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!

Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Retention policy ignored

  • 1 reply
  • 0 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by Matt

dog3
dog3
more options

I'm having a problem with the retention policy. Many times, not all the time, the changes to the policy are ignored. I recently removed the "star" from several e-mails in a folder that were older than the defined retention time of 60 days but the emails are still in the folder. I just lowered the retention definition in another folder from 30 days to 10 days but the older emails are still in the folder however, in a different folder, when I changed the settings from 120 days to 60 days, the older emails disappeared almost immediately. Is there something I can do to force the folder to behave .

I'm having a problem with the retention policy. Many times, not all the time, the changes to the policy are ignored. I recently removed the "star" from several e-mails in a folder that were older than the defined retention time of 60 days but the emails are still in the folder. I just lowered the retention definition in another folder from 30 days to 10 days but the older emails are still in the folder however, in a different folder, when I changed the settings from 120 days to 60 days, the older emails disappeared almost immediately. Is there something I can do to force the folder to behave .

All Replies (1)

Matt
Matt
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

If you are using a Thunderbird IMAP account then local settings with regard take a back seat to the server settings. So if you tell Thunderbird to never empty the trash and your server automatically does that after 10 days, that deletion from trash will be replicated in Thunderbird simply ignoring the local settings.

Likewise if you also use IMAP on your phone or other device and delete mail to recover used space on the device with the tiny storage that will be syncronised back to the server and hence to Thunderbird.

It is also a requirement as far as I understand the whole IMAP in Thunderbird thing that you periodically close Thunderbird and restart it. You also need to have the IMAP expunge on exit is account settings turned on to actually see per folder maintenance work.