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How do I make Thunderbird retain more than a week's worth of deleted messages?

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  • 2 have this problem
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  • Last reply by Zenronin

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I want to keep all of my deleted messages. Under "Account Settings> Server Settings> Message Storage," I have unchecked "Empty Trash on Exit." But only a week's worth of deleted messages are retained. The missing messages are not under "Archive." I am using an IMAP server through Inmotion.com.

I want to keep all of my deleted messages. Under "Account Settings> Server Settings> Message Storage," I have unchecked "Empty Trash on Exit." But only a week's worth of deleted messages are retained. The missing messages are not under "Archive." I am using an IMAP server through Inmotion.com.

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personally I doubt inmotions assertions that their imap server is not configured to delete mail from the deleted folder after a week, after all people using Outlook appear in forums with exactly the same issue from inmotion.

Here is an experiment. Instead of deleting archive (Press A instead of delete.) and see if mail disappears from the archive after a week. My bet not.

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Also check: Tools > Account Settings > Disc Space. select: 'dont delete any messages' click on OK


Also: under 'Server Settings' for the mail account uncheck the 'cleanup expunge inbox'

see more info on deleting in IMAP accounts:


There are some servers that automatically periodically empty the Deleted/Trash folder.

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Thank you for your response. However, I double-checked, and my settings are already as you describe. And I do not use a public host like Yahoo that would impact Thunderbird.

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Seçilmiş Həll

personally I doubt inmotions assertions that their imap server is not configured to delete mail from the deleted folder after a week, after all people using Outlook appear in forums with exactly the same issue from inmotion.

Here is an experiment. Instead of deleting archive (Press A instead of delete.) and see if mail disappears from the archive after a week. My bet not.

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Yep, you were right, Matt. I pushed them and found out they are overriding my settings. I have begun looking for another host that will respect my decisions. Thank you very much.