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Can't batch delete in Thunderbird, only deletes one of highlighted emails

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Highlighting multiple emails and either pushing "delete" on the keyboard or right-clicking and selecting "delete selected messages" results in only a single email being deleted. The remaining emails are still highlighted. If I keep deleting, after I complete deleting on the remaining highlighted messages, the message preview doesn't display the next un-highlighted message in the inbox. I've tried restarting in safe mode and repairing folder. Please help. Thanks!

Win 10 Home 10.0.17134 Build 17134 Thunderbird 60.0 Build ID 20180731173940

Highlighting multiple emails and either pushing "delete" on the keyboard or right-clicking and selecting "delete selected messages" results in only a single email being deleted. The remaining emails are still highlighted. If I keep deleting, after I complete deleting on the remaining highlighted messages, the message preview doesn't display the next un-highlighted message in the inbox. I've tried restarting in safe mode and repairing folder. Please help. Thanks! Win 10 Home 10.0.17134 Build 17134 Thunderbird 60.0 Build ID 20180731173940

Isisombulu esikhethiweyo

You do not mention whether this is occuring in any folder or just one particular folder.

Please perform a Test to see if you have a corrupted file. Please empty the 'Trash/Deleted' folder.

  • Right click on 'Trash/Deleted' folder and select 'Empty Deleted'.
  • Move all good emails from the problem folder and put them in another new folder.

This is a precaution because I would not want you to lose any good emails if that file was corrupted.

When all good wanted emails have been moved...

  • Right click on problem folder and select 'compact'.

This will completely remove all hidden marked as deleted emails from the problem folder.

If there are any unwanted emails still showing in that problem folder:

  • Use 'Ctrl + A to select all of them

They should appear as xx number of conversations in the lower Message Pane.

  • Click on the 'Delete' option.

Did they all disappear? If yes:

  • Right click on problem folder and select 'compact' to remove them completely from the file.

This should clean up the problem folder.

Please report back on results.

Funda le mpendulo kwimeko leyo 👍 1

All Replies (2)

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Isisombululo esiKhethiweyo

You do not mention whether this is occuring in any folder or just one particular folder.

Please perform a Test to see if you have a corrupted file. Please empty the 'Trash/Deleted' folder.

  • Right click on 'Trash/Deleted' folder and select 'Empty Deleted'.
  • Move all good emails from the problem folder and put them in another new folder.

This is a precaution because I would not want you to lose any good emails if that file was corrupted.

When all good wanted emails have been moved...

  • Right click on problem folder and select 'compact'.

This will completely remove all hidden marked as deleted emails from the problem folder.

If there are any unwanted emails still showing in that problem folder:

  • Use 'Ctrl + A to select all of them

They should appear as xx number of conversations in the lower Message Pane.

  • Click on the 'Delete' option.

Did they all disappear? If yes:

  • Right click on problem folder and select 'compact' to remove them completely from the file.

This should clean up the problem folder.

Please report back on results.

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Toad-Hall, it works. Thank you for your quick response and help!

It was only one inbox folder of one account. I'd forgotten to mention that I'd tried compacting the folder before.

Regardless, your instructions to empty the trash/deleted folder worked. I should have thought of that. Thanks again! :)

Toad-Hall said

You do not mention whether this is occuring in any folder or just one particular folder. Please perform a Test to see if you have a corrupted file. Please empty the 'Trash/Deleted' folder.
  • Right click on 'Trash/Deleted' folder and select 'Empty Deleted'.
  • Move all good emails from the problem folder and put them in another new folder.
This is a precaution because I would not want you to lose any good emails if that file was corrupted. When all good wanted emails have been moved...
  • Right click on problem folder and select 'compact'.
This will completely remove all hidden marked as deleted emails from the problem folder. If there are any unwanted emails still showing in that problem folder:
  • Use 'Ctrl + A to select all of them
They should appear as xx number of conversations in the lower Message Pane.
  • Click on the 'Delete' option.
Did they all disappear? If yes:
  • Right click on problem folder and select 'compact' to remove them completely from the file.
This should clean up the problem folder. Please report back on results.