Is this a Pop or Imap mail account ?

If Imap then it's possible the 'Deleted Messages' is actually the name of the 'Trash' folder provided by the server. First: Find out which folder is being used by the server. Logon to webmail account via a browser. Delete an email and notice which webmail folder now has the deleted email. In webmail account did the deleted email auto get put in 'Deleted Messages' or 'Deleted' ?

Now test sending an email in webmail account. Which folder did the sent message get auto put into in the webmail account? Was it 'Sent' or 'Sent Messages' ?

We have to know which folder is your default folders - the one the server uses - then we can sort out what needs to kept in the imap account and which folder you need to have selected in Account Settings > Copies & Folders.

A reply to this topic was made here https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1425780

That topic is now locked so discussion can continue here.

Info copied back into this forum

Hello and thanks for you replay. I use IMAP From my browser, I deleted an email and it went on my second "Delete" folder, icon rubbish can, but most of my deleted messages go to my "Deleted Messages' icon also rubbish can. Sent an email form my browser, it went in my "Sent" folder, icon Arrow. I adding a snap shot of the browser, here I think lies the problem.

This tells me the imap account folder called 'Deleted' is the server default folder and it should be the one you use.

This tells me the imap account folder called 'Sent' is the server default folder and it should be the one you use.

Check your Account Settings are using those specific folders.

• 'Account Settings' > 'Server Settings' for the imap account
• When I delete a message:
• Select 'Move it to this folder: select 'Deleted on email account'

• Click on 'Copies & Folders'
• Select 'Place a copy in:'
• Select : 'Other' and choose 'Sent on email account'

Back in the normal view where you can see the Folder Pane... If you have any sent emails in the 'Sent Messages' folder move them into the 'Sent' folder.

• Right click on 'Sent Messages' and select 'Compact'
• Do the same with the 'Deleted Messages' folder.

• Right click on the imap account name folder and select : 'Subscribe'
• Select: 'Deleted Messages' and 'Sent Messages'
• Click on 'Unsubscribe'
• Click on 'OK'

Exit Thunderbird Wait a few moments for background processes to complete. Start Thunderbird.

Hello again and thanks for your help. everything you mentioned up to:

    Right click on 'Sent Messages' and select 'Compact'
   Do the same with the 'Deleted Messages' folder. 
   Right click on the imap account name folder and select : 'Subscribe'
   Select: 'Deleted Messages' and 'Sent Messages'
   Click on 'Unsubscribe'
   Click on 'OK' 

Exit Thunderbird Wait a few moments for background processes to complete. Start Thunderbird.

I compacted the Sent messages and the Deleted Messages with no problems, but the next part is not working,.. I include a snapshot of where I am trying. As you ca see, Subscribe is not a choice. Am I in the wrong place? Thanks again for your help

re :As you ca see, Subscribe is not a choice. Am I in the wrong place?

Yes you are in the wrong place. I should have offered a bit more info. Back in the Folder Pane -

• Right click on the imap account name folder and select : 'Subscribe'
• Select: 'Deleted Messages' and 'Sent Messages'
• Click on 'Unsubscribe'
• Click on 'OK'

That is way they say one picture is worth a thousand words. However, when I followed your instructions: "Subscribe" oped a new page where every folder was ticket I only allowed a tick on Deleted and Sent messages. It did something else it wiped all folders from inbox. my PC backups every day, I renamed the Thunderbird profile by adding an other letter in front of it Than I copied the profile from my backup 2 days earlier, but it didn't make any difference. Emails going back to 2008 are no longer there. Isn't folders stored in the profile?. Can you please help to get my folders back please?. the more snapshots you can provide the more likely to a happy result. Thank you for your help and patience. But honestly, I don't know why it removed all folders apart from Junk and Deleted messages. The Deleted folder is still populated, the Sent Message folder is empty. I would be grateful for an explanation. Regards Ilio Pieroni PS on the new Thunderbird, there are 2 sent folders and 2 rubbish tins??

re :"Subscribe" oped a new page where every folder was ticket I only allowed a tick on 'Deleted' and 'Sent' messages.

The instructions said to select 'Deleted Messages' and 'Sent Messages' and click on 'Unsubscribe'. However, clearly you have done the opposite to my instructions because those two folders which you do not want are visible in the image you posted.

You only selected the ones you did not want and them clicked on 'Subscribe' meaning you now only are subscribed to ones you do not want and not subscribed to everything you need.

Repeat to get the correct display

• Right click on the bigpond imap account name folder and select : 'Subscribe'
• Select 'Deleted Messages' and 'Sent Messages' and click on 'UNSubscribe' -
• Because you do not want them.
• Click on OK

Now access it again to select everything you do want to see.

• Right click on the bigpond imap account name folder and select : 'Subscribe'
• In 'Subscribe' list you need to select all the folder names you need to see.
• DO NOT select 'Deleted Messages' and 'Sent Messages' because you do not want those two.
• Then click on 'Subscribe'.
• Click on 'OK'

Hi, Thanks, you where correct. I followed your instructions and it all came back again. I am very grateful. Thanks again Ilio Pieroni