Thunderbird Community Forum

End user here, with Thunderbird for years, now on several machines that I use. Keep getting the warning window about "ESR" change. I have no wish to re-install Thunderbird, on each machine, nor to go beyond the normal updates. Can't tell which "channel" I need to choose. Unwilling to just guess. Could re-install on all five machines, if that's truly necessary. Hope not. An explanation of the simplest way to dispose of this issue, is the help I'm looking for. I think I'm currently set to the lower case address. And arranged such that each machine updates to the current content.

I got an eMail notification about an upcoming update for Thunderbird snap/flatpak configs, but I don't see any entry for Thunderbird in my "~/.var/app/" directory. There is an entry for Firefox, but nothing for Thunderbird. Yet Thunderbird still updates regularly and successfully.

What should I do, in order to conform to the eMail notification instructions?

Running the command "snap info thunderbird" returns the following --

name: thunderbird summary: Mozilla Thunderbird email application publisher: Canonical✓ store-url: https://snapcraft.io/thunderbird contact: https://www.thunderbird.net/contact/ license: unset description: |

 **ANNOUNCEMENT:** The snap channels are changing. Action is required by July 21, 2026
 to stay on ESR.
 Read more about this change:
 https://support.mozilla.org/kb/channel-choices-thunderbird-snap-and-flatpak
 
 Thunderbird is a free email application that’s easy to set up and customize - and
 it’s loaded with great features!

commands:

 - thunderbird

snap-id: k1Ml1O9GzSO2QftV0ZlWSbUfQ78nN460 tracking: latest/stable refresh-date: 12 days ago, at 06:38 CST channels:

 latest/stable:     140.12.0esr-1 2026-06-16 (1155) 221MB -
 latest/candidate:  140.12.1esr-1 2026-06-29 (1170) 221MB -
 latest/beta:       ↑                                     
 latest/edge:       ↑                                     
 monthly/stable:    151.0-1       2026-05-20 (1120) 226MB -
 monthly/candidate: 151.0-1       2026-06-05 (1146) 226MB -
 monthly/beta:      153.0b4-2     2026-06-30 (1173) 239MB -
 monthly/edge:      ↑                                     
 esr/stable:        140.12.0esr-1 2026-06-16 (1155) 221MB -
 esr/candidate:     140.12.1esr-1 2026-06-29 (1170) 221MB -
 esr/beta:          ↑                                     
 esr/edge:          ↑                                     

installed: 140.12.0esr-1 (1155) 221MB -

Updating on June 20, the existing Thunderbird version in a flash of a second was replaced by a new blank one. All files and settings were lost. I needed an expert who (at cost of course!) managed to roll back the program with all files and settings as they were. This was a disaster, how can such effect happen? Right now I do not trust the updates anymore and will not implement new updates.

"Hello, I am using Thunderbird version 140.12.0 ESR 32-bit. I would like to install Thunderbird Setup 152.0. What are the advantages? Disadvantages? Is there a particular installation procedure?"

My folder header has many extra icons that when click do nothing -- happened when updating to 152.0 (and I need to hit ALT several times for the command line to appear to be able to "view folders" Tbird doesn't load to them automatically ! )

Here's a screen scape -- note the "what looks like a document" goes on and on and on if I scroll right

A few weeks ago my installation of Thunderbird on my Windows 10 laptop was version 151. I want to stop it from being updated, and I asked AI for help. It suggested the following:

1. Create a directory named "distribution" and locate it as follows: C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\distribution. 2. Within that directory, I was asked to create a file named "policies.json" and I did so. 3. Within that file, I was asked to place the following: {

 "policies": { 
     "DisableAppUpdate": true 
  } 

} and that's what I did.

When I had a look under Settings > Update, there was a note to say that updates have been prevented by the administrator. (That would have been the effect of what I just did.) That was a few weeks ago.

So, when I looked at my version number today, I saw that my version is now 152. It had updated, and the directory and file I created are now no longer present.

It seems that the update process deletes anything that shouldn't be there and doesn't trouble itself with the file I created.

How do I stop Thunderbird from updating my installation?

Hi! I'm hoping you can help me! I use Thunderbird, and have for many years, and I love it. My computer is on its last legs, and I'm trying to save up for a new one, but, yesterday I did something possibly stupid... (yeah, I know, you NEVER get people asking for help who've done stupid things, so this will be unusual... lol). Anyway... I turned my computer on and got a popup saying that my Thunderbird needs an update and it's been a while since I updated, so I hit OK on the update... Well, my arsehole of a computer chose that exact minute to shit itself and die. When I tried restarting it, my Thunderbird no longer works. Now I have a popup with a big red X that says "The installation seems to be corrupt. Please check your hardware and disk setup and/or re-install." Can you help me? I desperately need to check my email and have one I need to send. I don't know what to do. I've also got YEARS worth of emails sitting in the system, so I can't risk losing them, either. Please help. L.

I have changed the website hosting company from my previous one to scalahosting.com, which in turn appears to be using grok.viawebhost.com as their mailserver.

I was a user of Eudora 7.1 for many years, but because of this change of hosting company, the Eudora email program would not connect to the Scalahosting site.

Thus I was forced to change to Thunderbird. After reading several webposting on this matter, I found and uploaded V17.0.9 and proceeded to convert the Eudora email, filters and addresses to the Thunderbird format.

This was not an easy task, and even with Google's AI assistance, I had to restart several times, but as of today - mid-Jun I have now completed the task of cleaning up all the email, installing the correct headers, etc that allows the Thunderbird program to open and correctly display all of those email without any problems.

I further cleaned up and corrected all of the Eudora filters to the TB format and now have those filters in TB to be able to be installed and correctly are accepted by the TB program.

Like wise with the contact addressee that were in the Eudora NNdbase.nnt file were cleaned up and correctly installed in the TB program.

However, the current status of the TB program is that it does not seem to be able to connect to the Scala Webhosting email site at grok.viawebhost.com. Enclosed is a pic of the supposed correct set up for the STMP at Port 465.

The other Port info from Scala is: POP3 - 995 (SSL) IMAP - 993 (SSL)

But I am not sure what else I need to do to correctly set up this older version so that I can start the collection process of the most recent emails sitting in the mailserver.

Further, it was suggested that I need to update the TB V17.0.9 to the most recent V151 by following the below sequence of updates:

According to Mozilla Support Documentation, this is the exact, official sequence to migrate safely from a legacy version:

Step 1: Run V24.8.0 (32-bit) (This updates the raw database schema out of V17. Upgrades the raw Mbox structures.)

Step 2: Run V45.8.0 (32-bit) (Stabilizes the folder indexing schema.)

Step 3: Run V52.9.1 (32-bit) (The final 32-bit staging version.60.9.1 (64-bit). Migrates the architecture to 64-bit processing.)

Step 4: Run V60.9.1 (This is the critical gatekeeper version required to unlock modern automatic profile conversion).

Step 5: Run V78.14 (This shifts the mail indexing formats).

Step 6: Run V102.15.1 (This modernizes the folder structure configurations).

Step 7: Final jump to V151.0.1 (Updates the background engine to current web standards).

I am looking any advice or suggestions from the Community that can assist me in completing this conversion to the TB program and get it fully functional so I can connect to the Scala Hosting mailserver.

Many thanks in advance for your assistance.

/s/ James T Saint

After running an update, when launching Thunderbird it says "Your computer must be restarted to complete a previous upgrade of Thunderbird. Do you want to reboot now?". Rebooting does nothing, I'm prompted with the same message. Tried re-installing the latest version - it gives me the same error message before re-installying, and also un-installing the version I have on my PC - it also prompts me to restart to finish the earlier upgrade.

I'm up to date on Windows 10 with version 151.0.1 of Thunderbird. My preference is to discontinue using Windows and move to Linux Mint. The Software Manager in Mint installs and manages Thunderbird updates. I like the idea of Mint managing my software. However, the latest version is 140.11.1esr. Consequently, moving my data from Windows to Mint is not possible. A profile problem is flagged.

I've switched off automatic updates. I'm wondering how long it will take Linux Mint to catch up to v150. One solution is to install v150 independent of the Mint software manager, but I'd rather not do that. I'm wondering if there are any workarounds.

French please !

-)

Bonjour,

Lorsque je veux modifier la manière dont Thunderbird est mis à jour, il s'affiche ceci :

"Thunderbird est mis à jour par une autre instance" et il est impossible de le modifier car si on on choisit de le faire, le logiciel thunderbird corrige immédiatement et retourne à la configuration précédente (solutions/choix à cocher, mises à jour automatiques ou manuelles) !

Comment opérer S.V.P. ? Merci à vous. Salutations cordiales. Alain.

Hello all After a Thunderbird update, a folder named "thunderbird" was created in my Personal folder. This folder is empty. After deleting the folder, it is recreated when Thunderbird is restarted. How do I get rid of this folder? Alternatively, what does this folder contain, and how can I move it to a different location?

thanks Thomas

I opened Thunderbird 140.9.1esr from flatpak on Debian 12 and today I noticed a message that says: "Flatpak ESR application ID change We're switching the Flatpak ESR application ID from org.mozilla.Thunderbird to org.mozilla.thunderbord_esr."

1. How does Thunderbird know it's flatpak name is changing? How do i turn off all auto updates including checking things like flatpak name changing?

It would have been highly beneficial to provide a function or procedure to migrate all files (if they existed) from org.mozilla.Thunderbird to org.mozilla.thunderbird. In the absence of such a mechanism, the update effectively behaves like a fresh installation, creating the impression that all user settings and data have been lost.

I resolved the issue by manually copying all files from /home/USER_NAME/.var/app/org.mozilla.Thunderbird/ to /home/USER_NAME/.var/app/org.mozilla.thunderbird/ and restarting Thunderbird, after which everything functioned as expected. This could also have been addressed through a symbolic link to the new path.

I believe more care should be taken when implementing breaking changes of this nature, as many end-users would not know how to resolve this issue on their own. Clear guidance or automated migration would help prevent unnecessary disruption and confusion.

My reddit post is here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Thunderbird/s/lM11YcRIIT

Hello,

I'm confused and slightly concerned.

Through no deliberate action by me, Thunderbird DOWNGRADED itself from the May 2026 standard release version to an AUGUST 2025 ESR(Extended Support Release) version.

UPDATE: the next application restart brought the ESR version up to date, but why was I forced onto the ESR version?!

What could have pissibly triggered this? I don't want or need ESR, and without knowing the cause, I have e no guarantee it won't happen again. Worst if all, everywhere I look, there is zero explanation for this. It appears to be fairly unprecedented.

My original installer for 102.15.1 was downloaded from the official Thunderbird site in 2025.

The sequence of events:

• I've had Thunderbird version 102.15.1 installed for awhile, but wasn't using it.
• Ysterday I opened it and connected an account.
• Today I noticed it hadn't auto-updated, so I went into the settings and clicked on the 'check for updates'.
• this brought it up to v115.10.1.
• Its success was demonstrated by me being sent to this URL after it opened: https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thu.../?locale=en-US&version=115.10.1&channel=release&oldversion=102.15.1(https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/115.0/whatsnew/?locale=en-US&version=115.10.1&channel=release&oldversion=102.15.1)
• An hour later, I closed Thunderbird completely hoping it would fix a sync that appeared 'stuck'.
• When I re-opened Thunderbird, I saw the small "updating" window. It was pretty surprising since I had *just* updated.
• After Thunderbird opens, after this additional "update", the URL that I'm sent to is this: https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thu.../?locale=en-US&version=128.14.0&channel=esr&oldversion=115.18.0(https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/128.0/whatsnew/?locale=en-US&version=128.14.0&channel=esr&oldversion=115.18.0)
• Thunderbird changed to a year old ESR version!

May 25 2026. A few days ago, Thunderbird upgraded me to Release 151.0. I can no longer send or receive emails.

My wife has been upgraded to ESR 140.11.Oesr, and she has no problems.

I do not want to go through the tests of removing virus guard etc to try to make 151.0 work, so I would like to move to ESR 140.11, but cannot find online how to do that?

Please help.

I am currently using Thunderbird version 140.10.2 esr. (32bit) I understand that to latest version is 150. I also understand that, from version 145, Microsoft Exchange accounts are supported natively by Thunderbird.

I am using a generic desktop PC running Windows 10 Pro (22H2)

I am having difficulties with an Exchange account using the OWL add on.

I would like to upgrade my Thunderbird to the latest version and use the native support for Exchange accounts. I would also, if possible, like to upgrade to a 64bit version.

When I follow the instructions (Help/Update Thunderbird) the pop up reports that 'Thunderbird is up to date'.

I can't see a way forward at present, can someone assist please.