That feature is not in Thunderbird, and I doubt there is an addon for that. You might try updating settings to not check mail and then do it manually when desired, although users have reported difficulty in preventing the default automatic checking for POP accounts. And I don't think it's possible for IMAP accounts, but that may vary, depending on the email provider. Good luck.

Hello David, Thank-you for the very quick reply! Having to manually stop checking emails, then having to start again is what I've been doing & got fed up with it, hence hoping it might be possible automatically. It's a great shame that feature is not available in TB & it should be, maybe programmers will decide likewise...

"Actions always speak louder than words"

IMAP accounts always start and synchronise with server folders because they can only display whatever is on the server. Many servers now use the IDLE command and will prompt Thunderbird when new mail is on the server - it's not just Thunderbird checking with server.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'start again' because that implies you are stopping Thunderbird which is a bit extreme.

You have some choices. Start Thunderbird, download mail etc then go into Offline mode. If you go into Offline mode then Thunderbird cannot access the internet nor any server, so it also means you cannot send emails etc. However, you can read emails that you have fully downloaded. You can also compose emails and use 'Send Later' to put them ready to go in the Outbox.

The Ofline/online icon is located bottom left on Status bar.

Another idea: If you have a couple of accounts that you do not want to check on a daily basis, then create another profile and set up just those accounts in that profile. If they happen to be POP accounts, then you might find it easier to leave them as they are and set up new profile with the Imap accounts that you want to check daily as they are much easier to set up since they store all emails on the server.

You can easily swap between the two different profiles. If you have a shortcut icon for Thunderbird on your screen, you can convert it into a 'Thunderbird Profile Manager'

• Exit Thunderbird.
• Right click on shortcut icon and select 'Properties'
• On 'shortcut' tab locate 'Target'

It should say something like this and yes it will have the " at start and end:

• "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe"

or maybe this:

• "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe"

Just edit the part at the end so after the double quote " add a space, a dash -, then a capital P: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -P click on 'apply' and click on 'OK'

Then that shortcut icon should open the Profile Manager. You can then choose to create a new profile OR select a particular profile, you can choose to work offline, but suggest you do not select the option to use a selected profile without asking because you do want to be asked.

You can also launch a different profile from within Thunderbird when it's running.

• Help > TRoubleshooting Information
• Under 'Application Basics' section near the bottom is 'Profiles' - click on 'about:profiles' - it opens in a new tab.
• All profiles will be listed and clicking on the relevant 'Launch Profile' will start that profile in a new window.

Hello Toad-Hall,

Thank-you for your reply, I was not intending ditching TB as I've otherwise been OK with it for many years.

Going offline is not really a good option as it stops checking of all accounts.

I was not aware it's possible to have different profiles so that could indeed be an option but cannot follow your C:\ instructions as I use Linux. Also, having to launch via Help > TRoubleshooting Information does seem more complicated than stopping checking via Edit > Account Settings but will give it a go nonetheless.

My suggestion would however be a lot easier so I hope it might be created & become an option soon...

Hello again Toad-Hall,

I created another profile as you suggested. Even though it is indeed a bit of a bind lauching the second from the first, will do that as it's now possible to control when I receive "business" emails.

What would make the process much easier would be to have 2 TB icons each laballed with the name of the profile to launch; if that is possible it would better solve the problem, unfortunately I don't know how to do it; instructions for Linux would be welcome.

Thanks again for responding & for your solution.