Thunderbird does not automatically download messages in some folders
I have setup multiple IMAP accounts on Thunderbird, all of them have one or more custom folders (e.g. the "channels" folder in screenshot #1).
I launch Thunderbird and wait about 4-5 minutes so that it could synchronize all accounts + folders, and download header + bodies of new messages. But it does not work as expected, instead I have to click each folder to see if there are any new messages in it. Once clicked, it might not download message bodies in which case I have to click each message. The "synchronization & storage" settings look OK to me (see screenshot #2).
I must add that it correctly downloads header + bodies of new messages for INBOX folders only.
Thunderbird version 83.0b1
All Replies (6)
Right-click a folder, Properties. Is the 'When getting new messages...' box checked?
sfhowes said
Right-click a folder, Properties. Is the 'When getting new messages...' box checked?
No it is unchecked!
Edit: so... do I need to enable this checkbox for all folders? My objective is:
- Launch Thunderbird
- Updates all accounts and folders: headers for all messages, bodies for up to three month old messages
- Without clicking anything
Modified by trueblue2000
There is a preference in Config. editor, mail.server.default.check_all_folders_for_new, which is false by default. If you double-click it to true, it should have the desired effect, without checking the box for each folder. The default is probably to limit IMAP traffic for unimportant folders.
Unfortunately enabling "when getting new messages for this account, always check this folder" for every folder or enabling the "check_all_folders_for_new" settings does not do anything. I still have to click those folders, only then thunderbird updates the number of unread messages and download new messages (and only their headers). Thunderbird does not do what I expect it to do. Disappointing.
I use unified view mostly if that matters.
If you can demonstrate that this still occurs in a new profile created in 83b2, then it may be a legitimate bug.
Help/Troubleshooting, about:profiles, to create and manage profiles. Submit bugs to Bugzilla.
What about the problem of some of my custom folders do not appear in my email account on Thunderbird?