Why must Thunderbird have a 'Default' email account?
Example why question is being asked:
Three separate GMX email accounts, each with its own unique password, and NOW Application-specific password for Thunderbird. Aliases are not used or desired. Three different separate accounts that should each have its own outgoing server.
Worked fine until updates to Thunderbird and changes to the GMX server, and Application-specific passwords became a requirement to send and receive email.
Seems like updates to nearly every program and/or app that may be released with the intent to resolve an issue or include a new feature breaks something else. M$ is horrible with updates and labels nearly everything as a critical update so it gets pushed through even when updates are turned off or supposedly permanently disabled by a registry hack; Windows 11 being the absolute worse ever. Why I only have one computer with M$ while all the others are Linux. Problems all the time with M$ while Linux simply continues to work.
Regardless, can setup each GMX account but the default email account name must be used as the user name on the other two GMX accounts on the outgoing server in order to send email. Then the recipient sees the name for the default account rather than the name assigned to the other two accounts, and the Application-specific password for Thunderbird must be changed to that of the default. Then attempting to pull down email for the other two pop accounts comes to a halt, and email messages can only be viewed by going to the online account.
Two separate accounts for yahoo, two for gmail, and one for Charter work fine, each has its own name and outgoing server. Should be the same way for GMX but is not because Thunderbird requires one of the three GMX accounts is set to Default.
Appears by having a Default email account, users are not only restricted by the default account, but email that is sent is done so with he incorrect name, The purpose for three different emails is for email segregation and better management; personal correspondence, business related, and Internet stuff.
Instead of having a 'Default' email account, makes more sense to use a valid email to register Thunderbird after downloading and installing, and then using that email for Support, Boards, assistance, etc. The default email requirement causes too many frustrating unneeded issues that should not occur, along with wasted time, stress and grief. Computers were suppose to make our lives easier and allow us more time for the real world. Biggest lie told since the Bell Labs created the transistor.
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All Replies (3)
The default account is only for situation where you click 'new message' and the cursor is not pointing to any specific account That is not your problem. My guess is that those three gmx accounts do not have separate SMTP servers assigned. You can check that by
- clicking to 'account settings'
- highlight a gmx account in left sidebar
- now, click the button in lower right that says something such as 'Edit SMTP server.' Does the email address match the email address in the 'server settings' pane? If you check all three, I think you will find some discrepancies.
To see the full SMTP setup, while on the 'account setting' pane, click the 'Outgoing server' link near the bottom of left sidebar. That should display an SMTP server for each account. For the three gmx servers, I especially encourage putting a unique identifier in the 'description' field, such as the email address for the account. Once done, if you repeat the firs set of steps in my response, you should see the proper email ad showing on the lower bottom row when the account is highlighted in left side bar. Let me know how it goes.
Thank you very much for replying.
At this time I do not believe the issues I am experiencing using GMX with Thunderbird is a Thunderbird problem. Sounding more like a GMX problem more every day.
FYI, the email addresses matches the email address in the server settings pane.
Each email address also has its unique password since an 'Application-specific password' that must be used with Thunderbird. The normal password for each account can be used to access each account online.
Just going to have to dig even deeper, should I want to retain GMX. The frustration, time, stress and grief trying to use GMX is starting to become not worth it.
As originally stated, each email account worked fine until an update. Since then only one of the email addresses can be used to send email unless the outgoing server for the default email email address is used for either of the other two,. Unfortunately, then the the default ceases to work.
I had to leave isp.com as an email provider when the company was acquired and/or dissolved. The service they offered for a small fee was fantastic! Email, blocking features, small space online, and support.
I chose gmx which offered basically the same which worked absolutely great until the past few months.
Changes noticed with GMX:
1 - Email addresses and domains can no longer be blocked by accessing the online account and creating a filter. Blocking must be done by Thunderbird. 2 - When creating an email message from an online account, the default for attaching an image is from the cloud. The option of selecting a drive on the computer is inconsistent. 3 - The addition of advertisements in the inbox when accessing an email account online is not a good sign. If GMX is experiencing financial difficulties, offer an annual paid version with support. Its that good that people will pay for it, even if its just to return to the original configuration of the servers, and what was previously offered. Should not be that difficult since Germany has an incredible wealth of intelligent tech people available. The AI and general Q&A is not working , nor is it maintained and up-to-date. 4 - The requirement for a 'Application-specific password' which is generated online, and must be entered as the password for both the incoming and outgoing server to retrieve and send email for each gmx account in Thunderbird. Previously, the password for each account worked fine. 5- GMX pushing their app to access and send email which is available from Google and Apple Play Stores. (BTW, quite a few apps by developers for Android are going to stop working January 1, 2026 unless they sell their souls to Google.) Would not be surprised if GMX intends to drop support for email managers such as Thunderbird on computers in the future and focus only on 'smart' phones. 6- The lack of support compared to previously as an automatic email is sent by GMX, when using the form online to report an issue, stating to expect a reply within so many days.
It's really frustrating and time consuming to go-online to retrieve and send email. Therefore, until I find another email provider as good as GMX use to be, I just have to access two of the three accounts online. If an important email message is needed to be downloaded and saved, will just forward it to a yahoo (which i not always consistent) gmail (which I absolutely dislike using), or Charter email address (used by Spectrum) which works fine with Thunderbird.
One of the main reason I chose GMX was because it was not managed by Google which has the monopoly on email in the USA. Google has been allowed to become entirely too big and has too much control. The company should be broken up into multiple companies like what was done with AT&T, TWICE. However, that is not going to happen because the government is involved. Why gmail is actually government mail.
Again thanks for responding. My search for a new email provider to replace GMX begins.
Just as a comment, I have several gmx accounts with no problems. THere may be something in your setup. good luck.
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