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suddenly thunderbird won't send mails through vodafon/uniymail, "mail couldn't be sent" then timeout error for the smtp server.

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  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

Gary George
Gary George

Thunderbird has been working OK. Now, despite PC restarts and so on I get the message "mail couldn't be sent, time out error for SMTP server. I have tried changing the SMTP settings from port 465 to port 587 but no difference. If I log in to my email provider (vodafon/uniymail) I can send mails no problem. The problem is with thunderbird not sending smtp. Tried turning firewall and antivirus off, no help. Internet connection is glassfibre, internet works OK.

Thunderbird has been working OK. Now, despite PC restarts and so on I get the message "mail couldn't be sent, time out error for SMTP server. I have tried changing the SMTP settings from port 465 to port 587 but no difference. If I log in to my email provider (vodafon/uniymail) I can send mails no problem. The problem is with thunderbird not sending smtp. Tried turning firewall and antivirus off, no help. Internet connection is glassfibre, internet works OK.

Modified by Wayne Mery

All Replies (5)

Wayne Mery
Wayne Mery
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  • Top 10 Contributor

What is your version number from Help > About? And who is your mail provider?

Gary George
Gary George Question owner

There is no "about" by thunderbird help..its a link to this website, so sorry cant tell you which version it is, must be the newest for windows 11, installed in dec.2025. My provider is Vodafon here in Germany. If I log in directly to their website i.e. my mail account, I can send post no problem. The problem is on my PC and only since yesterday. I went in to Thunderbirds advanced settings and changed the time of timeouts from 100 secs to 1000...didnt help either

Wayne Mery
Wayne Mery
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor

Help > Troubleshooting Information also gives version number. Is it 148.0? Or 140.8.0?

Gary George
Gary George Question owner

just found the version: 140.7.1 esr 64 bit

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 25 Contributor

Please post the following information: In Thunderbird

  • Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • scroll down to 'Mail and News Accounts'
  • Copy all the data and paste it into this forum question.

SMTP - If you use Port:

  • port 465 then use 'Connection SEcurity: 'SSL/TLS'
  • port 587 then use 'Connection SEcurity: 'STARTTLS'

Check the Authentication is also set as: Authentication Method: Normal Password

On computer check you have the following: Firewall: Access Firewall - it might be the default on computer or controlled by an Anti-Virus prgram. Set up the Thunderbird program as 'allowed' so nothing gets blocked. Do not just switch it off because if controlled by an Anti-Virus then the default one on Windows takes over. Confirm Thunderbird is set up as allowed program.

VPN: Check computer for a VPN. Some Anti-Virus products now offer a VPN and I have come across some people who did not realise one had been enabled. Switch off VPN. Many servers do not like VPN as it atempts to hide your IP address, so server decides you might be hacker so it auto blocks access. Confirm VPN is switched off

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