right click the inbox and select properties and then repair?

Thanks Matt but no, unfortunately Inbox properties - repair did not work. What is also interesting is that the "Welcome to Mozilla" message is shown in the bottom half of the pane but there is absolutely nothing in the top pane under Subject From Date etc. When I clicked on repair, even the "Welcome to Mozilla" message disappeared from the bottom pane.

click in the blank pane and see if a message appears. I have heard of "invisible" lists.

Clicking on the middle pane (Subject From Date etc) did not resolve the problem.

I did not expect it to "resolve the problem" it is but a diagnostic step. On the top of the folder pane there is a small squarish icon with a down arrow. Select it and turn on the total and unread headings, along with the name of the folders.

What are the unread and read figures showing?

Unread and total are blank. If I close Thunderbird and open it, I can see the "Welcome to Thunderbird..." message content in the bottom pane but the top pane is still completely blank.

I'm assuming you have subscribed to see the imap folders. Please double check the Inbox is selected as subscribed. file > subcribe

Then check to see if it is a 'read-only' file.

Make hidden files and folders visible:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Show_hidden_files_and_folders

In Thunderbird

• Help > Troubleshooting Information
• click on 'show folder' button

a new window opens showing contents of profile name folder

* Close thunderbird now - this is important

• click on 'ImapMail' folder
• click on the imap mal account name

look for 'Inbox' (no extension) file (not Inbox.msf) What size is this file?

Right click on 'Inbox' file and select 'Properties' Under 'Attributes' 'Read-Only' and 'Hidden' checkboxes should be selected. Uncheck if any are selected. click on Ok

Did you need to uncheck 'Read-Only' ?

Report on results

Toad-hall, you may be onto something. In the ImapMail - myaccount folder there is no INBOX (no extension) file! Here is a list of the files: Archives.msf, Drafts.msf, INBOX.msf, Junk.msf, msgFilterRules.dat, Sent.msf, Sent-1, Sent-1-msf, Templates.msf, Trash.msf.

re : In the ImapMail - myaccount folder there is no INBOX (no extension) file! Do not worry, it is probably because you have not synchronised folders for offline use. With IMAP mail accounts, headers are downloaded and when you select to read an email, it is retrieved from the server and stored in a temporary cache to faciliate viewing. follow same proceedure as before and check the INBOX.msf file.

Right click on 'INBOX.msf' file and select 'Properties' Under 'Attributes' 'Read-Only' and 'Hidden' checkboxes should be selected. Uncheck if any are selected. click on Ok

Did you need to uncheck 'Read-Only' ?

Report on results

Read-Only' and 'Hidden' checkboxes were unchecked. Just to make sure, I checked them, [Apply] unchecked them and [Apply]. This did not fix the issue.

Try:

File > Subscribe unsubscribe from seeing Inbox click on OK

Exit and restart Thunderbird.

Then subscribe to see Inbox. Exit and restart Thunderbird.

Report back on results.

File unsubscribe/subscribe works with all other folders except INBOX. I am able to see trash, span etc. emails but inbox is still blank. I confirmed using webmail that there are lots of emails in the inbox. Also when emails come in, the account name changes color from black to blue but there are no emails in the inbox.

VBKen,

Who is your mail provider?

And, it may not help in this case, but a good and harmless starting point is always Thunderbird safe mode. What happens when you do https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/safe-mode-thunderbird ?

I solved the inbox blank problem by right clicking on "inbox", clicking "properties" and clicking "repair folder".