Why are some emails only found in 'search', they do not exist in any of my folders?

Question

''locking this thread as duplicate, please continue at [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1030552 /questions/1030552]''
Emails like bills for my phone and electricity only exist if I do a search for them. They are not in any of my folders. My Junk folder was not previously visible but now is but is empty. Maybe future junk will go there but I still want to know where all the other emails are stored. Where is this limbo folder with emails that can only be found when searching?

Answer 1

Are you talking about a Pop or IMAP mail account?
If IMAP and you are viewing the remote Junk Folder, does this folder get emptied by the server periodically?
Do you have settings in Thunderbird to auto delete Junk after x days?
check here:
Tools > Account Settings > Junk Settings for the mail account
at the bottom - ''Automatically delete junk mail older than xx days'' - is this selected?
''re: On searching for them I can find them but still I don't know where they are ''
Are you using Global Search?
The additional flters on the left side will help to narrow down the list.
If yes, click on 'Open email as list'
then right click on column headers and select 'Location'.
This will tell you the folder.
For future reference:
you could use Message Filters to capture those 'bill' emails and put them in a specific folder.
Create a folder called 'Bills'.
then create a message filter using info like this example.
Filter Name : Bills
Apply filter when:
* Select ' Manually Run
* Select; Getting new mail
* select: Filter before Junk classification
* select: Match any of the following
* 'FROM' and 'IS' and email address
* click on small +
* add another bill email address - repeat as required.
Perform these actions:
* 'Move message to' and select Bills folder on account.
* click on OK to create the Filter.
* Make sure it is enabled.