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 to only save opened emails locally to machine

  • 3 iimpendulo
  • 1 inayo le ngxaki
  • 1 view
  • Impendulo yokugqibela ngu Matt

more options

So I have been using Thunderbird for many years now, and when I first started was able to set an option to only save locally to my computer emails which I had opened with Thunderbird (as well as sent emails). However, recently my email account provider changed many settings, and so I had to re-setup my account within Thunderbird, and as soon as that happened all the emails I had ever gotten started downloading unto my machine.

I looked around, but cannot figure out which new options to set. How can I have Thunderbird only save locally 1) opened emails, and 2) sent emails?

Thank you very much in advance.

So I have been using Thunderbird for many years now, and when I first started was able to set an option to only save locally to my computer emails which I had opened with Thunderbird (as well as sent emails). However, recently my email account provider changed many settings, and so I had to re-setup my account within Thunderbird, and as soon as that happened all the emails I had ever gotten started downloading unto my machine. I looked around, but cannot figure out which new options to set. How can I have Thunderbird only save locally 1) opened emails, and 2) sent emails? Thank you very much in advance.

All Replies (3)

more options

I think you are referring to a pop mail account. I know of one US based ISP that is lying to their customers and forcing them to use IMAP. Might you be in that camp?

more options

No, I am not having problems with my ISP (aside from lower-than advertised speeds, but everyone deals with that). I think I wasn't clear with my question; is there a way to only save emails one opens with an IMAP gmail account through thunderbird? Or is that the default option?

more options

Right click the account in the folder pane and select settings in synchronization and storage uncheck the box for "keep messages in all folders on this computer" this will make email viewing much slower as the email body must be fetched on demand from the server.