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

Thunderbird will not leave copies of my POP emails on Gmail server

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by pmesley

more options

I've been using Thunderbird as a POP email repository for years without any issues (I use IMAP for connecting from other devices), but I recently had to wipe my windows 10 installation and start again. I backed up all my local email folders beforehand, so I've not lost anything, but when I added my email account details, Thunderbird re-downloaded over 3000 emails and deleted them from the Gmail server, despite me having ticked the box which says leave emails on the server until I delete them. They are all in the "bin" folder on the server, so I should be able to restore them all, but how do I stop them being downloaded and deleted again?

Interestingly, if I locally delete an email, then go to the server and move it back from the bin to the inbox, Thunderbird does not download again.

I must have configured it wrong, but I'm blowed if I can see where. Any ideas? See screenshot of server settings.

Version 78.10.0 (64-bit)

Thanks guys!

I've been using Thunderbird as a POP email repository for years without any issues (I use IMAP for connecting from other devices), but I recently had to wipe my windows 10 installation and start again. I backed up all my local email folders beforehand, so I've not lost anything, but when I added my email account details, Thunderbird re-downloaded over 3000 emails and deleted them from the Gmail server, despite me having ticked the box which says leave emails on the server until I delete them. They are all in the "bin" folder on the server, so I should be able to restore them all, but how do I stop them being downloaded and deleted again? Interestingly, if I locally delete an email, then go to the server and move it back from the bin to the inbox, Thunderbird does not download again. I must have configured it wrong, but I'm blowed if I can see where. Any ideas? See screenshot of server settings. Version 78.10.0 (64-bit) Thanks guys!
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

Not sure if this is the cause, but the authentication for gmail, inbound and outgoing, should be OAuth2. Also, if you're accessing the same account as POP and IMAP, you might have to enable recent mode for the POP device. Most people set up an account as either IMAP or POP on all devices, with IMAP being the preferred option.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Using_Gmail_with_Thunderbird_and_Mozilla_Suite

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (2)

more options

Chosen Solution

Not sure if this is the cause, but the authentication for gmail, inbound and outgoing, should be OAuth2. Also, if you're accessing the same account as POP and IMAP, you might have to enable recent mode for the POP device. Most people set up an account as either IMAP or POP on all devices, with IMAP being the preferred option.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Using_Gmail_with_Thunderbird_and_Mozilla_Suite

more options

Thank you sfhowes! What an informative response! I had no idea there was a pop setting in Gmail itself, and after changing to Oauth2, everything is behaving as expected. Marvellous! Thanks again!