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Why won't Thunderbird leave messages on my server even though I have an IMAP account?

  • 2 replies
  • 6 have this problem
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  • Paskiausią atsakymą parašė PaddyInman

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I've researched online and tried every solution. Some descriptions say that IMAP accts. always leave messages on the server because they have to, and others contradict that. I'm really confused and frustrated. I just want to know what I have to do to open my messages on my computer, delete them if I want, but know that they are still on my Comcast server if I want to access them at a later time.

I've researched online and tried every solution. Some descriptions say that IMAP accts. always leave messages on the server because they have to, and others contradict that. I'm really confused and frustrated. I just want to know what I have to do to open my messages on my computer, delete them if I want, but know that they are still on my Comcast server if I want to access them at a later time.

Chosen solution

The part you are missing is the IMAP is server based email. You just view the messages remotely on your computer or other devices. If you delete an email you are removing it from the server. This is why there is no option to Leave the Message on the Server like there is in a POP account. The messages are ONLY on the server until you do something different with them like move a copy to Local Folders. If you want to retain a copy of the message on your local device you first need to move a copy of the message into a folder under Local Folders. When you are sure the message is in that local folder and you can access it, then you can safely remove it from the server.

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Chosen Solution

The part you are missing is the IMAP is server based email. You just view the messages remotely on your computer or other devices. If you delete an email you are removing it from the server. This is why there is no option to Leave the Message on the Server like there is in a POP account. The messages are ONLY on the server until you do something different with them like move a copy to Local Folders. If you want to retain a copy of the message on your local device you first need to move a copy of the message into a folder under Local Folders. When you are sure the message is in that local folder and you can access it, then you can safely remove it from the server.