knowledge) documentation. Well worth the read https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/message-threading-thunderbird

Here is my own documentation on threading, duplicating the above, but it may help: You need to highlight each folder and click View>sort by>unthreaded. If this applies to just a few folders, just repeat the process as necessary. If you have many folders or plan to add many new folders, you may wish a different approach, below:

More info: To change default for *new* folders, In config editor, you can change default that applies to NEW folders you set up: mailnews.default_view_flags 0=unthreaded

Config editor is available at Tools>settings>general and scroll to bottom right.

 ------------

To set many *existing* folders, follow these steps: (I creates a crude video that walks through the steps at

   https://davidkirk.org/SettingDefaultFolderView.mp4  that demonstrates the following steps:
   First, highlight a folder that you have set to unthreaded	
   In the Message List view, in the column header, on the far right, open the options button that shows    
    context menu. :
   At the very bottom is the option:
   -> "Apply current view to..."
   -> "Folder and its children..."
   -> Hover over an account
   -> In the next menu don't select a folder. Instead select the account name itself.
   -> Repeat the above for every account. 

ALSO, for future installations of Thunderbird, 
- install Thunderbird and exit prior to setting up accounts
- create a simple text file with name of user.js with these lines: 
     // Set default threading to UNthreaded  ###   <== this line is optional, just for documentation
     user_pref("mailnews.default_view_flags", 0);
- copy the user.js file into the profile
- now, when you start Thunderbird, unthreading will be the default. Problem solved.