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Thunderbird locks up (hangs) on startup when checking for new email, when there is an internet connection [Mac]

  • 10 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 13 views
  • Last reply by marryme

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Mac OS 13.0 Thunderbird 102.4.1

Hello, Thunderbird now crashes every time it connects to check for new email. The program locks up, I get the spinning beach ball, and I have to force quit to close it. Letting it sit for an extended time has no impact.

If I start Thunderbird without an internet connection it behaves normally. Once it reconnects to the internet and attempts to download email, it locks up.

If I start in Troubleshoot Mode with add-ons and extensions disabled, it works normally. No problems at all. I don't appear to have any add-ons or extensions running, so I don't understand why this is fixing things.

I had read a previous post about disabling access to Contacts in System Preferences, I tried that, no luck.

What can I do to try to fix this>

Mac OS 13.0 Thunderbird 102.4.1 Hello, Thunderbird now crashes every time it connects to check for new email. The program locks up, I get the spinning beach ball, and I have to force quit to close it. Letting it sit for an extended time has no impact. If I start Thunderbird without an internet connection it behaves normally. Once it reconnects to the internet and attempts to download email, it locks up. If I start in Troubleshoot Mode with add-ons and extensions disabled, it works normally. No problems at all. I don't appear to have any add-ons or extensions running, so I don't understand why this is fixing things. I had read a previous post about disabling access to Contacts in System Preferences, I tried that, no luck. What can I do to try to fix this>

Modified by Wayne Mery

All Replies (10)

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One slight update, an odd one. Out of curiosity I installed an extension, since I had none running, to see if that did anything. I added "Addon Compatibility Check" since that sounded benign. With this installed and running, Thunderbird behaves normally. If I remove it, the problem comes back.

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Final update. If I reboot Thunderbird after having success by adding an extension, the problem comes back. If I restart in troubleshooting mode, remove the add-on, restart, add the add-on, and relaunch normally it works again for a single launch. Problem returns after subsequent launches.

Very odd.

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Still unresolved, Thunderbird only runs in troubleshoot mode.

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Some anti virus programs inject code into Thunderbird which amounts to an addon, but the are not nice enough to actually install it. Safe mode blocks that action as there are no addons. DO you have an anti virus that thinks it knows how to interact with Thunderbird with spam, scam or other buttons in Thunderbird (Or even a toolbar)

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Unfortunately no, nothing like that is, or has been, installed on this computer.

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try deleting the addons files and directories.

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Deleted all add-ons and extensions files, and folders. Folders were empty.

No change. Still only runs in debugging mode.

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Still stumped on this. Up to version 102.6.1, and it still only works in troubleshoot mode.

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The most common Mac-specific issue is Mac address book related https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1662759

I would also check whether there are Thunderbird windows or dialogs hidden that you are not seeing.

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I also have this problem, spodding begins at start, only runs in Troubleshoot mode. Unfortunately I don't know how to fully remove my add-ons and extensions in Troubleshoot mode, as everything is disabled and greyed out so cannot remove,enable, or disable them. It's a problem as I need to archive my emails frequently and I can't do it in TS mode. Any help would be much appreciated. PS It's not the Address Book thing either. Thanks!