Multiple clients accessing one email account over IMAP

dovecotemailimappostfixthunderbird

I am using Postfix + Dovecot + IMAP + Maildir and I am accessing my server from two different machines (desktop and Laptop), i.e. two clients (Thunderbird). The are sometimes running simultaneously, and sometimes only one or the other client is running.

I have moved a message from from Inbox to Archive in one client, and then started the second client. In the second client, I see the message still in Inbox, and I see it in Archive as well.

I have checked on my server (this is easy because I am using Maildir) and the message is no longer in the Inbox. It is in the Archive.

So why does the second client show it bot in Inbox and Archive. Apparently, it has not realized, that the message has been moved while he was not running.

Is there a problem with syncing?

How can I make two clients accessing the same IMAP server behave orderly?

I have been using IMAP through multiple clients before, although the server was Exchange (not under my control, so I have no idea how it was set up). This problem did not exist.

Is there some setting in Dovecot ?

Best Answer

I don't know the details of your setup, but I would suggest that you check that your Thunderbird clients are properly configured, before you start troubleshooting your IMAP server. In particular, you should make sure that in:

Edit
-> Account Settings
   -> Synchronization & Storage
      -> Message Synchronizing -> Advanced

You have all your folders checked as "Synchronized". You can also see per-folder setting when you right-click on the folder and select:

Properties
-> Synchronization

You might need to run the Repair Folder in the General Information tab, in case the folder is inconsistent with the server.

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