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With a Gmail IMAP account, when I configure delete message move to folder (not Gmail->Trash), delete message stops working everytime I restart thunderbird.

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Thunderbird 52.5.0 (32-bit)

I am taking the following steps: 1. Create "Deleted" label in Gmail web client. 2. Close and restart Thunderbird to refresh the folder tree. 3. "Deleted" folder shows up in Thunderbird. 4. Go into server settings and set When I delete a message move it to the Deleted (in my Gmail account) folder. 5. Icon on "Deleted" folder changes from folder icon to recycle bin icon. 6. Delete a message in inbox. Messages goes into "Deleted" folder in Thunderbird and shows up under "Deleted" label in Gmail client. 7. Close and restart Thunderbird. 8. "Deleted" folder still shows up in Thunderbird, but as it is initializing, the icon changes from the recycle bin back to the normal folder icon. 9. Delete a message in inbox. Now message goes into Gmail trash folder in Thunderbird and shows up under the Trash label in Gmail. 10. Go back into server settings and set When I delete a message to one of the other options and hit OK. 11. Go back into server settings and set When I delete a message move it to the Deleted (in my Gmail account) folder. 12. Delete a message in inbox. Messages goes into "Deleted" folder in Thunderbird and shows up under "Deleted" label in Gmail client. 13. Close and restart Thunderbird. 14. Wash, rinse, repeat - "Deleted" folder returns to normal folder icon and deleted messages are going into Gmail Trash again.

I have done this 10 or more times. Is this a bug, or I am I missing some other setting that is required?

Other settings possible of interest. - "Deleted" folder is subscribed - On "Deleted" folder, when getting new messages for this account, always check this folder is checked - In Advanced server settings, Show only subscribed folders is not checked - In Synchronization & Storage Synchronize all messages locally regardless of age is checked

Thunderbird 52.5.0 (32-bit) I am taking the following steps: 1. Create "Deleted" label in Gmail web client. 2. Close and restart Thunderbird to refresh the folder tree. 3. "Deleted" folder shows up in Thunderbird. 4. Go into server settings and set When I delete a message move it to the Deleted (in my Gmail account) folder. 5. Icon on "Deleted" folder changes from folder icon to recycle bin icon. 6. Delete a message in inbox. Messages goes into "Deleted" folder in Thunderbird and shows up under "Deleted" label in Gmail client. 7. Close and restart Thunderbird. 8. "Deleted" folder still shows up in Thunderbird, but as it is initializing, the icon changes from the recycle bin back to the normal folder icon. 9. Delete a message in inbox. Now message goes into Gmail trash folder in Thunderbird and shows up under the Trash label in Gmail. 10. Go back into server settings and set When I delete a message to one of the other options and hit OK. 11. Go back into server settings and set When I delete a message move it to the Deleted (in my Gmail account) folder. 12. Delete a message in inbox. Messages goes into "Deleted" folder in Thunderbird and shows up under "Deleted" label in Gmail client. 13. Close and restart Thunderbird. 14. Wash, rinse, repeat - "Deleted" folder returns to normal folder icon and deleted messages are going into Gmail Trash again. I have done this 10 or more times. Is this a bug, or I am I missing some other setting that is required? Other settings possible of interest. - "Deleted" folder is subscribed - On "Deleted" folder, when getting new messages for this account, always check this folder is checked - In Advanced server settings, Show only subscribed folders is not checked - In Synchronization & Storage Synchronize all messages locally regardless of age is checked

All Replies (3)

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Gmail has a designated trash/bin/deleted folder already. Why do you feel it necessary to specify your own?

Thunderbird reflects what is done at the server. Gmail have their own specific way of managing email and there's little any email client can (or should) do to override the server.

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My question was, why does Thunderbird not successfully persist the setting of "When I delete a message move it to the ... folder" across a restart of the application. I think you misunderstand the issue I am experiencing. If the Thunderbird client can't/shouldn't let me change the behavior of the delete function in the client, why is that option provided?

Yes, of course I know that Gmail has its own trash folder, which is exactly what I am configuring around.

As to why, I'm sure you know that the trash folder in Gmail is emptied after 30 days. I don't want that behavior. But I also find it annoying that there is no way in Gmail to quickly identify those messages not associated with any label - sadly there is no sort by label in the All Mail view in the Gmail web client. I want to recreate the same behavior I have with a Pop client, where I can move something to "trash" but it is not physically deleted. Then I can periodically sort my trash folder by date and permanently delete stuff that is a couple years old. If it was something I wanted to save for longevity, I would have moved it to a local folder. By creating a "Deleted" label in Gmail, I can easily recreate the same setup. Now items I delete versus file to another label will show up under the deleted label. And at the same time, anything I really want to get rid of right away (say my 2 factor authentication verification code) I can move to trash and it will be gone for good.

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I can't help you. I cannot understand this concept of deleting stuff that you want to keep.

If you want to keep it, file it. Don't trash it.