Thunderbird Community Forum

Using Windows 11. I try to update from ESR (version 140.13) to the release path. It concludes with a pop-up saying I must "reboot to finish a Thunderbird de-install" (or words to that effect). I reboot and it hasn't done anything. Version 140.13ESR is still present and if I repeat the update to release, the same thing happens.

I fear if I use the W11 tools to de-install Thunderbird altogether before re-installing TB from scratch, I'll lose all my existing email.

How do I do it?

I am on release 140.12.1 esr and there appears to be no new updates available. If so, what release should I be on and can I just download and install to get back on the latest release

Updating on June 20, the existing Thunderbird version in a flash of a second was replaced by a new blank one. All files and settings were lost. I needed an expert who (at cost of course!) managed to roll back the program with all files and settings as they were. This was a disaster, how can such effect happen? Right now I do not trust the updates anymore and will not implement new updates.

"Hello, I am using Thunderbird version 140.12.0 ESR 32-bit. I would like to install Thunderbird Setup 152.0. What are the advantages? Disadvantages? Is there a particular installation procedure?"

My folder header has many extra icons that when click do nothing -- happened when updating to 152.0 (and I need to hit ALT several times for the command line to appear to be able to "view folders" Tbird doesn't load to them automatically ! )

Here's a screen scape -- note the "what looks like a document" goes on and on and on if I scroll right

A few weeks ago my installation of Thunderbird on my Windows 10 laptop was version 151. I want to stop it from being updated, and I asked AI for help. It suggested the following:

1. Create a directory named "distribution" and locate it as follows: C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\distribution. 2. Within that directory, I was asked to create a file named "policies.json" and I did so. 3. Within that file, I was asked to place the following: {

 "policies": { 
     "DisableAppUpdate": true 
  } 

} and that's what I did.

When I had a look under Settings > Update, there was a note to say that updates have been prevented by the administrator. (That would have been the effect of what I just did.) That was a few weeks ago.

So, when I looked at my version number today, I saw that my version is now 152. It had updated, and the directory and file I created are now no longer present.

It seems that the update process deletes anything that shouldn't be there and doesn't trouble itself with the file I created.

How do I stop Thunderbird from updating my installation?

Hi! I'm hoping you can help me! I use Thunderbird, and have for many years, and I love it. My computer is on its last legs, and I'm trying to save up for a new one, but, yesterday I did something possibly stupid... (yeah, I know, you NEVER get people asking for help who've done stupid things, so this will be unusual... lol). Anyway... I turned my computer on and got a popup saying that my Thunderbird needs an update and it's been a while since I updated, so I hit OK on the update... Well, my arsehole of a computer chose that exact minute to shit itself and die. When I tried restarting it, my Thunderbird no longer works. Now I have a popup with a big red X that says "The installation seems to be corrupt. Please check your hardware and disk setup and/or re-install." Can you help me? I desperately need to check my email and have one I need to send. I don't know what to do. I've also got YEARS worth of emails sitting in the system, so I can't risk losing them, either. Please help. L.

My reddit post is here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Thunderbird/s/lM11YcRIIT

Hello,

I'm confused and slightly concerned.

Through no deliberate action by me, Thunderbird DOWNGRADED itself from the May 2026 standard release version to an AUGUST 2025 ESR(Extended Support Release) version.

UPDATE: the next application restart brought the ESR version up to date, but why was I forced onto the ESR version?!

What could have pissibly triggered this? I don't want or need ESR, and without knowing the cause, I have e no guarantee it won't happen again. Worst if all, everywhere I look, there is zero explanation for this. It appears to be fairly unprecedented.

My original installer for 102.15.1 was downloaded from the official Thunderbird site in 2025.

The sequence of events:

• I've had Thunderbird version 102.15.1 installed for awhile, but wasn't using it.
• Ysterday I opened it and connected an account.
• Today I noticed it hadn't auto-updated, so I went into the settings and clicked on the 'check for updates'.
• this brought it up to v115.10.1.
• Its success was demonstrated by me being sent to this URL after it opened: https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thu.../?locale=en-US&version=115.10.1&channel=release&oldversion=102.15.1(https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/115.0/whatsnew/?locale=en-US&version=115.10.1&channel=release&oldversion=102.15.1)
• An hour later, I closed Thunderbird completely hoping it would fix a sync that appeared 'stuck'.
• When I re-opened Thunderbird, I saw the small "updating" window. It was pretty surprising since I had *just* updated.
• After Thunderbird opens, after this additional "update", the URL that I'm sent to is this: https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thu.../?locale=en-US&version=128.14.0&channel=esr&oldversion=115.18.0(https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/128.0/whatsnew/?locale=en-US&version=128.14.0&channel=esr&oldversion=115.18.0)
• Thunderbird changed to a year old ESR version!

Very simply as per the summary, every time I hit restart to update and then do another Help/About it ends up back with exactly the same result every time and while I downloaded the latest version available for download and installed it, it does not come up with 150.0.1 but the same as above.

Good day, thank you in advance for your help.

I have two questions: 1. Which Thunderbird version is better than ESR? Could you share your opinion?

It's faster and it applies all changes more quickly, that's how it seems right now.

If there are still 32-bit and 64-bit versions available simultaneously, I'll test it sometime. I have no idea what kind of channel that would be.

Problem question:

In Thunderbird 64-bit POP3, the font changes to blue for every second email, including in replies. Can you tell me how to display every email in black? Only the second email in the inbox is displayed in blue, so the text isn't blue when receiving emails. When composing, everything looks black. What do I need to change?

Question 2: Regardless of whether it's 32-bit, 64-bit, or any channel, I see updates to the latest version, and in the program itself, there's an option to view older updates, but everything is white. I only see white and nothing else. Is this intentional? I can't see the update, but it's still current?

``` Thanks for the information

Good day, thank you in advance for your help.

I have two questions: 1. Which Thunderbird version is better than ESR? Could you share your opinion?

It's faster and it applies all changes more quickly, that's how it seems right now.

If there are still 32-bit and 64-bit versions available simultaneously, I'll test it sometime. I have no idea what kind of channel that would be.

Problem question:

In Thunderbird 64-bit POP3, the font changes to blue for every second email, including in replies. Can you tell me how to display every email in black? Only the second email in the inbox is displayed in blue, so the text isn't blue when receiving emails. When composing, everything looks black. What do I need to change?

Question 2: Regardless of whether it's 32-bit, 64-bit, or any channel, I see updates to the latest version, and in the program itself, there's an option to view older updates, but everything is white. I only see white and nothing else. Is this intentional? I can't see the update, but it's still current?

``` Thanks for the information

I can't find a contact person, and the Mozilla account name has been changed. Is that normal?

Thank you for your help and answers. I hope I can continue writing to you in German as well?

Thunderbird Portable Help

Question: There was a number after my email address, like "Email" and "1954." Who is that? Is that normal?

Question: Thunderbird Developer Toolbox: Can you see my emails in the program?

Question: Are there any German-speaking Thunderbird users left?

Questions: Thunderbird Portable The archive option isn't updating? How long does the backup take?

Different Thunderbird versions display a programmed year date in the archive option. For example, 2021 in one program and 2024 in another. Is that normal? I can't change anything.

It's as if it's accessing some kind of backup and maybe even sharing it, and I don't know what's correct.

Question:

Update Channel Ellipse Update Channel esr. Previously, there were different channels. Isn't another channel better? I've read that it's more stable than switching. Is that true? Information regarding the question below?

140.9.0esr (64-bit) Thunderbird is up to date.

You are currently on the esr update channel. I'm experiencing stability issues with this one.

Thunderbird, Portable Edition portableapps - 1.0 Thunderbird is up to date. You are currently on the release update channel. New Download

General Information In Thunderbird Portable, there is a help page:

https://support.mozilla.org/de/products/thunderbird

Please reply and thank you very much for your help.

link text

Artifacts have appeared within the program. Everything works fine in other programs.

This appeared after the last update. Judging by the picture, it's possible some of your icons are broken.

Please fix this. I can't use the program now.

Every since updating to Thunderbird 147.0.1, I have noticed that every time I start Thunderbird, it creates a directory called "Thunderbird" in my home directory! This didn't happen before the update and I have a '.thunderbird' directory in my home already! I had a search in the settings for the term "directory" but did not find anything that seemed related. But it seems to be caused by some new setting that has become activated with the update.

I am on an Arch GNU/Linux operating system, if any further information is necessary to help debug this, please let me know. Thanks a lot in advance :-).

I have Thunderbird installed on a Surface Pro running Windows10 and on a Surface Pro running Linux Fedora. When I use the Windows10 computer to prepare a Thunderbird export file for the profile, the Fedora machine Thuderbird import command will not read it.

The Windows10 machine has Thunderbird 147 and the Fedora machine has 146. Is the difference in version responsible for the failure to import the profile files? Or is it something else?

If the difference is the version of Thunderbird, then how do I get 147 on my Fedora machine?

If it is something else, what do I do so that I do not lose saved emails and calendar data from 147 version when I am running the 146 version?