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

How do I change the default from"Mark message as read by date" to "Mark message as read"?

  • 4 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 3 views
  • Last reply by eischech

more options

When I migrated from Windows XP to Windows 7 I downloaded & installed a new version of Thunderbird (v4.10.2) and retrieved my Mail files to the new profile. Everything seems to be working properly except that whenever I close an open message I get the "Mark messages as read by date" popup which has the current date but wants me to specify a starting date. This didn't happen in my previous installations (I've used Thunderbird for years). Options / Advanced / Reading & Display has "Automatically mark messages as read" checked and "Immediately on display" set, but I haven't found anything that lets me choose "Mark as read" rather than "Mark as read by date". How do I turn the "by date" off?

Thanks --

When I migrated from Windows XP to Windows 7 I downloaded & installed a new version of Thunderbird (v4.10.2) and retrieved my Mail files to the new profile. Everything seems to be working properly except that whenever I close an open message I get the "Mark messages as read by date" popup which has the current date but wants me to specify a starting date. This didn't happen in my previous installations (I've used Thunderbird for years). Options / Advanced / Reading & Display has "Automatically mark messages as read" checked and "Immediately on display" set, but I haven't found anything that lets me choose "Mark as read" rather than "Mark as read by date". How do I turn the "by date" off? Thanks --

Chosen solution

'Mark Message as read by Date'

This can be invoked by right click on email in list and select 'Mark' > 'As read by date' to invoke the 'Mark Message as read by Date' pop up window.

If you are reading an email in either the Message Pane or in a new tab and press the 'C' key, this will open the 'Mark Message as read by Date' pop up window.

So can you tell us exactly how you are closing a previously unread message.

Do you select an email in the list so that it displays in the Message Pane? Then you do not need to close it because this will auto happen when you select another email in the list.

OR do you double click to open an email in a tab. Then how do you close it? There are some options on how to do this:

  1. Do you click on the small 'x' located in the tab?
  2. do you use 'Ctrl'+'W' ?
  3. Do you right click on tab to show drop down options and then press 'C' key?

I notice that there is a similar action - pressing of 'C' key. If you do not right click to get drop down, but instead just use 'C' key, you will invoke the 'Mark Message as read by Date' window.

Can you check what it is you are doing

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (4)

more options

There is no Version 4... never was The current version is 24.4 As the popup your talking of is also unfamiliar, I really don't know what to say.

more options

Right -- the incorrect version number was sloppy fingers on my part. But the popup is real, at least on my machine. Happens every time I close a previously unread message.

more options

Chosen Solution

'Mark Message as read by Date'

This can be invoked by right click on email in list and select 'Mark' > 'As read by date' to invoke the 'Mark Message as read by Date' pop up window.

If you are reading an email in either the Message Pane or in a new tab and press the 'C' key, this will open the 'Mark Message as read by Date' pop up window.

So can you tell us exactly how you are closing a previously unread message.

Do you select an email in the list so that it displays in the Message Pane? Then you do not need to close it because this will auto happen when you select another email in the list.

OR do you double click to open an email in a tab. Then how do you close it? There are some options on how to do this:

  1. Do you click on the small 'x' located in the tab?
  2. do you use 'Ctrl'+'W' ?
  3. Do you right click on tab to show drop down options and then press 'C' key?

I notice that there is a similar action - pressing of 'C' key. If you do not right click to get drop down, but instead just use 'C' key, you will invoke the 'Mark Message as read by Date' window.

Can you check what it is you are doing

more options

SOLVED

I was using Alt-F to open the File menu and then C to close the message. An old, familiar set of movements. But I see that Ctrl-W closes the message without invoking the popup, and will start using that. Thanks.

Modified by eischech