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

Can't get rid of phantom folders

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 30 views
  • Last reply by undersound

more options

So on one of my mail accounts I have the issue with those phantom folders. I am starting to get crazy over this, since everything I find online is not working for me. What I already tried:

  • deleting those folders inside Thunderbird (it also deletes the local .msf file, but recreates them on startup)

+ deleting the global database (following this official link ) + deleting the pancea.dat (following a stackoverflow thread - only result is, that all folders with special characters (äö etc.) are broken + deleting the .msf folders while Thunderbird was closed and also deleting global database + tried deleting with option "delete immediately" instead of "moving to trash" + tried the option "server does not support subfolders"

I made sure no backup/sync programm is conflicting this. I also checked on server side - the folders are not existing on the server, nor are they e.g. in my smartphones mail client.

Now I completely deleted the mail account and added it again. The phantom folders are back. So they seem to get synced to the webserver, but are not showing in the webmail interface...

Help? ><

So on one of my mail accounts I have the issue with those phantom folders. I am starting to get crazy over this, since everything I find online is not working for me. What I already tried: * deleting those folders inside Thunderbird (it also deletes the local .msf file, but recreates them on startup) + deleting the global database (following this [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/rebuilding-global-database official link] ) + deleting the pancea.dat (following a [https://stackoverflow.com/questions/59315775/resolving-the-thunderbird-phantom-folder-issue-gray-italics-folders stackoverflow] thread - only result is, that all folders with special characters (äö etc.) are broken + deleting the .msf folders while Thunderbird was closed and also deleting global database + tried deleting with option "delete immediately" instead of "moving to trash" + tried the option "server does not support subfolders" I made sure no backup/sync programm is conflicting this. I also checked on server side - the folders are not existing on the server, nor are they e.g. in my smartphones mail client. Now I completely deleted the mail account and added it again. The phantom folders are back. So they seem to get synced to the webserver, but are not showing in the webmail interface... Help? ><

Chosen solution

update: I just did the update to the latest version of Thunderbird and it looks like the phantom folders are gone now...

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (3)

more options

Chosen Solution

update: I just did the update to the latest version of Thunderbird and it looks like the phantom folders are gone now...

more options

Glad they fixed themselves, I have no idea what phantom folders you refered to.

more options

I was refering to those grey italic folders, that can not be deleted, and can't also have mails inside. Found a lot of sources for this topic but no solution. However, for now it seems fine, so crossing fingers they don't appear again.