what are your settings in account settings>copies&folders for the Gmail account, specifically the option on saving Sent messages?

Hi David; Many thanks for your response. I see where you are leading toward, but unfortunately I have not found a way to check as per your recommendation. I get to Gmail account settings: Manage email preferences but that is empty- no details shown. Trying to figure out how to dig deeper but for now I am stuck.

1. from main pane, click menu and then 'account settings'
2. locate gmail account in left side and under that is 'copies&folders' click that
3. what is selected for saving the Sent folder?

Sorry, I just do not seem to get through the recommended sequence.... somewhere else, it is said that Gmail does not have Folders, but it has Labels.....

So, I used the Gmail page, in settings - my Account- Gmail Under system Labels, I get: [Imap]/Sent: Show in Label list: hide, show if unread Show in Message List: hide Actions: remove edit >Show in IMAP

Is this what is needed, or my inability to follow instructions has taken me astray?

Ok, try thisl:

1. start thunderbird if not already running
2. click the menu icon in upper right -(three short bars stacked together)
3. then, click 'account settings'
4. next, look for the gmail account in left side
5. click 'copies&folders' for the account
6. tell exactly what settings you have there for the sent folder. if possible, do a screenshot

Great thanks and apologies for being so ..... Attached is the screenshot.

UNtick the setting to save in sent folder. that will stop causing the extra message to be saved. Gmail saves the message anyway.

Many thanks, David. So, now I am not adding to Sent Folder memory part every time I sent a message now.