We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

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

Sending auto saved messages?

  • 2 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by crested1

more options

Several times Thunderbird has sent partially written messages before I was done writing them??? I don't know if this is related to the auto saving of drafts or if it is some kind of error in the programming? I've thoroughly looked through settings and I can't find anything about auto sending of messages before I tell them to be sent or before they are completely written! What's going on here? Any help would be great! These messages make me look like a total idiot who doesn't spell check (because I usually do that BEFORE sending) or even completely writing them before sending. Usually I don't even know it's happened until I've sent the completed email and I see 2 sent messages???!!!

Several times Thunderbird has sent partially written messages before I was done writing them??? I don't know if this is related to the auto saving of drafts or if it is some kind of error in the programming? I've thoroughly looked through settings and I can't find anything about auto sending of messages before I tell them to be sent or before they are completely written! What's going on here? Any help would be great! These messages make me look like a total idiot who doesn't spell check (because I usually do that BEFORE sending) or even completely writing them before sending. Usually I don't even know it's happened until I've sent the completed email and I see 2 sent messages???!!!

Chosen solution

It is not possible to send without an instruction.

Any of these will send email immediately:

  1. click on 'Send' button
  2. click on 'File' > select: 'Send now'
  3. press 'Ctrl' and 'Return' key

Obviously you would be very aware of selecting either of the first two options. But, as you are composing emails at the time and may use the 'Return/Enter' key, I would put my money on you accidentally depressing the 'Ctrl' key at the same time.

I had a similar experience when a friend said exactly the same, so I asked her to compose emails whilst I watched. She entered my email address just in case it did send and yep it sent, but I noticed her hand had leant on the 'Ctrl' key unknowingly. So this was actually a problem with key selection and Thunderbird doing what it was told to do.

I advised her to compose emails in offline mode whilst she needed to learn to adjust her habit of leaning on keys, then at the worst, the email would end up in the 'Outbox' where she could check before sending them; deleting incorrect ones etc.

You can swap to 'Offline' mode simply by clicking on the two blue screen icon located bottom left in Status bar. It will change to two black screen icon to show 'offline'. Go back to online mode by clicking on the two black screen icon.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (2)

more options

Chosen Solution

It is not possible to send without an instruction.

Any of these will send email immediately:

  1. click on 'Send' button
  2. click on 'File' > select: 'Send now'
  3. press 'Ctrl' and 'Return' key

Obviously you would be very aware of selecting either of the first two options. But, as you are composing emails at the time and may use the 'Return/Enter' key, I would put my money on you accidentally depressing the 'Ctrl' key at the same time.

I had a similar experience when a friend said exactly the same, so I asked her to compose emails whilst I watched. She entered my email address just in case it did send and yep it sent, but I noticed her hand had leant on the 'Ctrl' key unknowingly. So this was actually a problem with key selection and Thunderbird doing what it was told to do.

I advised her to compose emails in offline mode whilst she needed to learn to adjust her habit of leaning on keys, then at the worst, the email would end up in the 'Outbox' where she could check before sending them; deleting incorrect ones etc.

You can swap to 'Offline' mode simply by clicking on the two blue screen icon located bottom left in Status bar. It will change to two black screen icon to show 'offline'. Go back to online mode by clicking on the two black screen icon.

Modified by Toad-Hall

more options

Thank you so much! I'm pretty sure that's the answer because I admit I've gotten to be a sloppy typist recently! I'll go offline while composing a message until I get a better touch again!