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How do I synchronize Thunderbird email and folders on my laptop and desktop?
I currently use Thunderbird as my email client on my desktop. I want to use it on my laptop as well, and want it to synchronize so that anything I delete or file in a folder on one does the same on the other. I understand I need to use IMAP to do this and I already have that set up on my desktop. I know I could install Thunderbird on my laptop with the same settings, but I'm not sure if that would pull in the email folders I've set up on the desktop and if it would synchronize every time I use it on one or the other. I can't seem to find step by step instructions on how to do this in the support forum. Thank you for any help you can give!
Alle Antworten (12)
There are no step by step instructions, because there is nothing for you to do. You add the IMAP account and whatever folders are in that account synchronize. Put that IMAP account of 2 devices or 10 devices the folder in that account will synchronize. Nothing outside the account will synchronize. So if you have 20Gb of mail in Local folders, that will not synchronize.
I've read over the common solutions, but I'm still stupefied. So still need help. Maybe being 76 years old has something to do with it! :)
My desktop is my main machine with Thunderbird. All my folders are there.
My Laptop, so I thought should have the same folders, per GMail Account that is. But the accounts in the desktop don't all show up in the laptop.
This disturbs me. I hope you can help. Thanks
Where are these folders? If you created them under Local Folders in Thunderbird, well then they are LOCAL to your computer. If they are in the IMAP folder structure for your email account then they should show up. If they do not show there you may need to subscribe to them. File-Subscribe This is not particular to Thunderbird. That is how IMAP works. You may want to read up on POP vs IMAP so you understand how email works.
Thanks for your help. I will read up as you suggested. But in the meantime let me explain this another way. I feel like I have a rather unique problem.
First...I'm not new to Thunderbird. I've been using it for a long time without any issues until lately. Maybe the new update had something to do with my problems. I don't know! Just looking for help.
OK..Let's say you are at your desk and looking at Thunderbird Client. Over on the left side you have a number of folders that have been loaded from IMAP. Then you look at them again and see there are a number of folders that are missing. Now over on the right side are your new emails that have just arrived recently. Now remember a number of the folders on the left side are missing. So now you decide to place, let's say, three of the recent arrivals into a folder that is missing. But if it's missing how can you put the new arrivals into that folder? So let's highlight the three new arrivals. Then we right click on the highlight area and select "move to" and then find the correct email "account". Then you scroll or move down under that account and by golly there is the folder you want to move those three to. You left click and they go into that folder. Why is that folder shown over there?
So that folder is over there under the account. But why isn't that folder also shown on the left side of the client with all the other folders? That's my problem?
Also over on the Settings Page uner Show IMAP there are a number of Folders where the check box is not checked. And when I place a check mark into each individual folder that isn't checked I think to myself...done, a good job. When I refresh however all the check marks that I just entered are gone. The check marks are not staying in place. So this is probably also part of the problem.
Now I really love Thunderbird and have for a long time. But this is really driving me crazy. :) Thanks for your help.
I am assuming you are right clicking the account in the folder pane, selecting subscribe and checking the folder names in that box.
Restart Thunderbird with add-ons disabled (Thunderbird Safe Mode). On the Help menu, click on "Restart with Add-ons Disabled". If Thunderbird works like normal, there is an Add-on or Theme interfering with normal operations. You will need to re-enable add-ons one at a time until you locate the offender.
Thanks Matt. Now running in Thunderbird Safe Mode. Actually only had a couple Extensions installed, which I don't need anyways.
But have strange happening, although inconsequential. Normally in Folder Mode on left we would have Inbox at top with Account right above that, then ALL folders A to Z (named folders) right below.
But now I have Some or Few Folders under Inbox going A thru Z named Folders; then right below I have Templates, Sent, Archives, Junk, Trash, Drafts, Sent Mail, All Mail, Spam, Trash, Chats, Important, Starred,....and then I have another group of Folders from A to Z named folders, etc, etc. Most folders are in the second group.
Very strange my friend. But at least it appears most folders are there. In that we are borrowing, so-to-speak all this data from Google Mail maybe their new https://inbox.google.com deal is making some of this happen. As we all know this digital world is weird at times, to say the least.
Speaking of that, to tell an old story on myself. Back when Microsoft just incorporated back around 1975 to 1980, and hit the stock market a friend of mine told me to buy a bunch of the Microsoft stock. In my infinite wisdom...I did not! Have been kicking my tail end ever since. That's my disgusting history for the day. :)
Lets have a look at the items in question. Please add the troubleshooting information to your post To find the Troubleshooting information:
- Open Help (or click on three-line-icon and select Help)
- Choose Troubleshooting Information
- Use the button Copy to clipboard to select all. Do not check box "Include account names"!
- Paste this in your post.
The Conversations add-on has had a bad run in this release. But did I read you right this is a google mail account?
Right click the account, select settings and then in the server settings select the advanced button. In the Advanced dialog set the IMAP server directory to [Gmail]
That will affect the way the account appears on the left. it will remove the {Gmail} folder and merge it's contents in the mail folders on the level above.
On the view menu (alt+V) select Folders. From your description that is set to unified. Change it to all and see if that looks better.
Help...We now have another problem. I followed all your directions and all of the folders under my main account were DELETED. THAT'S NO GOOD. How do we get them ALL back under the main account? Following is Copy and paste files.
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After sending the above HELP email I decided to remove "GMail" from the Advanced setting and it appears that most or all of the folders are now under the main account. The column is still split into two sections as before. But at least folders are there.
Thanks for your help Matt. Send me any ideas you might have to try? Your help is appreciated.
Loy said
After sending the above HELP email I decided to remove "GMail" from the Advanced setting and it appears that most or all of the folders are now under the main account. The column is still split into two sections as before. But at least folders are there. Thanks for your help Matt. Send me any ideas you might have to try? Your help is appreciated.
I said Gmail... did you really put in GMail.
Funny thing here. CASE IS IMPORTANT
Matt......Yes, I did use Gmail. Just to further prove the point I went back thru procedure again using Gmail and YES all of the folders were deleted.
So then I removed Gmail again from Advanced section and the folders were imported again, but still had the break between the two folder groups.
So looks like I still need more ideas. Thanks my friend.
Loy Banks
I forgot to mention something. Right now I'm using my LapTop machine. I completely uninstalled Thunderbird then reinstalled. On checking after re-installation all Folders were in proper order as they should be.
When I reinstalled into my Desktop a couple hours ago the Folders were split into two vertical groups on left side.
The challenge! Why these two differences after uninstall then reinstall with both machines. My technical jargon says GOOFY! :)