Can Mozilla Thunderbird show sent replies in threaded view?

I would like for Thunderbird to show replies to threaded messages in with the received messages. Is this possible, even with an extension?

The desired behavior would be something like how Zimbra's threaded email view works.


GMail Conversation View does what you want without having to copy replies into your folders. Sometimes it doesn't properly pull in your replies, and it doesn't start conversations if you initiated them, but it is the most similar to gmail I have found.


You need to go to the account settings for the account and select Copies & Folders, then check the box "Place replies in the folder of the message being replied to"

Also enable sorting by thread.

THis will replicate the gmail effect I think.


It "is" built-in on thunderbird now, if you do the right steps:

There is the Global Inbox (if there isn't one, you have to activate it at View >> Folders >> Unified from this tip)

Go on its properties at "Select the folders to search:"
and click on "Choose...", you will see that your top inbox is checked;
just check the "sent" one, click "ok", and "Update".

Now, go to your top "inbox" that is the global one, activate the threaded column and you have a three with all incoming and outgoing messages!

Obs.: thunderbird version 31.4.0 here.

PS.: follow @hvd comment below to restrict the messages shown to a single account (in case of multiple email accounts)!


If you use Gmail. Your thunderbird will sync the folder structure which includes an "All Mail". Use this folder instead of "Inbox" and use the threaded view will make the threads include sent replies.

I prefer this way to the plugin "Thunderird Conversations" because the plugin is very slow to load when the thread is very long. And sometimes the plugin doesn' t display attachments properly. And this way avoids the extra costs of the option "Place replies in the folder of the message being replied to" will incur.

For other mail users, adding a new virtual folder might also do, see: Combine in- and outgoing mail in Thunderbird in one folder . This inspired me that Gmail includes such a folder already.