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Thunderbird will not download messages from gmail if they have been read on another device?

Johnhoward28
Johnhoward28
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I use thunderbird on my main desktop computer, where I keep copies of important emails permanently. However, I travel a lot, and I need to manage emails while on the go as well, so I use Aquamail on my android smartphone to check emails. Now I use POP3 because I detest with unbridled passion how Thunburdbird handles Imap with Gmail (downloads 3 copies of the same email to three different folders, which I have to delete separately), and I want to store copies on my desktop.

Here is the problem. Once the emails have been read on my phone, when I get home and launch TTB, it will not download the emails that I read on my phone already. I have my phone set to "Leave the copy on the server" and the if I log into Gmail, I can read it there, but TB will not download it, once it has been read on my phone using aqua mail. Even if I mark the email as UNREAD in Gmail, it still will not download the message from the server. This only happens with Gmail. I monitor domain emails from other services, and this is not a problem; I can view them on my phone, and TB will still download them when I get home. It is only with Gmail that I am having this problem.

I can find no way to tell TB to download the email. It makes no sense to me why this is happening.

I use thunderbird on my main desktop computer, where I keep copies of important emails permanently. However, I travel a lot, and I need to manage emails while on the go as well, so I use Aquamail on my android smartphone to check emails. Now I use POP3 because I detest with unbridled passion how Thunburdbird handles Imap with Gmail (downloads 3 copies of the same email to three different folders, which I have to delete separately), and I want to store copies on my desktop. Here is the problem. Once the emails have been read on my phone, when I get home and launch TTB, it will not download the emails that I read on my phone already. I have my phone set to "Leave the copy on the server" and the if I log into Gmail, I can read it there, but TB will not download it, once it has been read on my phone using aqua mail. Even if I mark the email as UNREAD in Gmail, it still will not download the message from the server. This only happens with Gmail. I monitor domain emails from other services, and this is not a problem; I can view them on my phone, and TB will still download them when I get home. It is only with Gmail that I am having this problem. I can find no way to tell TB to download the email. It makes no sense to me why this is happening.

Chosen solution

You might be seeing the effect of gmail not allowing POP downloads with multiple devices or mail clients unless 'recent mode' is applied:

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Using_Gmail_with_Thunderbird_and_Mozilla_Suite (first section)

although I don't know why you don't use IMAP with the phone and the desktop. I don't see gmail downloading the same mail to 3 different folders, probably because, like most users, the All Mail folder is not subscribed.

I recommend you read the kb article to find the correct gmail IMAP settings and reconsider your setup.

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All Replies (2)

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 25 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

You might be seeing the effect of gmail not allowing POP downloads with multiple devices or mail clients unless 'recent mode' is applied:

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Using_Gmail_with_Thunderbird_and_Mozilla_Suite (first section)

although I don't know why you don't use IMAP with the phone and the desktop. I don't see gmail downloading the same mail to 3 different folders, probably because, like most users, the All Mail folder is not subscribed.

I recommend you read the kb article to find the correct gmail IMAP settings and reconsider your setup.

Johnhoward28
Johnhoward28 Question owner
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Thanks for the link. Enabling RECENT mode fixed the problem. I did not understand what you said about IMAP, but I just generally dislike IMAP. I have used POP since the 1990s and am very satisfied with how it works. I have a system. It works great for me.

Unlike the whole rest of the tech industry, I don't believe things have to CONSTANTLY be upgraded and changed just because some person got a degree and wants to make their mark by inventing a new shiny interface to fix an old one that worked just fine. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I like good, old, and comfortable. Life is already complex enough, without some person trying to figure out how to make it more complex just for kicks.