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Error: "thunderbird failed to find the settings for your email account"

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I have email service with 1and1.com. I have been using thunderbird (TB) in conjunction with my 1and1 email service of over 20 years. I currently have several 1and1 email accounts set up and working fine on TB. The problem is, I cannot add a new 1and1 email account.

Yes, I know exactly how to add a 1and1 email account to TB. I have been trying for days to add a new account, to no avail. All setting have been checked, double checked, triple checked and quadruple checked to the point of insanity. Everything is set up correctly. Here is what happens.

1and1 accounts have to be set up manually. After entering all the correct settings manually and pressing enter, I get the error message; :thunderbird failed to find the settings for your email account". The account set up box freezes at this point and will not retest the settings no matter how many times I press the Retest button.

As I have already stated, I have other 1and1 accounts setup and working fine on this install of TB. But I have tried truing off my firewall and anti-virus anyways. But to no avail. Also, this account was installed and working fine on a previous install of TB on this same computer. My Hard drive died and I am in process of recovering from the crash and getting the new drive and OS all setup.

Any help would be appreciated.


P.S. here are the 1and1 settings for TB. https://my.1and1.com/mail-client-setup?mail-id=129929150&mail-address=explorer%40thejungleexplorer.com&mail-account-id=161742979&mail-type=BASIC&linkId=ct.btn.email-account-details.table.setup-email-client#

I have email service with 1and1.com. I have been using thunderbird (TB) in conjunction with my 1and1 email service of over 20 years. I currently have several 1and1 email accounts set up and working fine on TB. The problem is, I cannot add a new 1and1 email account. Yes, I know exactly how to add a 1and1 email account to TB. I have been trying for days to add a new account, to no avail. All setting have been checked, double checked, triple checked and quadruple checked to the point of insanity. Everything is set up correctly. Here is what happens. 1and1 accounts have to be set up manually. After entering all the correct settings manually and pressing enter, I get the error message; :thunderbird failed to find the settings for your email account". The account set up box freezes at this point and will not retest the settings no matter how many times I press the Retest button. As I have already stated, I have other 1and1 accounts setup and working fine on this install of TB. But I have tried truing off my firewall and anti-virus anyways. But to no avail. Also, this account was installed and working fine on a previous install of TB on this same computer. My Hard drive died and I am in process of recovering from the crash and getting the new drive and OS all setup. Any help would be appreciated. P.S. here are the 1and1 settings for TB. https://my.1and1.com/mail-client-setup?mail-id=129929150&mail-address=explorer%40thejungleexplorer.com&mail-account-id=161742979&mail-type=BASIC&linkId=ct.btn.email-account-details.table.setup-email-client#

Modified by Johnhoward28

Chosen solution

Try setting up the account offline: checkmark File/Offline/Work Offline, then File/New/Existing Mail Account..., enter the correct settings manually, Click Done to close the account setup window. Then, switch back to online status and see if the account works.

Incoming IMAP server: imap.1and1.com on port 993, SSL/TLS, normal password, email address for User name. Outgoing: smtp.1and1.com on port 587, STARTTLS, normal password, email address for User name.

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All Replies (5)

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Chosen Solution

Try setting up the account offline: checkmark File/Offline/Work Offline, then File/New/Existing Mail Account..., enter the correct settings manually, Click Done to close the account setup window. Then, switch back to online status and see if the account works.

Incoming IMAP server: imap.1and1.com on port 993, SSL/TLS, normal password, email address for User name. Outgoing: smtp.1and1.com on port 587, STARTTLS, normal password, email address for User name.

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It worked. Thanks a million.

Do you think this a bug with my version of TB (52.9.1 (32-bit)? I have never had this problem before.

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Not sure it's a bug in TB, but possibly an error in the lookup database for 1and1. In fact, I don't see it in the ISPDB. In general, I would always click Manual config. in the account setup wizard, or go offline, to bypass the ISPDB (except for large mail providers like gmail).

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sfhowes said

Not sure it's a bug in TB, but possibly an error in the lookup database for 1and1. In fact, I don't see it in the ISPDB. In general, I would always click Manual config. in the account setup wizard, or go offline, to bypass the ISPDB (except for large mail providers like gmail).


You know that 1and1 is one of the largest and oldest business web hosting providers in the world, right? I have always wondered why TB never could automatically detecting the setting from one of the biggest business hosting and email providers in the world. Now I know ("In fact, I don't see it in the ISPDB"). That explains it. Maybe you could talk to the TB developing team and make them aware of this massive over site.

But like I said I have been using TB with 1and1 for over 20 years and have never had this problem before. So, I am guessing that it might be something to do with the current version. Anyway, thanks for the help.

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I solved my problem getting Comcast email to work in Thunderbird with IMAP server update to imap.ge.xfinity.com based on: https://forums.xfinity.com/t5/Email-Web-Browsing/imap-comcast-net-not-responding/td-p/3028283