I agree, this has likely been the most complained-about feature since release of 102.

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.

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. 

That's an extraordinarily detailed reply - many thanks. Mind you, it just sets the Unthreaded again - the problem is that when I've done that, it comes back by itself.

I personally am very comfortable with all the stuff you have provided, but to me it highlights one of today's biggest software problems - that of sloppy programming expecting users to become programmers to sort out program misbehaviour (microsoft Word comes to mind). This is totally the wrong approach - There is no way that Joe Bloggs and Granny Smith should have to go near this gobbledegook to use *any* app, let alone email.

Thanks again, David, a 'proper' reply !

You're welcome. I do make my thoughts known, but little chance for change. https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/stop-requiring-users-to-need-customizing-for-basic-services/td-p/41484