Thunderbird not checking for new messages at startup.
Thunderbird not checking for new messages at startup is a minor nuisance and not critical. I use Thunderbird 68.10.0 in Linux Ubuntu. After reviewing the various suggestions in https://support.mozilla.org/bm/questions/1270066 the unexpected behavior still persists.
I'd like to humbly suggest that the various suggestions in https://support.mozilla.org/bm/questions/1270066 are all guesses on the perspective individual circumstances. After trying those suggestions, I might as well try stomping twice & doing a twirly (Now I'm being silly), but it would be guess work with no results.
What is needed is a clear understanding of the inner workings that causes this and to RECOGNIZE IT AS A BUG. It maybe a minor nuisance rather than a critical priority, but it seems that this symptom is widespread. It's a minor BUG.
All Replies (10)
There are bug reports, and some of them offer fixes that have worked for some users:
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1275606#answer-1299178
Thanks for the reply. I think I would only frustrate myself and waste a lot of time over nothing trying to fix something minor. I take comfort in knowing it's a known issue.
I accidentally found a solution that works here which is worthy of sharing. One day it suddenly started working properly for reasons unknown (quite possible because I accidentally created the conditions I'm about to explain).
Anytime it doesn't dowload messages as it should at startup, I do the following. I've tested it several times, and the following always works...
I'M SET UP FOR IMAP. I open the misbehaving Thunderbird (without it properly looking for the mail server and showing that login box). I then double-click on a mail in the LOCAL FOLDERS > INBOX, such that the mail appears in a second tab. I close and restart Thundercird, such that the double-clicked mail is still appearing in a second tab. Anytime I recreate that, AFTER WAITING A FEW SECONDS, then it properly looks up the mail server and loads that login box.
This works when the problem occasionally surfaces, like it did this morning. I think what caused it this morning was that the system hadn't been used in many hours. Maybe it had to somehow "wake up". ie; maybe it was indexing or something from not being used for hours. There was an apparent lack of the needed resources. That's neither here nor there ...
Double-click on a mail in the LOCAL FOLDERS > INBOX, such that the mail APPEARS in a second tab, close and restart Thunderbird, then wait, then it properly looks up the mail server and loads that login box.
Modified by joeTheUser
Another user fixed the problem by changing the setting for Date & Time Formatting in Options/General.
FWIW, having a proxy DNS setup over here, I just Preferences > Advanced > Network & Disk Space > Connection > changed to AUTO-DETECT.
Worked like a champ in fixing all kinds of eratic problems I've been experiencing. Hasn't worked so smoothly in awhile!
For those trying to connect to imap.comcast.net, you may find this useful (knock on wood, working here so far):
Options/Advanced/General/Config Editor Except the risk.
Just enter IPv6 in the search bar.
Toggle the setting to read: TRUE
network.dns.disableIPv6 modified boolean true
Modified by joeTheUser
I'm having a similar issue. I can't pinpoint when, but a couple months ago Thunderbird stopped checking other folders for new email until I actually click on that folder. For instance, my Clients folder has about a dozen sub-folders, one for each of my bigger clients. I now have to open the Clients folder, and click on each subfolder before Thunderbird checks the server to see if there are any emails in there. The first time I noticed it I had missed seven days of emails from my biggest client. They actually called me to see if I was ok.
Are there any tools I can install or turn on that will show what's going on under the hood?
I'm on a Windows 10 machine with the latest TB version (I always update when asked), connecting to a SmarterMail server, also the latest version (well, not the one that was released last night).
Thanks for any help.
Mik Muller said
I'm having a similar issue. I can't pinpoint when, but a couple months ago Thunderbird stopped checking other folders for new email until I actually click on that folder. For instance, my Clients folder has about a dozen sub-folders, one for each of my bigger clients. I now have to open the Clients folder, and click on each subfolder before Thunderbird checks the server to see if there are any emails in there. The first time I noticed it I had missed seven days of emails from my biggest client. They actually called me to see if I was ok.
Right-click a folder, Properties, check the box 'When getting new messages...'.
Huh. Never had to do that before. Do I have to do that for each individual folder, or just the main Clients folder?
I think you have to either set it for each folder, or have all folders checked by toggling mail.server.default.check_all_folders_for_new to true in Config. editor.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/How_do_I_check_for_new_messages_in_other_folders