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Thunderbird on windows 10

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

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I have 4 gmail accounts: 2 of them are shared with my spouse. We each have our own laptop. Hours in, I cannot figure out how to do what we want: -I prefer pop so emails remain on both our laptops -Emails must go to both of our computers regardless of who goes on & when -Emails must only be deleted from the laptop of the person who deletes them

I've checked all online resources I can, and tried various changes in both gmail and thunderbird, but nothing works out for this. If anyone knows how, please list specific steps.

I have 4 gmail accounts: 2 of them are shared with my spouse. We each have our own laptop. Hours in, I cannot figure out how to do what we want: -I prefer pop so emails remain on both our laptops -Emails must go to '''both''' of our computers regardless of who goes on & when -Emails must only be deleted from the laptop of the person who deletes them I've checked all online resources I can, and tried various changes in both gmail and thunderbird, but nothing works out for this. If anyone knows how, please list specific steps.

All Replies (3)

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Gmail says: If you need to use POP instead of IMAP, set up 'Recent mode'. Recent mode shows your last 30 days of emails from Gmail. Step 1: Turn on Recent mode

  • In your email client's POP settings page, find the 'Email address' or 'Username' field.
  • Add recent: in front of your email address. For example, recent:example@gmail.com.

Step 2: Change your POP settings

  • Change your POP settings so that your emails are left on the server.
  • Thunderbird: On the 'Server Settings' tab, tick the box next to 'Leave messages on server'.


To locate pop settings assuming you have already created the mail account. Right click on POP mail account name and select 'Settings' This opens the 'Account Settings' window.

Set up as POP in order to keep same emails on two computers completely independent, but you will need to modify the 'username' as mentioned above. This will allow more than one download providing the second download is done within 30 days. So, if the pop accounts are already created, just alter the User Name which is on the 'Server Settings'.

In order to ensure a second download is possible to need to set up each pop account to 'Leave messages on server'. But if you do not want to delete a message off the server because you want your partner to also download it, then do not select the other options eg: 'Until I delete them'. Then it only gets deleted out of your mail account. Obviously both computers need to be set up the same.

Please be aware that this means nothing is getting deleted off the server which will have a limit. If that quota limit is reached then the server will not be able to receive any more emails until you delete some old emails. You would need to logon to the webmail account via a browser.

In webmail account: Delete emails from the 'All Mail' folder or if deleting from 'Inbox' or 'Sent' folder or 'Junk' make sure they go into the gmail Trash' folder. Periodically gmail will empty the Trash and then fully remove the email from the 'All Mail' folder.

Modified by Toad-Hall

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Thanks for your reply Toad-Hall.

  1. I changed laptop 1 and 2 server setting to recent:email and leave msgs on server. Msgs remain on gmail.
  2. I sent 3 test emails a,b,c. Clicked 'get msgs' on laptop 1 and a,b,c came in. I sent 3 more test msgs d,e,f. Clicked 'get msgs' on laptop 2, and d,e,f came in but not a,b,c. d,e,f would not come in on laptop 1.
  3. Perhaps I need to modify our user names differently in the server settings than both of them having recent:same(joint)@gmailaccount. Any other ideas or specific recommendations?
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check webmail Gmail settings and select:"Enable POP for all mail (even mail that's already been downloaded)".