Open Bug 1962262 Opened 22 days ago Updated 7 days ago

Items listed in message list pane suddenly vanish (on random auth failure) - only come back after restarting thunderbird

Categories

(Thunderbird :: Folder and Message Lists, defect)

Product:
Thunderbird
Component:
Folder and Message Lists
Version:
Thunderbird 137
Platform:
x86_64
macOS
Type:
defect

Tracking

(thunderbird138+ affected)

Tracking Flags:
Tracking Status
thunderbird138 + affected

People

(Reporter: ian.graham, Unassigned)

References

Details

(Whiteboard: [potential duplicate of bug 1952311])

Attachments

(3 files)

Shows the inbox window for my main mail account: note that nothing listed, even though the inbox has lots of messages in it. The same is now try if I switch to *any* folder - server-based or local.
555.22 KB, image/png
Details
Activity manager screen shot just after problem occurred
300.05 KB, image/png
Details
Activity manager after the most recent occurrence (see comment #11)
852.43 KB, image/png
Details

This has started to happen with Thunderbird 137.0.2 - my inbox window was full of listed messages, butg sudddently on a refresh they all disappeared. Moreover, if I switch to another inbox or even local folder the listed message view remains blank. Things go back to normal if I shutdown and restart TB. I now have to do this several times and hour if I am reading a lot of mail.

but sudddently on a refresh they all disappeared

What exactly do you mean by "refresh"?
Does it also happen if you are in Help > Troubleshoot Mode?

Flags: needinfo?(ian.graham)

I believe you mean "message list", described at https://support.mozilla.org/kb/getting-started-thunderbird-main-window-supernova

Severity: S2 → S3
Component: Mail Window Front End → Folder and Message Lists
Priority: P1 → --
Summary: Items listed in message pane suddenly vanish - only come back after restarting thunderbird → Items listed in message list pane suddenly vanish - only come back after restarting thunderbird

Check the Error Console (Ctrl+Shift+J) for relevant errors.
Also, it looks like there's some progress indicated. Perhaps (failing) network activity or something. See Tools | Activity manager.

(In reply to Wayne Mery (:wsmwk) from comment #2)

I believe you mean "message list", described at https://support.mozilla.org/kb/getting-started-thunderbird-main-window-supernova

Yes, I mean message list pane (sorry).

I will switch to troubleshoot mode and wait for it to happen, and also display the activity manager to see what's happening.

By "refresh" I mean it 'looks' as if the pane is refreshing / scrolling to add a new incoming mail item - but instead all the items just disappear.....

Flags: needinfo?(ian.graham)

I can confirm this behavior, i.e. all messages in the thread pane suddenly disappear, and can only be recovered by restarting Thunderbird.
It happens here when automatic compacting is triggered. It doesn't happen all the time though, so it isn't exactly reproducible.
When an email folder is selected in the folder pane it can happen for email messages in the thread pane. If a newsgroup is selected it can happen for newsgroup posts in the thread pane.
Currently Thunderbird 137.0.2 on Linux, no anti-virus s/w involved.

So perhaps the auth failure to outlook.office365.com is causing the problem ....

Ok, switched to troubleshoot mode and turned on Activity Manager. and Just had the problem again: The activity manager shows an auth failure trying to connect to outlook.office365.com

See Also: → 1961074

(In reply to Ian Graham from comment #7)

Ok, switched to troubleshoot mode and turned on Activity Manager. and Just had the problem again: The activity manager shows an auth failure trying to connect to outlook.office365.com

This seems very similar to the Bug 1961074 Corey Bryant just noted, except that for me, once the problem is triggered, every folder (imap or local) displays as empty in the message list pane.

Summary: Items listed in message list pane suddenly vanish - only come back after restarting thunderbird → Items listed in message list pane suddenly vanish (on random auth failure) - only come back after restarting thunderbird

I think I encounter the same issue. I haven't had it while watching the Activity Manager or Error Console, but journalctl shows this - no idea if it is related:

thunderbird[23874]: JavaScript error: resource:///modules/DBViewWrapper.sys.mjs, line 1677: TypeError: this._sort[0] is undefined

I am running Thunderbird 137.0.2 on Manjaro Linux (KDE Edition). I access my emails via IMAP. No Outlook/Office 365 involved though.

I'm the reporter of bug 1961074 above. Just for reference, I do not use Office 365 at all. I have many email folders inside Thunderbird that all check with ISP. I do have calendars, use Today Pane, QuickFolders, etc. I have tested it in troubleshooting mode and experienced the issue. When it happens, I have been posting debug data - Ctrl + Shift J. This is also an old profile with some tweaks made years ago.

Glad to know others have the issue. I am not having it on another PC or anyone else I know who uses Thunderbird.

I just had this happen again. Message pane flashed and erased all the entries when I returned to the computer (after being away from it for a coupole of hours) ) and 'clicked' on an item ito try and read it. Activity manger was on (I will attach a view) but there is nothing helpful there, I think.....

Activity manager after the most recent occurrence (see comment #11)

See Also: → 1952311

I just realized that this bug appeared for me after upgrading from TB 128 ESR TB 137. Sorry, can't be precise around version numbers - I did the update in early-mid march.

I know that's a big code 'diff' but the defect must lie in the difference between those two versions.

Hello everyone affected by this bug.

The latest DAILY versions from yesterday, build date 2025-05-01, contain a potential fix for this issue, but we aren't sure if the fix is sufficient.

We would greatly appreciate your help if you could please help us test that version, and give us feedback if you still see the problem with it.

When you report back, could you please indicate the version and build date you were using?
(You can find that information in the "about" dialog.)

Thank you in advance!

Whiteboard: [potential duplicate of bug 1952311]

(In reply to Ian Graham from comment #13)

I just realized that this bug appeared for me after upgrading from TB 128 ESR TB 137. Sorry, can't be precise around version numbers - I did the update in early-mid march.

Ian, The key question for you, is does the problem stop if you disable automatic compact in Settings.
Note, activity manager is of no use in this regard - it doesn't show compact activity.

Flags: needinfo?(ian.graham)

(In reply to Wayne Mery (:wsmwk) from comment #15)

...The key question for you, is does the problem stop if you disable automatic compact in Settings.
Note, activity manager is of no use in this regard - it doesn't show compact activity.

Just to backup above, I am the Reporter of bug 1961074

  • Using Version 138.0, NOT daily build.
  • Disabled under settings "Compact All folders when it will save"
  • Account Setting, Server Settings, Expunge and Delete off

Now at 6 hours into the day and no issues at all.

(In reply to Wayne Mery (:wsmwk) from comment #15)

(In reply to Ian Graham from comment #13)

I just realized that this bug appeared for me after upgrading from TB 128 ESR TB 137. Sorry, can't be precise around version numbers - I did the update in early-mid march.

Ian, The key question for you, is does the problem stop if you disable automatic compact in Settings.
Note, activity manager is of no use in this regard - it doesn't show compact activity.

Thanks. Good question - I will disable automatic compacting now and wait and see. May take a while to confirm - it has been happening much less often in the past week. But It did just happen/fail this morning (am now running v138).

Flags: needinfo?(ian.graham)

Thanks for confirming that compaction is related to the problem. However, disabling compact isn't a good permanent solution.

We'll need more help testing, whether our attempts to fix the bug are working, with compacting still allowed.
See comment 14

(In reply to Kai Engert [:KaiE:] from comment #18)

Thanks for confirming that compaction is related to the problem. However, disabling compact isn't a good permanent solution.

We'll need more help testing, whether our attempts to fix the bug are working, with compacting still allowed.
See comment 14

Sadly as my Thunderbird is a primary install and not having the issue on other PC I cannot test the DAILY as cannot revert. I am on the BETA track so as soon as that is out I can test. Apologies :(

(In reply to AlternativeKey661 from comment #19)

Sadly as my Thunderbird is a primary install and not having the issue on other PC I cannot test the DAILY as cannot revert. I am on the BETA track so as soon as that is out I can test. Apologies :(

Ok, thanks for the update. We're already working on getting the potential fix into Beta. As I understand it, it will be in 139.0b2

I think 139.0b2 is already available. Can you please test?

Flags: needinfo?(debra)

(In reply to Ian Graham from comment #17)

(In reply to Wayne Mery (:wsmwk) from comment #15)

(In reply to Ian Graham from comment #13)

I just realized that this bug appeared for me after upgrading from TB 128 ESR TB 137. Sorry, can't be precise around version numbers - I did the update in early-mid march.

Ian, The key question for you, is does the problem stop if you disable automatic compact in Settings.
Note, activity manager is of no use in this regard - it doesn't show compact activity.

Thanks. Good question - I will disable automatic compacting now and wait and see. May take a while to confirm - it has been happening much less often in the past week. But It did just happen/fail this morning (am now running v138).

I can confirm turning off compacting fixes things: I turned it off 3+ days ago and had no problems for 3 days. I just turned compacting back on I had this failure in less than 4 mins ;-)

(In reply to Kai Engert [:KaiE:] from comment #21)

I think 139.0b2 is already available. Can you please test?

Sadly, not showing, nor can I spot it manually(In reply to Kai Engert [:KaiE:] from comment #21)

I think 139.0b2 is already available. Can you please test?

It was hard to get Beta. Not offered in About, and when I select it on the website, it defaults to 138. Repeating over, finally got to show.

Installed and turned on Compact in settings, and all mail disappeared :(
But click another IMAP mail box, and the mail popped back in that and the one from which they disappeared.
So quick answer is .... maybe fixed :)
Will test more and advise (but will be after the weekend)

Flags: needinfo?(debra)

Confirmed that still happening with Beta, but clicking away to another account, then back, and all mail reappears (much more usable than having to reboot Thunderbird). Happy to continue with Beta as a temp solution (with compact on).

Thanks. Let's discuss in bug 1952311, where you also reported that the issue isn't fixed yet.

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