Folder missing like you describe is usually liked to connectivity issues. Do you get an error when you click get mail?

Re your old IMAP folders. The best approach is to download the import export tools add-on https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools/

Install it and use the tool to search the imap mail folder for mbox files of mail to import. There may be some mail there, depending how Thunderbird ended up with the provider. If you deleted the account before Thunderbird go to delete the mail is what I am saying. There may even be deleted mail there that could be recovered. But the store files would need to be edited in a text editor to do that.

Thanks for the reply, Matt.

Outgoing (and Incoming) email still works, except I don't have copies of email sent from the account that has the missing Sent and Trash folders; it is those two missing folders (and my inability to redefine them to have those 2 folders working again) that I'm most concerned about.

Those Sent and Trash folders are missing from my Thunderbird window left pane for the one imap account (the one associated with the imap.zoho-2.com file). Thunderbird won't let me redefine (add) them. I'd like to recover the old Sent files in particular.

The old incoming and sent emails from the long-defunct email vendor might be nice to have for historical purposes, and since they seem to be still in Thunderbird data files, I'm thinking maybe all I need do is define that old vendor again in Thunderbird (assuming Thunderbird will allow me to do that) to get access to those email files. But, I'll try your suggestion of looking around using the import/export tools... I have no idea how to do that, or whether I can import a Sent folder to an email account where Thunderbird won't allow me to define a Sent folder, but I guess I can try.

BTW, I tried downloading the import/export tools via the link you provided and dbl-clicked it but it would not install.... a message popped up in Firefox 59.0.2 saying it could not be installed because it is not verified; why the message was in Firefox for what is supposed to be a Thunderbird tool, I do not know.

I did find a "Sent" folder for that email account in Thunderbird, it is down with local folders but has a computer screen symbol rather than a folder icon... not sure how it got there (I must have done that inadvertently), and I'm not able to drag/drop that folder back into the email account folder.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/installing-addon-thunderbird

OK, thanks Matt. Turns out I apparently have installed tools in the past. But, on trying to use the Import/Export tool to search for the missing Imap account folders, I was stumped as to how to do that.

I'd like to post screenshots of the Tbird interface showing my email accounts, but it's probably inappropriate to put that private info on a public forum. The (Imap) account in question shows only an Inbox, whereas my other (Imap) accounts show Inbox, Drafts, Sent, Spam, Templates, Archives, and Trash. I would like to recover at least the missing Sent folder.

Can you confirm that you have actually subscribed to see those folders. Right click on the mail account and select 'Subscribe' Are the missing folders in the list ? If yes, select the folders and click on 'Subscribe' click on OK

In second image: I notice there is an nstmp file.

This is created when you are 'Compacting' folder(s). It is a temporary file used to copy all good emails. Then original file is emptied, so all 'marked as deleted' emails are removed. Then the nstmp file contents are copied back, finally the nstmp file is deleted. I would assume that the compacting process was interrupted maybe you exited Thunderbird whilst it was occuring ? This would explain why there is an nstmp file and why folders are missing. See some info: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Nstmp_folders

As there are .msf files for (Templates, Archives, Spam) but not 'sent' and the size is substantial, which you may expect with a Sent file I believe the nstmp file must be the 'Sent'.

Access the profile folders and locate that mail account with the nstmp file. Exit Thunderbird

Copy the nstmp file and put on desktop as temp backup Return to original nstmp file in mail account folder. Rename 'nstmp' to 'Sent' assuming that was what the folder was originally called.

Start Thunderbird.

I could be wrong about the nstmp file - just noticed it has a very old date year 2015. So that could be perhaps an old Inbox or Sent file.

Right click on that mail account and "subscribe" shows an empty list (no folders listed)

re :Right click on that mail account and "subscribe" shows an empty list (no folders listed)

See if you can force a display.

• Right click on mail account and select 'Settings'
• select 'Server Settings'
• click on 'Advanced' button
• uncheck 'show only subscribed folders'
• click on 'OK'
• click on 'OK'

"show only subscribed folders" was already unchecked

If you logon to the webmail account via a browser, can you see all the folders and emails?

Good question!!!

I had previously tried this through Firefox but it took me directly into my primary Zoho email account, I couldn't view the secondary email accounts; I'd given up and sent a request for assistance to ZOHO which hasn't yet gotten a reply. Today I tried using Chrome browser and got in to the errant email account!

Anyway, the Sent" and "Trash" folders ARE present in the Zoho email viewed through Chrome browser, and I was able to view the emails in them.

I am now assuming that if I were to remove that account from Thunderbird and then add it again (redefine it), I would then get access to those missing folders, correct?

You should be able to remove an account and then recreate it. normally I would say, unsubscribe from seeing folders first, but that's not an option available !

• right click on mail account and select 'Settings'
• select the mail account
• click on 'Account Actions'
• select 'Remove Account'
• click on 'OK'
• Exit and restart Thunderbird.

then add again... 'Menu icon' > 'New Message' > 'Existing Mail Account'

Thought I'd posted to this before, but apparently not, only the fact that it was my chosen solution, but no text was posted. The directions above didn't match exactly, but close enough... I got the account back, with access to the "missing" folders.

The account came back as the last email account listed in the Thunderbird accounts pane on the left, now I'd like to move it up in that list of 5 accounts... how do I do that?

re : I'd like to move it up in that list of 5 accounts... how do I do that?

If you want to set it up as the top account which would be the default account then do the following:

• right click on mail account name and select 'Settings'
• select the mail account name you want to move to the top
• click on 'Account Actions'
• select 'set as default'
• click on OK

see image below as guide.

If you want to move it to another location - not the top, then you will need to use an addon extension. 'Manually sort folders'

• https://addons.mozilla.org/en-GB/thunderbird/addon/manually-sort-folders/

How to install an addon extension.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/installing-addon-thunderbird

Thanks, I already had that add-on. Unfortunately I forgot most of what I knew about Thunderbird.... old age is setting in. Appreciate the help.