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Thunderbird stalls when downloading particular e-mails. Yahoo using POP3 and OAuth.

thelema419

I download my e-mail from Yahoo using POP3 and OAuth authentication. Downloading works fine until I reach a particular e-mail. Thunderbird says "Downloading message 27 of 52" (or whatever) and then it will stall and eventually timeout. When I go into Yahoo webmail and archive the next message out of the inbox, the rest of the e-mails download.

I know exactly which e-mails can't be downloaded. They are from my Moen Flo account (a device that monitors water use at my house). It is not spam, and it is vital that I receive these e-mails. So identifying the problem e-mails and deleting them via Webmail will allow Thunderbird to download the rest of my e-mail, but it doesn't solve the problem. I saw someone else on the forum had the same problem with USPS tracking e-mails. There are probably more legit e-mails that cause Thunderbird to choke.

Having to go in to webmail every day and delete every legit e-mail that causes the downloading to fail is not a solution. If the e-mail client doesn't work unless you go into webmail first, then what's the point?

Not an ISP problem - I can download with another e-mail client through the same network.

Not an antivirus/firewall problem - I tried it even after uninstalling antivirus and turning off Windows Defender.

This is definitely a Thunderbird problem. I am 30-year IT professional and I have tried everything to narrow it down to this.

So how can we get the developers to look at whatever combination of characters is causing Thunderbird to choke when attempting to download e-mail? I have sample e-mails that reliably cause the problem.

Thank you.

I download my e-mail from Yahoo using POP3 and OAuth authentication. Downloading works fine until I reach a particular e-mail. Thunderbird says "Downloading message 27 of 52" (or whatever) and then it will stall and eventually timeout. When I go into Yahoo webmail and archive the next message out of the inbox, the rest of the e-mails download. I know exactly which e-mails can't be downloaded. They are from my Moen Flo account (a device that monitors water use at my house). It is not spam, and it is vital that I receive these e-mails. So identifying the problem e-mails and deleting them via Webmail will allow Thunderbird to download the rest of my e-mail, but it doesn't solve the problem. I saw someone else on the forum had the same problem with USPS tracking e-mails. There are probably more legit e-mails that cause Thunderbird to choke. Having to go in to webmail every day and delete every legit e-mail that causes the downloading to fail is not a solution. If the e-mail client doesn't work unless you go into webmail first, then what's the point? Not an ISP problem - I can download with another e-mail client through the same network. Not an antivirus/firewall problem - I tried it even after uninstalling antivirus and turning off Windows Defender. This is definitely a Thunderbird problem. I am 30-year IT professional and I have tried everything to narrow it down to this. So how can we get the developers to look at whatever combination of characters is causing Thunderbird to choke when attempting to download e-mail? I have sample e-mails that reliably cause the problem. Thank you.

Wayne Mery modificouno o

All Replies (1)

As soon as I hear POP and stalls I assume antivirus. It is automatic. Norton is perhaps the worst for just dropping dead in the background. But I think all of them do it sometimes.

You might be sure it is a Thunderbird issue. I am not. However please log the POP connection and see what the logs say. See https://wiki.mozilla.org/MailNews:Logging#Thunderbird_Logging

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