I have problems with my Orcon emails and they say it is Thunderbird.
On Saturday morning 27 June 2026 I tried to login my Orcon email account via Thunderbird (which I have been using for a long time). But my login didn't work, I got a message saying "login to POP3.orcon.net.nz with username habitation failed." On 30th June 2026 I reported the problem to Orcon.
Orcon gave me the following settings for Thunderbird. I have done that and even made a new account: Incoming Server Type: IMAP Mail Server: imap.orcon.net.nz Port: 143 SSL: Off Authentication: On (username and password required)
Outgoing SMTP Server: Mail Server: smtp.orcon.net.nz Port: 25 SSL: Off Authentication: Off
Since then I have spent many hours and going around in circles with Orcon's Technical Support to resolve this, but no luck. They blame Thunderbird. I used Thunderbird Troubleshoot Mode. The message that comes up reads: login to server mail orcon.net.nz with username habitation failed. Please can you check that your server settings above are correct? And if there is a bug? Irma
All Replies (7)
You've set the account up as POP, but you have Incoming Server Type: IMAP and Mail Server: imap.orcon.net.nz.
Decide if you want POP or IMAP, then see https://help.2degrees.nz/Orcon/Tech_Support/Orcon_email_settings for how to set it up.
Either way, at this point just delete the account and re-create it how you want it.
Ed, if the account is set up as POP in Thunderbird, won’t deleting it lose messages?
Rick said
Ed, if the account is set up as POP in Thunderbird, won’t deleting it lose messages?
Hmm yeah, but OP says they made a new account which they still can't log into. Still recommend trying a new account w/the settings referred to.
Hi Ed I have tried as you said but no luck. See screenshots attached. Irma
Ed said
Rick said
Ed, if the account is set up as POP in Thunderbird, won’t deleting it lose messages?Hmm yeah, but OP says they made a new account which they still can't log into. Still recommend trying a new account w/the settings referred to.
I interpret Irma’s first message to mean that there are two accounts: one that was not working and a new one. So I am concerned about guidance to delete an account because the first one may be a POP account with local-only data. Ed, you were referring to the second account. I am just being careful.
Irma, do you have one or two accounts set up in Thunderbird?
One account as you can see on the first screenshot. Irma
Under Server Settings, User name has to be name@mail.orcon.net.nz, not just name. Same thing for the SMTP server.
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