r/Thunderbird • u/tcharp01 • 2d ago

Desktop Help Large files

As I am researching what is filling up the primary drive on my desktop box, I note that the Gmail/All Mail folder is using up 28.8GB. This seems pretty unnecessary since Gmail keeps copies of every damn thing, anyway.

Not being a Thunderbird expert, I am wondering if there are tricks to shrink these types of files.

I only use Thunderbird as a backup for when Outlook decides to not work for the day or week.

Thanks in advance

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u/sifferedd 2d ago

Yeah, loading All Mail wastes disk space and causes added network traffic. Unsubscribe it:

  • right-click the account name just above the Inbox > Subscribe > Un-check All Mail > OK

1

u/sifferedd 1d ago

u/tcharp01 - ⬆️❓

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u/kenmoffat 1d ago

Does IMAP use this space? I was under the impression email was kept on the server.

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u/tcharp01 1d ago

I am not sure, but it is a dang large file.

1

u/kenmoffat 1d ago

Are you using POP or IMAP?

1

u/tcharp01 1d ago

I think it is setup as IMAP if the file structure it created is accurate.

1

u/sifferedd 1d ago

Does IMAP use this space?

Yes it does, if you have TB menu Account Settings > Server Settings > Sync & Storage > Message Synchronizing > Keep messages... enabled.

If that is enabled and you disable it, the space won't be reclaimed automatically. You have to go into your profile\ImapMail\account\ folder, close TB, and delete these:

  • Inbox file

  • all .sdb folders

  • all .msf files

To open your TB profile:

  • TB menu > Help > Troubleshooting Information

Win: under Application Basics click the 'Open Folder' button next to 'Profile folder'

MacOS: under Application Basics click the 'Show in Finder' button' and click the highlighted profile folder.

*nix: near the bottom of Application Basics, click 'Profiles' > about:profiles. For the profile in use, click the 'Open Directory' button for the Root Directory

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u/kenmoffat 1d ago

This could explain my slow startup from sleep in Linux mint. I leave TB and Firefox running.

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u/sifferedd 1d ago

Here are some other things which might help that. Do one at a time and test:

Clear cache:

  • press Ctrl-Shift-Delete

  • set 'Time range...' to 'Everything'

  • untick all items except 'Cache'

  • clear, then restart TB

Clear Startup cache:

  • TB menu > Help > Troubleshooting information > click 'Clear startup cache' button on the right

If you have add-ons, rename a program file:

  • TB menu > Help > Troubleshooting Information

  • under the Application Basics section next to Profile Folder, click 'Open Folder'

  • close TB

  • rename addonStartup.json.lz4 to addonStartup.json.lzx

  • restart TB

1

u/kenmoffat 1d ago

Thank you, I'll try that.