Thunderbird speed

Thunderbird can be very slow and there are known causes for the most common speed losses. Here is one that occurs on Linux and Windows in Thunderbird 3 and 4.

Global Search and Indexer

Search for a file named global-messages-db.sqlite. The file might not exist in your Thunderbird profile. If it does exist, it might be 0.03 MB (MegaByte) or 800 MB. The file is created by the Thunderbird Global Search and Indexer. The Global Search and Indexer first appeared in Thunderbird 3. Switch off the Global Search and Indexer.

From my tests, it does nothing to make any search faster and it does a lot to slow down everything else. The Thunderbird Global Search and Indexer is equivalent to the Microsoft Windows Indexer that slows down every file access without ever making anything faster. The Global Search and Indexer slows Thunderbird more than the average anti virus software. Global Search and Indexer is as bad as the worst anti-virus software I have tested on Windows XP.

In Linux, select Edit, Preferences, Advanced, General, then switch off Global Search and Indexer. In Windows, select Tools, Options, Advanced, General, then switch off Global Search and Indexer. The global-messages-db.sqlite file should disappear and Thunderbird should be faster. You may have to restart Thunderbird to make the change work.