you delete it the same way you delete any files from the file system. You open Windows explorer, select the file and press the delete key.

GazLoso said

I can see no way to erase any email I have saved to my laptop files. How do I do that.

Tks yr reply Matt. That doesn't work, there is no "delete" in the drop down window. Here is what I see and what I'm doing. I go to the email saved (not opening it) and right click on it. I get a drop down window which has no "delete" header in it. If I open the email and look for a cancel/delete header - no such animal exists. Windows Exploer?????? So, what next?

Why not just select it then hit the delete button on your keyboard?

But let's step back. Where is this message saved? What file format is it?

I saved the email from my email inbox to documents on the laptop. It's sitting there with the Thunderbird logo. I can open and read the email fine, however I cannot see anyway to delete it. I have looked in the usual spots to do this. All the thunderbird emails I have saved are unable to be deleted to the rubbish bin.

I have tried highlighting the email and then looking in the menu under file. The delete header is dulled and therefore unusable. Buggered if I know.

Type: Thunderbird

tks

I can't replicate that. See the attached.

In any case, having selected the desktop .eml file, I can also delete it with the keyboard Delete button.

Some users have found that Windows refuses to let them delete saved messages, as if they didn't have sufficient permissions. I've never had that happen myself and I am not a keen Windows user, so can't help any further.

Can you drag the offending file to your recycle bin?

The issue is windows search.It has nothing at all to do with Thunderbird.

I blogged about it back in 2011 and Fred Smith commented 2 years ago with another easier method to fix the issue.

see http://thunderbirdtweaks.blogspot.com.au/2011/10/cant-delete-eml-files.html?showComment=1346081818331#c6426200271493752113