re :Using TB V 56.0b4

you are currently using a beta version, so may expect to find a few gliches. Try using the latest version which is version 52.4.0 https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/all/

You may want to post this bug you encountered on version 56.0b4 in bugzilla. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/index.cgi?

The default location for 'Reply' button is now in the header area which is displayed when the email is selected.

Several versions ago, everything was changed to tabs. This reduced the available space on the 'Mail Toolbar'. So buttons that specifically relate to an opened email were placed just above the headers.

In version 52.4.0, there is still the option to put specific use buttons on the general mail toolbar, but whether this option has been deliberately removed in version 56 is an entirely different query.

Hi Toad-Hall, firstly, thank you for the prompt reply and ideas. I reverted back to stable version 52.4.0 of TB and whilst this gave me a stack of extra toolbar buttons in my customisation choices thru the Toolbar buttons extension, the reply and forward buttons are not amongst them. If I start TB in safe mode with all ext disabled, I can add the reply & forward buttons to the toolbar.

However, the moment I start TB in normal mode with the 5 extensions, the two buttons disappear. I did a process of elimination of disable each extension to see if that caused a conflict causing these buttons to disappear but this was not the case. Any further ideas without a complete delete and reinstall?

Running TB 56b4 here with several add-ons and themes, and the Reply and Reply All buttons are on the Mail Toolbar, and working. You may have a broken layout, and if so the standard repair is to launch in safe mode, check 'Reset toolbars and controls' and click 'Make changes and restart'.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_mode#Safe_Mode_options

Thank you sfh, all fixed. Once again group support kills it.