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Update changed IMAP to POP, using Earthlink

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by Wayne Mery

msprinker
msprinker
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After the update to Thunderbird 115.2.3, Thunderbird downloaded and deleted messages I had left on the server. I use Earthlink as my email server. I should have realized what happened when I suddenly had over 2500 sets of duplicate emails.

It appears that my Thunderbird is now set up for POP, although it had been IMAP for years. This is the second (or third) time his has happened in the last 6 months.

Three questions: 1) Can I change back to IMAP from POP without losing more 2) Is there a way to restore any of these emails to the server? 3) How can I prevent this in the future; once I update and restart, it is too late to prevent something like this as the damage is done.

Thank you.

After the update to Thunderbird 115.2.3, Thunderbird downloaded and deleted messages I had left on the server. I use Earthlink as my email server. I should have realized what happened when I suddenly had over 2500 sets of duplicate emails. It appears that my Thunderbird is now set up for POP, although it had been IMAP for years. This is the second (or third) time his has happened in the last 6 months. Three questions: 1) Can I change back to IMAP from POP without losing more 2) Is there a way to restore any of these emails to the server? 3) How can I prevent this in the future; once I update and restart, it is too late to prevent something like this as the damage is done. Thank you.

Modified by Wayne Mery

All Replies (2)

msprinker
msprinker Question owner
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I forgot the mention that I have my Thunderbird account server settings as "Leave messages on server" "Until I delete them".

Could this be temporarily overridden on either a restart or a crash to "cancel" the Leave messages settings?

Thank you

Wayne Mery
Wayne Mery
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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It's not possible to change account types, manually nor automatically. Also, "Leave messages on server until I delete them" is not the default value, which an account would be if the account type had been automatically changed.

> 1) Can I change back to IMAP from POP without losing more

Not possible to change account types. The only way is to create a new account in Thunderbird for that email address

> 2) Is there a way to restore any of these emails to the server? > 3) How can I prevent this in the future; once I update and restart, it is too late to prevent something like this as the damage is done.

Check trash? Suggest contact Earthlink.