Thunderbird creates a folder called INBOX on IMAP

imapthunderbird

Thunderbird creates a folder called INBOX on the IMAP server, and also a Trash folder inside it.

I guess it happened when I modified the settings, to move deleted messages to the Trash folder (on the IMAP server). There is already in a folder called Trash on the server.

When I choose Account > Server Settings > When I delete a message: Move it to this folder I see my IMAP root as Inbox. I can choose any of the existing folders. But something somewhere goes wrong, and instead of using the Trash folder on my IMAP root, TB creates a folder named INBOX and tries to access folders inside it.

Best Answer

Go to the Config Editor and enter trash_folder. Hopefully one of the items listed is mail.server.server#.trash_folder_name. If the value is INBOX/Trash change it to Trash. Exit from Thunderbird, then restart it. If the Trash folder now has a recycle bin icon, then it worked and you should be able to delete the INBOX and INBOX.Trash folders.

I found the relevant details in http://kb.mozillazine.org/IMAP_Trash_folder, but I used the config editor rather than editing prefs.js directly.

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