I need to have two different email accounts running concurrently but can't find anything in the help articles

You do not need multiple profiles for what you plan to do. The two accounts can run in same profile.

To add an account: ≡ (menu at top right) > New account

Thank you both for your replies. If I've understood correctly I can have email accounts from two completely different hosts, with different servers, each of which is set up in a separate Thunderbird account.

I must admit I was thinking of having two separate Thunderbird installations so I could just switch between them on the Windows taskbar. How would this compare, for ease of access, with two accounts on one Thunderbird installation?

Yes, you can have many accounts with different addresses and servers in Thunderbird.

There are some significant differences in ease-of-use. Opening the second profile would take a few steps. Then switching between profiles would be like switching between apps. If your accounts are in one profile, you must open only one profile and you can switch among accounts with one mouse click.

If you have two profiles, you would have to repeat your customizations, e.g., folder and column layout, installation of add-ons, etc., in each profile.

If you ever want to copy or move messages between accounts, for example if someone writes to you using the wrong address, it is much easier if all the accounts are in one profile.

There would also be differences in ease-of-administation. For example, you would have to back up two profiles.

I would probably think of more differences if I thought longer about it.

Using multiple accounts in one profile is very easy. I don't know a good reason to put accounts in separate profiles.

Thank you Rick.

I see now that I don't need multiple profiles, so that's answered one of my questions. Since you say switching between accounts is one mouse click that seems to imply that only one account can be on screen at one time. I'd have quite liked to be able to have them on screen simultaneously which is why I visualised installing a second copy of Thunderbird (in a different location). However I realise that would involve setting up the profile in that copy to match the original and I like the idea that simply adding a second account in the original profile would preserve the customisations. It looks as if that would save a lot of work.

Since you say switching between accounts is one mouse click that seems to imply that only one account can be on screen at one time.

That is just one way. You can also open multiple windows open and see different accounts at the same time.

Hi Rick,

Thanks for your input. I've now set up the new email account and can see how everything works. I've elected to display the two sets of folders separately rather than unified (I now have a better understanding of that).

I can also see how to choose which account to send from and that brings me to another question:

In the original account I set up an alias which sends incoming mail to the main (and only) inbox. I've been able to choose to send mail from this alias but I can't see how to do this from the one I've set up in the new account. It doesn't appear in the drop-down list. If you can give me any pointers on how to do this it would be great.

In the original account I set up an alias which sends incoming mail to the main (and only) inbox. I've been able to choose to send mail from this alias but I can't see how to do this from the one I've set up in the new account. It doesn't appear in the drop-down list. If you can give me any pointers on how to do this it would be great.

Aliases are not needed to send messages to the inbox. How are you using aliases?

Did you create an identity in Thunderbird in your new account? Account settings > click on account name > manage identities.

To send mail from an identity, I must have a corresponding alias on the server. I assume that you do also.

I've now set up the new email account and can see how everything works. I've elected to display the two sets of folders separately rather than unified (I now have a better understanding of that).

Remember that you can open each account in its own window if you prefer to see them at the same time.

Sorry - my brain's melting in this heat. Maybe I'm misunderstanding or using the wrong terminology.

Using my host's control panel, once I'd set up a mailbox I was able to create another email address with the same domain name that delivers it's mail to the same mailbox. This is what I referred to as an alias, because from what I remember this is what they were called in the Plusnet setup instructions. I set the Plusnet mail up around 19 years ago so my memory of that is somewhat hazy.

So I have a mailbox with address mike@(domain name) and an additional email address mjt@(domain name) that both deliver mail to the mike@(domain name) mailbox.

Anyway now you've pointed me to the Identities setup I've created one for the second email address and all looks good so many thanks for that. I'd completely forgotten about identities. You'll have to bear with me - my 82-year-old brain isn't as nimble as it once was.

I still haven't worked out how to open each account in it's own window but I think having the two sets of folders in a single window will probably prove more convenient.

You understand aliases correctly and your brain seems very nimble.

Open an account in its own window by right-clicking on the account name or inbox folder in the folder pane and selecting "Open in new window".