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Deleting E-mails not always deleting them from gmail

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  • Last reply by NewDroidGuy

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I am using Thunderbird's local folders to free up space in my gmail account for older E-mails that I don't need anymore. I set it up as IMAP. I'm having the following problems:

I have an entire Label tree in gmail that shows up as a Folder tree in Thunderbird. I have duplicated some of these into a Local Folder in Thunderbird.

- When I move a folder down, all the messages copy, but don't delete from Thunderbird or gmail. When I delete the messages in Thunderbird, sometimes they delete in gmail, but other times, they remain in gmail without a label.

- I've also tried Moving the individual messages (in group) from the gmail folder in Thunderbird the local folder. Sometimes they delete in gmail, but other times, they remain in gmail without a label. I've sometimes hit Undo, and some of those times, the messages go back, other times they don't, and I have 2 blank folders. The messages are still in gmail, but without label, so not easy to find. As well, in File Manager, there's a file with that folder's name, and it is non-zero, and when I open it up in a Text Editor, I see the messages.

- I've also tried Copying the individual messages (in group) from the gmail folder in Thunderbird the local folder. Then I delete them from the source directory. Most of the time, this works. but a few other times, they remain in gmail without a label.

One thing - since I just installed Thunderbird today, it's still downloading messages. It's at 37000 of 66000 messages right now, if that could be related to this. But when do move/copy/delete one at a time, it happens immediately.

Any suggestions on a better way to do this?

I am using Thunderbird's local folders to free up space in my gmail account for older E-mails that I don't need anymore. I set it up as IMAP. I'm having the following problems: I have an entire Label tree in gmail that shows up as a Folder tree in Thunderbird. I have duplicated some of these into a Local Folder in Thunderbird. - When I move a folder down, all the messages copy, but don't delete from Thunderbird or gmail. When I delete the messages in Thunderbird, sometimes they delete in gmail, but other times, they remain in gmail without a label. - I've also tried Moving the individual messages (in group) from the gmail folder in Thunderbird the local folder. Sometimes they delete in gmail, but other times, they remain in gmail without a label. I've sometimes hit Undo, and some of those times, the messages go back, other times they don't, and I have 2 blank folders. The messages are still in gmail, but without label, so not easy to find. As well, in File Manager, there's a file with that folder's name, and it is non-zero, and when I open it up in a Text Editor, I see the messages. - I've also tried Copying the individual messages (in group) from the gmail folder in Thunderbird the local folder. Then I delete them from the source directory. Most of the time, this works. but a few other times, they remain in gmail without a label. One thing - since I just installed Thunderbird today, it's still downloading messages. It's at 37000 of 66000 messages right now, if that could be related to this. But when do move/copy/delete one at a time, it happens immediately. Any suggestions on a better way to do this?

Modified by NewDroidGuy

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Have you checked exactly what setting you have on the google web site, re deleting mail? That are very relevant as Google by default only removes labels and parks the mail in the all mail folder.

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Where would I find those gmail settings? On my Thunderbird setting, I have Deleted Mail being moved to Trash.

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NewDroidGuy said

Where would I find those gmail settings?

Like I said, on the google web site. I suggest you start here https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#settings/fwdandpop

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Two settings there were interesting:

When I mark a message in IMAP as deleted: X Auto-Expunge on - Immediately update the server. (default) Auto-Expunge off - Wait for the client to update the server.

When a message is marked as deleted and expunged from the last visible IMAP folder: X Archive the message (default) Move the message to the Trash Immediately delete the message forever

For the second one, this can't be changed, unless I change the first setting. Could it be related to this? It seems odd that if Auto-Expunge was on, it wouldn't delete it right away.