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Sent mail folder reporting file size issue

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by Martin

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Hi - since ca one month I'm having issues with Thunderbird on one of our co-workers PC. She was using POP3 account and not deleting any e-mails. Today we've cleaned the folders up moving the Sent mail folder content to archive (19.000 mails to 4.000 mails from last year). When I however want to move some e-mail to Sent folder I get the notification that the Sent folder is full and cannot contain anymore news. For creating space you can delete some e-mails and do the maintenance of the folder. (free translaiton from Czech). Could you please tell me what is the size limit or what can I do to be able to use the Sent mail folder? Thanks

PS: I'm adding the Thunderbird TechInfo in the attachment.

Hi - since ca one month I'm having issues with Thunderbird on one of our co-workers PC. She was using POP3 account and not deleting any e-mails. Today we've cleaned the folders up moving the Sent mail folder content to archive (19.000 mails to 4.000 mails from last year). When I however want to move some e-mail to Sent folder I get the notification that the Sent folder is full and cannot contain anymore news. For creating space you can delete some e-mails and do the maintenance of the folder. (free translaiton from Czech). Could you please tell me what is the size limit or what can I do to be able to use the Sent mail folder? Thanks PS: I'm adding the Thunderbird TechInfo in the attachment.

Chosen solution

Hello Bruce - I probably stated it wrong. The problem was, that I wasn't able to move any mail into the Sent folder. Afterwards I realized, that it's still saying it has 4GB size (even after emptying it and reindexing). I googled for the 4GB problem and I found the solution. I had to move the mails inside the folder to another one, delete the file under the profile folder and let Thunderbird create a new one. Than I moved the messages back and - tada - it had 144MB instead of 4GB and it's working again. Thanks anyway for your reply.

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All Replies (4)

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You cannot move the Sent folder itself, just the contents inside it. I hope that's what you meant.

You probably just need to "Compact Folders" for that account. It would be a good idea to empty the Trash also.

Select a folder under that e-mail address on the left. It doesn't matter which folder, just that the focus is on that account.

Then: Thunderbird Menu: File: Empty Trash Then: Thunderbird Menu: File: Compact Folders

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Chosen Solution

Hello Bruce - I probably stated it wrong. The problem was, that I wasn't able to move any mail into the Sent folder. Afterwards I realized, that it's still saying it has 4GB size (even after emptying it and reindexing). I googled for the 4GB problem and I found the solution. I had to move the mails inside the folder to another one, delete the file under the profile folder and let Thunderbird create a new one. Than I moved the messages back and - tada - it had 144MB instead of 4GB and it's working again. Thanks anyway for your reply.

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tkimitkiy said

Hello Bruce - I probably stated it wrong. The problem was, that I wasn't able to move any mail into the Sent folder. Afterwards I realized, that it's still saying it has 4GB size (even after emptying it and reindexing). I googled for the 4GB problem and I found the solution. I had to move the mails inside the folder to another one, delete the file under the profile folder and let Thunderbird create a new one. Than I moved the messages back and - tada - it had 144MB instead of 4GB and it's working again. Thanks anyway for your reply.

Compact from the file menu would have offered a solution with no files requiring manual deletion.

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Hi Matt - unluckilly it didn't. That was the first thing I was trying to do (even like 3-5 times) but no luck in there.