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

How do I change Tbird folder name Trash to Deleted?

  • 7 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by BSM1

more options

I have been using Tbird on my (Win 10 Pro) PC for ~6 years and it is set to UK English. I have a standard folder "Deleted". Recently I installed Tbird on my lap-top (also Win 10 Pro) and I have a standard folder called "Trash". Both installations are at the latest version, as is Win 10. This is not end-of-the-world stuff but I would like my lap-top to also show the folder as Deleted. Accessing the properties of the folder shows the name (Deleted or Trash) highlighted and one would imagine that you could type in a new name, but No, it doesn't work. How can two installations of the same version have different properties? On a side note, why have I just spent 20 minutes trying to find a place to post a Thunderbird message? Everything points to Firefox. It's almost as if Mozilla are deliberately trying to get rid of Thunderbird support. I've been going round in circles.

I have been using Tbird on my (Win 10 Pro) PC for ~6 years and it is set to UK English. I have a standard folder "Deleted". Recently I installed Tbird on my lap-top (also Win 10 Pro) and I have a standard folder called "Trash". Both installations are at the latest version, as is Win 10. This is not end-of-the-world stuff but I would like my lap-top to also show the folder as Deleted. Accessing the properties of the folder shows the name (Deleted or Trash) highlighted and one would imagine that you could type in a new name, but No, it doesn't work. How can two installations of the same version have different properties? On a side note, why have I just spent 20 minutes trying to find a place to post a Thunderbird message? Everything points to Firefox. It's almost as if Mozilla are deliberately trying to get rid of Thunderbird support. I've been going round in circles.

All Replies (7)

more options

Is the same account set up the same way on both computers? An IMAP account may specify the name of the folder that cannot be changed, except by the mail provider, while a local folder for deleted mail of a POP account may be named according to the TB localization, e.g. Trash in the US, Deleted in the UK.

more options

@sfhowes Both are set up as English UK. Both are set up with the same e-mail address, and both are POP3 accounts.

more options

I can't explain the different names, but since it's a POP account and Trash is a local folder, I think you can create a Deleted folder and set it as the target for deletions in the Copies & Folders section of Tools/Account Settings.

more options

@sfhowes Thanks for the response. I tried that but the new folder "Deleted" was just an ordinary folder. Looking at Account Settings>Copies&Folders didn't give an option for directing Trash to a different folder. There's options for Junk but not Trash. It's really weird that the same software version could have two different settings. They are both set up for UK English. As I said originally it's not the end of the world but the inconsistency annoys me. I spent 45 years in IT and would not have allowed such a situation to arise. And I spent many years developing systems with colleagues in the US so I know about "two nations divided by a common tongue"!! I'll just have to live with it.

more options

Correction, the deleted items setting is in the Server Settings section of Tools/Account Settings.

more options

Renaming of those standard or system folders is not permitted in TB, at least not from the UI. I have no idea if there is another method. I'll let you know if I find any. You can bookmark https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/. It is pretty straightforward thereafter.

more options

@sfhowes - I have uploaded a grab of my settings. As you will see there is nothing about the Trash folder. There is also nothing in Local Folders. I also used the Config Editor to search for Trash or Deleted but there was nothing.

@stans - the question still remains; how can two identical implementations have a different outcome?

Re: accessing Tbird support, following the link takes me to Firefox support, which I then sign in to, which takes me back to Firefox support, where I have to choose Tbird support, which then takes me to the Home page of Tbird support. 5 screens in total from the link in the e-mail! Not what I would call intuitive or user-friendly.