Join the AMA (Ask Me Anything) with the Firefox leadership team to celebrate Firefox 20th anniversary and discuss Firefox’s future on Mozilla Connect. Mark your calendar on Thursday, November 14, 18:00 - 20:00 UTC!

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

IMAP syncronization problems

  • 7 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 18 views
  • Last reply by Wayne Mery

more options

In Thunderbird, I set up an IMAP account to a server with about 4000 emails spread across three years. with synchronization enabled all emails were downloaded to the Thunderbird client. to reduce storage, I enabled the option to delete all but the most recent 2000 messages. Thunderbird deleted the most recent 2000 messages instead of the oldest messages. If this a known bug or an I misunderstanding the option?

 Thanks,  Charles
In Thunderbird, I set up an IMAP account to a server with about 4000 emails spread across three years. with synchronization enabled all emails were downloaded to the Thunderbird client. to reduce storage, I enabled the option to delete all but the most recent 2000 messages. Thunderbird deleted the most recent 2000 messages instead of the oldest messages. If this a known bug or an I misunderstanding the option? Thanks, Charles

All Replies (7)

more options

Is it an imap gmail account ? If yes, It is possible that you have deleted the labels and not the emails themselves. Logon to webmail account and see if emails are still in 'All Mail' folder. If yes, then move them back into 'Inbox' to apply the label again. Then emails should be viewable in Thunderbird.

Until it is known what caused this to occur, suggest you Archive old emails into a suitable folder and then unsubscribe from seeing the folder.

more options

The IMAP connecton is to a private email server "Dovcot". The email in question is gone and the storage utilization has been decreased. I have backups, but I'm trying to analyze the event. Is selecting "delete all but the most recent 2000 messages" a dangerous and unpredictable option or is this an anomaly with a Dovcot mailserver under Centos 7.6?

  - C
more options

I'm reporting this as a potentially important bug. What version of Thunderbird are you using? What OS ?

more options
more options

To help to test if this is a real bug, could you please offer some info. Either add it yourself at the bug report I mentioned or tell me what OS you use and what version of Thunderbird you were using when this occurred.

more options

I was using Windows 10 with Tbird 60.6.1. I been afraid to use the feature again.....

 - Charles
more options

If you can still reproduce this issue, please post a new support request