I think the problem might be the "when I delete them" option. That instructs Thunderbird to reach out and trashes the messages on the server when you delete them in Thunderbird. Instead, check the box to leave messages on the server, and uncheck any boxes under that.

I thought "Until I delete them" meant the messages on the server. I unchecked this option and now I can delete the messages on Thunderbird without deleting them on the server. Thank you very much.

Where is the "leave on the server" option. Is it in the preferences? I can't find it.

Hi hschaars, it would be in the Account Settings dialog. You can access that either using the "3-bar" menu then Options then Account Settings, or from the classic Tools menu (on Windows, tap the Alt key to display the classic menu bar if you do not normally display it).

Look for "Server Settings" under your account.

I do not have any POP accounts set up at the moment, so unfortunately I cannot provide a screen shot.

Is this for Windows? I have a Mac and I just received a message from the forum stating that this option isn't available for IMAP servers. When I installed Thunderbird for Mac, there was only 1 option and that was IMAP. I really would like to leave messages on the server.

I'm attaching an image of my settings. "Leave on Server" is not there.

Hi hschaars, your mail service provider may offer both POP and IMAP. What Thunderbird detects automatically might not be the only choice.

With an IMAP connection, what you do locally is mirrored to the server.

To reduce clutter, instead of deleting messages you will want to access later, you can create a subfolder within your IMAP folders (not Local Folders) to store messages you do not want to see in your Inbox. When you set up an IMAP connection on a different device, or view your mailbox using a webmail interface, those messages will be available in that subfolder instead of the Inbox.

It's a little more work to move messages to a subfolder instead of just hitting Delete, but...

I'm a little confused. Right now my list is as follows: Inbox Drafts Trash Deleted Msg. Sent Msg. Sent Mail Spam

Local Folders Trash Outbox

What is the difference between Trash and Deleted Msg. and Sent Msg. and Sent Mail? Where would I create a subfolder and what would I name it? When I delete a message would I put it in the subfolder? Sorry about all the questions.

I have a laptop running Win. 8.1 and Live Mail. When my messages are taken off the server, does that mean I wont be receiving these messages on my laptop?

Hi hschaars, it will be more straightforward if all of your mail clients use the same connection method. If your laptop uses a POP connection, then you could re-setup the account in Thunderbird using the same settings.

Let's say you keep IMAP. I suggest creating your subfolder(s) under Inbox. I typically have one for each heavy sender (typically a vendor). If both mail clients are using IMAP, then the folder move should synchronize as each one checks the server for changes. If the other mail client uses POP, then it won't find that message if you move the message before the other client checks for mail. If you move it after the other client checks for mail, the other client will not be affected since POP clients simply check the Inbox.

Hi hschaars, on the other point, I'm not sure why you have what seem to be similar folders under different names... If you check your webmail interface, are those folders all there?

I don't have clients. I just want to keep my deleted messages in a folder so it doesn't get deleted from the server. How would I set that up? Would I put the deleted mail in the subfolder manually?

My Cox server does have these folders listed. I don't know why.

Hi hschaars, sorry for the confusing lingo. By mail client I mean a program that gathers mail for you from the server.

To create a new folder under the Inbox, in the left column, right-click Inbox and choose New Folder. You should get a dialog allowing you to name it and confirm that it should be a subfolder of Inbox.

To move messages into that folder in the future, you can drag and drop. The usual Windows methods of bulk selection apply to your message list. You can click one message and then Shift+click further up or down to select the entire range, or you can Ctrl+click individual messages to add them to a group so they can be dragged together.

(There might be a more efficient way, but that's the method I've always used.)

I created a folder called My Deleted Msgs. under the Inbox. So now all I do when deleting msgs. is drag them into My Deleted Msgs.? Will these messages still be deleted off the server?

Hi hschaars, with an IMAP connection, the message move will be mirrored on the server. You should find they move out of the Inbox on the server into the folder. I suggest trying a few and then checking to confirm.

OK, it worked. Will the messages in "My Deleted Msgs." stay there as long as I want even though they are off the server?

Hi hschaars, although they are out of the Inbox, the way IMAP works, those messages should stay on your server and in Thunderbird in matching folders. Everything is kept matched, as long as the system is working correctly.

If I delete messages from the "My Deleted Msgs." folder, would those messages then be deleted from the server?

Hi hschaars, yes, if you delete messages from the "My Deleted Msgs." folder, they should be removed from the server as well.

Thanks for all your help. I never would have figured this out on my own.