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Thunderbird does not automatically download messages in some folders

  • 6 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 15 views
  • Last reply by Tctirado

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I have setup multiple IMAP accounts on Thunderbird, all of them have one or more custom folders (e.g. the "channels" folder in screenshot #1).

I launch Thunderbird and wait about 4-5 minutes so that it could synchronize all accounts + folders, and download header + bodies of new messages. But it does not work as expected, instead I have to click each folder to see if there are any new messages in it. Once clicked, it might not download message bodies in which case I have to click each message. The "synchronization & storage" settings look OK to me (see screenshot #2).

I must add that it correctly downloads header + bodies of new messages for INBOX folders only.

Thunderbird version 83.0b1

I have setup multiple IMAP accounts on Thunderbird, all of them have one or more custom folders (e.g. the "channels" folder in screenshot #1). I launch Thunderbird and wait about 4-5 minutes so that it could synchronize all accounts + folders, and download header + bodies of new messages. But it does not work as expected, instead I have to click each folder to see if there are any new messages in it. Once clicked, it might not download message bodies in which case I have to click each message. The "synchronization & storage" settings look OK to me (see screenshot #2). I must add that it correctly downloads header + bodies of new messages for INBOX folders only. Thunderbird version 83.0b1
Attached screenshots

All Replies (6)

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Right-click a folder, Properties. Is the 'When getting new messages...' box checked?

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sfhowes said

Right-click a folder, Properties. Is the 'When getting new messages...' box checked?

No it is unchecked!

Edit: so... do I need to enable this checkbox for all folders? My objective is:

  • Launch Thunderbird
  • Updates all accounts and folders: headers for all messages, bodies for up to three month old messages
  • Without clicking anything

Modified by trueblue2000

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There is a preference in Config. editor, mail.server.default.check_all_folders_for_new, which is false by default. If you double-click it to true, it should have the desired effect, without checking the box for each folder. The default is probably to limit IMAP traffic for unimportant folders.

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Unfortunately enabling "when getting new messages for this account, always check this folder" for every folder or enabling the "check_all_folders_for_new" settings does not do anything. I still have to click those folders, only then thunderbird updates the number of unread messages and download new messages (and only their headers). Thunderbird does not do what I expect it to do. Disappointing.

I use unified view mostly if that matters.

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If you can demonstrate that this still occurs in a new profile created in 83b2, then it may be a legitimate bug.

Help/Troubleshooting, about:profiles, to create and manage profiles. Submit bugs to Bugzilla.

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What about the problem of some of my custom folders do not appear in my email account on Thunderbird?