are you searching in the big box on the toolbar? or the quick search that only searches the current folder?

I'm searching in the box that says 'search' which is where I have a always searched and at one time used to provide me with copies of 'all' mails including the ones I sent as well as the ones received

Ok, now I know which search.  ?There are Three "Search's" people regularly refer to

Help menu (Alt+H) > troubleshooting information click on the show folder button for the profile Close Thunderbird Delete the file global-messages-db.sqlite Start Thunderbird and wait for the index to rebuild.

Getting better results in your searches?

There is only 1 search box that I am aware of and can see, immediately above the box where my messages are and to the right of 'Quick Filter' - above the 'filter these messages' box.

The suggestions in your last reply sound a little 'dangerous' and I am not any kind of computer geek, I can't do any harm can I ?

Deleting the file with Thunderbird closed just causes it to be recreated and a fresh index of your mail to be created when Thunderbird starts. You may find it is a huge file, mine is over a gigabyte and occasionally they just get out of sync with reality. Also I just though of this, right click your sent folder/s and check the "include this folder in global search results" is ticked.

Just FYI... Many people coming here call quick filter search, and for your future confusion on why there is more than one search. Ctrl + Shift + F opens a bona fide search and is the way to create saved search's that appear as folder on the left tree. Something the global search can not do.

Thanks Matt, when I right click the sent folder there is no "include this folder in global search results" ?

If I do your previous suggestion is there any way I might lose any mails ?

1. Change your folder view to ALL View menu (alt+V) > Folders > all. I am guessing it is currently unified and therefore your seeing the combined search folders and not the real ones. Yoiu can change it back after.

Your deleting an index, not mails.

Folder view is already set to 'All'.

Oops on my part. Left out a step. Right click the folder Select properties. Now the option should be visible.

"include this folder in global search results" is already ticked

Are your sent items included in your search results now?

Well, I haven't done anything because I didn't hear back after I said "include this folder in global search results" is already ticked, so I don't know what to do ?

Thanks