[kmail2] [Bug 502123] New: Search Folders for Unread Messages are unintuitive and only apply after restarting KMail

[Pedro]

https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=502123

            Bug ID: 502123
           Summary: Search Folders for Unread Messages are unintuitive and
                    only apply after restarting KMail
    Classification: Applications
           Product: kmail2
           Version: 5.22.3
          Platform: Debian stable
                OS: Linux
            Status: REPORTED
          Severity: major
          Priority: NOR
         Component: UI
          Assignee: kdepim-bugs at kde.org
          Reporter: lamparina575 at gmail.com
  Target Milestone: ---

**Product:** KMail  
**Version:** 5.22.3 (22.12.3)  
**OS:** Debian 12  
**Translation used:** pt_PT – José Nuno Pires

---

### Summary
Search Folders for unread messages require a convoluted manual configuration
process that feels unintuitive and inconsistent for an average user. It is not
clear whether settings are saved, changes are only reflected after restarting
the app, and default options are misleading or insufficient.

---

### Steps to Reproduce
1. Go to *Settings > Configure Search Folders*
2. Create a folder to display unread emails
3. Select scope: “All folders” or manually choose relevant ones
4. Set filter condition to: `Status is Unread`
5. Save (by clicking *Close*, since no *Save* button is visible)
6. Observe that the folder does not show expected messages
7. Restart KMail and only then the configuration becomes active

---

### Expected Result
- The search folder should immediately show all unread messages from selected
folders
- The user should receive confirmation that settings were saved
- No need to restart the application for changes to take effect

---

### Actual Result
- No confirmation of save action
- No visible change occurs until after restarting KMail
- Folder sometimes shows only a subset of unread messages
- Behaviour suggests partial indexing or lack of feedback from the Akonadi
system

---

### User Experience Issues
- **No "Save" button:** Clicking *Close* feels ambiguous — did the action save
or cancel?
- **Changes not applied immediately:** Restarting feels like a workaround
- **Unclear logic flow:** Even technically inclined users struggle to
understand the interface logic
- **Insufficient feedback:** No indication of which folders are properly
indexed or causing issues
- **Not accessible for general users:** Requires trial-and-error, and possibly
Akonadi CLI knowledge

---

### Suggestions
- Add an explicit **Save** or **Apply** button in the “Search Folder”
configuration dialog
- Provide **instant feedback** on whether search criteria yield results
- Clarify the **indexing status** of folders involved in search
- Consider a **“Test search” preview** button to show sample matches
- Make the effect of *Close* versus *Cancel* more intuitive

---

### Severity
🟡 Moderate (Usability-focused, but does not crash the app)

---

### Why it matters
This feature is useful, but currently **not discoverable**, **not reliable**,
and feels **incomplete** for general users. Improving the UI/UX in this area
would reduce frustration and make KMail a more approachable and powerful
client.

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