Thunderbird and Exchange

Revision Information
  • Revision id: 303317
  • Created:
  • Creator: Roland Tanglao
  • Comment: clarified that MS provides the OAuth panel ; needs review by Wayne, do not localize please. For discussion: https://github.com/thunderbird/knowledgebase-issues/issues/85 please
  • Reviewed: Yes
  • Reviewed:
  • Reviewed by: rtanglao
  • Is approved? Yes
  • Is current revision? No
  • Ready for localization: No
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Revision Content
Warning: The current built-in code for Exchange in Thunderbird is limited to email. Other features (calendar, address book) are planned to follow, but are not available yet. We recommend using Thunderbird 142 or newer for for a more polished, stable experience, Please refer to our Thunderbird:Exchange wiki page for full details.

Configure your Exchange account

Thunderbird profiles with 1 or more accounts

If you have a Thunderbird profile with one or more accounts, you will see the new Thunderbird Account Hub flow:

  1. Click Thunderbird app menu ☰ > New Account > Email
  2. Follow the flow by entering your name, email address, and if required, your two factor authentication code for your Exchange email account.
    Note: you do not need to enter your password in the Password field of the first dialogue. You will enter your password in a separate, branded panel provided by Microsoft (not Mozilla) as part of their OAuth implementation.
    Here is a screenshot of that panel provided by Microsoft:
    tb-141-oauth-microsoft-enter-password-win11
  3. Click the Exchange button (not the one labelled Exchange REQUIRES ADD-ON) in the Choose your email account type dialogue to use Thunderbird's built-in Exchange code.
    Note: The Exchange button only appears if the email you entered is an Exchange account.
    tb142-beta-exchange-support-button
  4. Follow the prompts to finish adding your Exchange account.

Thunderbird profile with no accounts

If you have a Thunderbird profile with no accounts, you will see the older, Set Up Your Existing Email Address flow:

  1. Click Thunderbird app menu ☰ > New Account > Email
  2. Follow the flow by entering your name, email address, and if required, your two factor authentication code for your Exchange email account..
    Note: you do not need to enter your password in the Password field of the first dialogue. You will enter your password in a separate, branded panel provided by Microsoft (not Mozilla) as part of their OAuth implementation.
    Here is a screenshot of that panel provided by Microsoft:
    tb-141-oauth-microsoft-enter-password-win11
  3. Click the Exchange Web Services button (not the one labelled Exchange/Office365) in the Choose your email account type dialogue to use Thunderbird's built-in Exchange implementation.
    Note: The Exchange Web Services button only appears if the email you entered is an Exchange account.
    tb142-beta-old-pre-account-hub-flow-exchange-webservices-button
  4. Follow the prompts to finish adding your Exchange account.