The following info has been previously supplied by david in earlier comments: 1. SEt the default for new fodlers to be unthreaded via Config Editor 2. Set Inbox to use View > Sort by > Unthreaded. 3. Use the 'Apply current view to' and select the mail account. 4. Repeat for all other mail accounts.

If it comes back it means you may have another program which is removing the session etc data files, so they end up going back to the default.

Please make sure you do not have any Anti-Virus scanning and cleaning up files. This also applies to any other cleanup software like CCleaner or WiseCleaner. Basically set up an exclusion - make Thunderbird profile folder exempt from access.

Hate the threads thing as well. Cured this by clicking on the threads icon at the top of the column.

I don't think you disabled the actual linking of messages, I think you just killed the "view by thread" thing? :-/

I'm not sure; was just hit by this -- hmm... /scrolling through list of Safe For Work responses - ah! -- *nonsense* recently, and I have to worry if this is going to affect sensitive messages, allowing others who were NOT INCLUDED IN THE cc: OR bcc: FIELDS TO SEE THEM.

Thunderbird gurus: will these (stupidly, awkwardly, hated) Threaded messages be seen by everyone, regardless of whether or not they, too, are Thunderbird users?

re :Thunderbird gurus: will these (stupidly, awkwardly, hated) Threaded messages be seen by everyone, regardless of whether or not they, too, are Thunderbird users?

They are seen in your view on your computer in your mail account and if you do not like it then switch it off.

Other people can choose whatever they like, so if other people communicating with you on a different computer and maybe even using 'Outlook' or another email client or Thunderbird - and they also have same conversation on their computer - they can choose to see it threaded or unthreaded. It's their personal choice and it has no effect on you nor vis versa.

The way TB 115 does threads makes my listing "dead" I can find some emails only by selecting account and "search messages" -- this stinks -- I never used thread in TB 102 and sure don't now 'cause even if I showed them the thread TB115 selects to attach it to is beyond me - wrong head, wrong folder, wrong account. And it basically disables my filters.

Guys PLEASE PLEASE add a Global no thread.

The way TB 115 does threads makes my listing "dead" I can find some emails only by selecting account and "search messages" -- this stinks -- I never used thread in TB 102 and sure don't now 'cause even if I showed them the thread TB115 selects to attach it to is beyond me - wrong head, wrong folder, wrong account. And it basically disables my filters. Guys PLEASE PLEASE add a Global no thread.

Why do you suddenly see threading - because the developers decided in their wisdom to enable it by default - yes it is a pain, but at least it is easy to fix.

There is no way any person who sees your comment can offer a one click 'Global no thread' other than doing what has already been stated on numerous occasions. The developers do not read the Support Forums.

I use 'threading' on one particular folder and have no trouble finding new unread comments because the top level thread will either be in bold font OR it will be underlined if it contains a new or unread mail. I also use the Quick Filter bar button 'show only unread messages' then there is no need to search for anything. Also filters are not effected by threading, they are still directed to the desired folder.

If you do not want threading then switch it off by following these instructions.

Do this: 1. Set the default for new folders to be unthreaded via Config Editor

• Settings > General
• Scroll to bottom
• click on 'Config Editor' button - It opens in a new tab
• In search type: default_view
• You will see this line: mailnews.default_view_flags - It will have a numerical value of 1
• click on the 'pencil' icon on the right to allow an edit.
• Remove the number 1 and type in a zero 0
• click on the 'tick' icon to save your settings.

You will now have: mailnews.default_view_flags - It will have a numerical value of 0 This will now mean any new folders you create, they will not have threading by default.

2. Set Inbox to use Unthreaded.

• Select the 'Inbox' folder for the mail account.
• Select 'View' > 'Sort by > 'Unthreaded'

3. Now Apply the sort view to all folders in the mail account:.

• Hover over 'Apply current view to' to see pop up list
• Hover over 'Folders and it's children' to see pop up list
• hover over the 'mail account name' - not a folder to see pop up list
• finally click on the 'mail account name' not a folder.

You would need to repeat the above for each mail account.

Yes, but the trouble is that there is no "Sort By' option under the View menu in my account. As others have noted, the option is not there. So, the simple instructions for unthreading are not so simple...

Okay - I think I've got it. I made the mistake of following Support's suggestion and went to the wrong View menu. Selecting View, Sort By from the main menu bar lets me unthread my folder.

I really hate this 'sort by threads' thing as it makes it all too easy to 'lose' emails. Sorting by date is, in my view, a much more sensible method. The inability to easily disable this facility globally is a severe shortcoming. The idea of making 'Threading' a 'Default' option is bizarre. It's a bit like 'we've saved your file', but where have you saved it?

I really hate this 'sort by threads' thing as it makes it all too easy to 'lose' emails. Sorting by date is, in my view, a much more sensible method. The inability to easily disable this facility globally is a severe shortcoming. The idea of making 'Threading' a 'Default' option is bizarre. It's a bit like 'we've saved your file', but where have you saved it?

I totally agree. But as this is a Support Forum and the question is how to disable threading, I've posted info on how to sort out the problem.

This threading thing is a terrible idea. It makes it so much harder to find a particular email that I know I have received but is now buried deep inside some stupid thread.

Why force this on everybody? It should be just an option, not the default. Who was it at Thunderbird that decided it would be a good idea to ruin Thunderbird for everyone?

Thanks to whoever suggested to use view>sort by>unthreaded.

This worked on emails in my INBOX, but it had no effect on the emails in my SENT folder, which still buries things inside threads. Threading basically hides emails. Who wants that?

Also, when I open a SENT email, I suddenly get a dozen tabs opened, each containing a previous email. But I don't need all these duplicates, because all the previous conversation is already present in the body of the latest email, since everyone participating has quoted the whole previous conversation.

So, not only ar the threaded messages a totally unnecessary duplication, but then I need to click on every single of those tabs to close them one at a time. Why force me to close a dozen messages when all I wanted to see is the last message I sent? Is there any way to close ALL the tabs with a single click instead of clicking at every single one, one at a time"?

Thunderbird has sadly become such a huge time-waster. And I resent the fact that this was forced on us without our consent and without giving us an option to turn threading off. I am seriously considering looking for a different email client and quit supporting Thunderbird. Especially if Thunderbird turns a deaf ear to all these complaints.

If people have an issue then use the information previously supplied in earlier comments. This is not a chat forum for posting personal comments about how you feel about threading as they are not relevant to solving the problem. No developer reads these forums and I do not need to receive tons of emails repeating how people feel on this issue. I'm here to provide info on how to resolve the problem. Just to reiterate, I understand and agree with the comments.

re : Is there any way to close ALL the tabs with a single click instead of clicking at every single one, one at a time"?

Right click on tab which contains the mail - the one on far left - and select the option desired - close other tabs.

Thanks to whoever suggested to use view>sort by>unthreaded. This worked on emails in my INBOX, but it had no effect on the emails in my SENT folder, which still buries things inside threads. Threading basically hides emails. Who wants that?

You need to use the information previously supplied to apply the setting to all folders in account which you have already set for the Inbox. This comment - select Inbox and then apply info as described in: 3. Now Apply the sort view to all folders in the mail account:. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1427119?page=2#answer-1623190

Also, when I open a SENT email, I suddenly get a dozen tabs opened, each containing a previous email. But I don't need all these duplicates, because all the previous conversation is already present in the body of the latest email, since everyone participating has quoted the whole previous conversation.

As you have not removed threading from the 'Sent' folder, the issue you describe sounds like you are clicking on the original email of a 'collapsed email thread' which means it opens that email and all it's threads in individual tabs. This is not a new function. It has been a function for years to allow people to be able to do precisely what you describe. If using threads then you must expand the thread first and then you can select the desired email within the thread. To expand a collapsed thread - click on the '>' icon located on the left of the 'Subject' collumn.

Found a solution -->

Go to the folder you want Right click on the column header and pull up the list of available columns Click "Thread" so it is checked A column should come up with a symbol that looks like an upside down and backwards "F" You should also see that same symbol in your messages that were grouped together Click the symbol in the column header It will switch back and remove the threads Right click on the column header and pull up the list of available columns Click "Thread" so it is UNchecked The column should disappear and you won't hit it by accident and drive yourself crazy like I did.

QED

This "thread" (pun intended) has been inactive for a while, but I'll pour my 500ml of fuel oil on this dumpster fire. It's clear many users don't like, or maybe loathe, message threading. I have read all the posts here, and...

I have tried several times to turn it off, either from the message list column header, or the "filmstrip" menu and Sort By --> Unthreaded. But it's a zombie that keeps returning. Is there no configuration option (yes, advanced users) that will kill threaded displays...

- for all folders? - forever?

Thank you

This "thread" (pun intended) has been inactive for a while, but I'll pour my 500ml of fuel oil on this dumpster fire. It's clear many users don't like, or maybe loathe, message threading. I have read all the posts here, and... I have tried several times to turn it off, either from the message list column header, or the "filmstrip" menu and Sort By --> Unthreaded. But it's a zombie that keeps returning. Is there no configuration option (yes, advanced users) that will kill threaded displays... - for all folders? - forever? Thank you

But what you do not say is whether you followed the instructions I posted. Which tell you to: 1. Access Config Editor and Switch off the auto settings that say all new folders are threaded by default. 2. Set up Inbox to use Sort by > Unthreaded. 3. Then set all folders in the account to use the settings you have chosen for Inbox.

Did you do all three of the above in the order listed? If no, then find the instructions I posted in an earlier comment and apply them.

please note if you accidentally or purposely click on the thread column it will switch threads on/off. I would advise you remove that column header if you are someone who may select it unintentionally.

Thanks for follow-up. Have now done: 1. set mailnews.default_view_flags to 0 2. Inbox sort-by was already set to Unthreaded 3. Applied Inbox view to entire mail account

Now I'll sit back and hope that the zombie has been killed.

BTW for benefit of others, step 3 includes navigation shown in attached screenshot.

Thanks for all the advice and guidance, Fred. I managed to get rid of the threads. However, I didn't know that there was an option to do the same in all the folders automatically. Instead, I did each folder manually, one at a time. So, thanks for step 3 in this last advice to apply the inbox view to the entire account. .

I just think that it's not right to force the threads on all of us by default. I hope that some of the developers are reading this.

Anyway, thanks a bunch for your help!

I hope that some of the developers are reading this.

Sorry to disappoint you, but as I previously mentioned...Developers do not read comments in the Support Forum. They spend their time developing code (as you've probably noticed there has been a complete rewrite of Thunderbird) and fixing security and bugs.

For anyone with an issue with threading please view this comment - link below - and use the instructions before posting.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1427119?page=2#answer-1623190