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Search toolbar shows me a message that apparently doesn't exist

  • 5 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by aybiss

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The search function is broken in Thunderbird 38.4.0 on Xubuntu 15.10. When I use the quick search function on the toolbar (not the quick filter) I can see two emails that match my search, my sent email and a reply. When I click on the reply I'm taken to a screen saying that no emails match my search.

When I try to use the Find function from the menu it again claims that there is only one match, the sent email. I have searched, finded, and filtered every single folder in my three inboxes including junk and trash, and I still cannot find the reply I am looking for. This is incredibly frustrating - how can two different searches disagree on whether a message exists?

Why can't I just go directly to the email when I click on one of the matches instead of this ridiculous screen with giant writing saying there ARE no matches?

I sincerely hope someone can clear this up.

The search function is broken in Thunderbird 38.4.0 on Xubuntu 15.10. When I use the quick search function on the toolbar (not the quick filter) I can see two emails that match my search, my sent email and a reply. When I click on the reply I'm taken to a screen saying that no emails match my search. When I try to use the Find function from the menu it again claims that there is only one match, the sent email. I have searched, finded, and filtered every single folder in my three inboxes including junk and trash, and I still cannot find the reply I am looking for. This is incredibly frustrating - how can two different searches disagree on whether a message exists? Why can't I just go directly to the email when I click on one of the matches instead of this ridiculous screen with giant writing saying there ARE no matches? I sincerely hope someone can clear this up.

Modified by aybiss

Chosen solution

It sounds like your global search is out of synch with what is actually in your folders.

Make hidden files and folders visible:

In Thunderbird

  • Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • click on 'show folder' button

a new window opens shwoing your profile folder name contents.

  • Close thunderbird now - this is important
  • look for and delete this file: global-messages-db.sqlite
  • Restart Thunderbird.
  • allow a little time for the file to be recreated.
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All Replies (5)

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I use the quick search function on the toolbar

What's that? Are you talking about Global Search? https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/global-search

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I'm talking about the toolbar, where the basic function icons live, starting with "Get Messages, Write" etc. At the right there is a box that says "Search... <Ctrl+K>"

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Chosen Solution

It sounds like your global search is out of synch with what is actually in your folders.

Make hidden files and folders visible:

In Thunderbird

  • Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • click on 'show folder' button

a new window opens shwoing your profile folder name contents.

  • Close thunderbird now - this is important
  • look for and delete this file: global-messages-db.sqlite
  • Restart Thunderbird.
  • allow a little time for the file to be recreated.
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Thanks, that's fixed it. I now only get one result and I presume that's correct now.