Why is Thunderbird suddenly not receiving messages (I already checked my password settings)?

I've been using Thunderbird for years but suddenly as of yesterday it's stopped receiving messages. First it told me my password was incorrect. Ever since then when I try… (read more)

I've been using Thunderbird for years but suddenly as of yesterday it's stopped receiving messages. First it told me my password was incorrect. Ever since then when I try to click "Get Messages," it simply has no response at all. Nothing happens. I went into my Thunderbird password settings, and upon seeing that the incoming-message password had for some reason reverted to an old, obsolete password, I corrected it and saved the correct one. I've checked several times and the passwords are correctly saved now. But this did not fix the problem. When I click "Get Messages," nothing happens. My Thunderbird is connected to my Earthlink account, which is working fine. When I go into Earthlink, I am able to send and receive messages as normal. So the problem is not with Earthlink but with Thunderbird.

Open 8

In wanting to add a new tool to Thunderbird, lack of a pasword makes the program now unable to be opened.

Upon opening Thunderbird on a Mac (OS 26.5) the program posted a window requesting a password in order to add a new tool to the application. Unfortunately we have lost th… (read more)

Upon opening Thunderbird on a Mac (OS 26.5) the program posted a window requesting a password in order to add a new tool to the application. Unfortunately we have lost the password and the program insists it needs the password to continue. An option is offered to 'Ignore', but pressing this button does not launch Thunderbird, rather it sets up some Mozilla 'thingy' operating in the background (the Thunderbird icon in the dock is active) which can be terminated by Force Quitting the process. The thing is, Thunderbird is now unavailable at this point due to the new tool that could not be added to the application.

Open 2

Incomplete instructions to move Thunderbird emails to another computer

In reference to the article [[Knowledge Base Article|http://mzl.la/1ApHiU3]], "Move Thunderbird data to a new computer", this misses the transfer of Local Folders. The in… (read more)

In reference to the article [[Knowledge Base Article|http://mzl.la/1ApHiU3]], "Move Thunderbird data to a new computer", this misses the transfer of Local Folders.

The instructions only include moving the Thunderbird application data folder with profile information but does not include Local Folders, after completing these instructions the Local Folders will not be present on the new computer.

The path for Local Folders is under Account Settings > Local Folders, this folder needs to be copied to the similar path on the new computer as well.

I have copied emails from a Windows 10 to Windows 11 computer using these instructions and it appears to work.

Open 3

For the past 3 days whenever I try to log into thunderbird it won't open and I have a spinning ball

My thunderbird download program on my apple Mac won't open. When I click on the app the page opens but I can't access it as there is just a spinning coloured ball. This… (read more)

My thunderbird download program on my apple Mac won't open. When I click on the app the page opens but I can't access it as there is just a spinning coloured ball. This has been happening off and on for the last month but now for the past 3 days it is constant. I can't open the thunderbird help option

Open

Help with Thunderbird Intsall on MacBook Air 2017

Hello, I need help with getting Thunderbird email installed on my MacBook Air 2017 macOS Monterey. I have successfully installed the app on my desktop but, each time I … (read more)

Hello, I need help with getting Thunderbird email installed on my MacBook Air 2017 macOS Monterey. I have successfully installed the app on my desktop but, each time I try to finish the set up, I get an "Authentication Error" with "Unable to log into the server" on the Welcome to Thunderbird initial Pop Up screen. I think it might be with the Yahoo server but, I do not know. Could someone help walk me through the set up? Please let me know as soon as you have a few minutes or, direct me to the appropriate support department. Thank You, TL Shaffer

Open

Data loss possibly due to maildir format

I have been using maildir as the message storage format for six months. I have known that the implementation is not complete and that there are several known bugs, so usi… (read more)

I have been using maildir as the message storage format for six months. I have known that the implementation is not complete and that there are several known bugs, so using it is risky.

My reports that I have not experienced any problems may have encouraged other people to use maildir, so now I must report a problem.

Twice recently, my IMAP inbox did not show all messages. Repairing the folder worked the first time. The second time, repairing the folder causes all messages in the folder to disappear. Worse, it seems that it deleted the inbox file in the file system.

I do not know if this data loss was due to maildir. It may have been.

I have returned to using mbox.

Open 6

Ancient Boomer desparately needs help

My apologies, but I am not good at searching documentation and Q&A history without a glossary and ontology, That is to say every (software) ecosystem has their own c… (read more)

My apologies, but I am not good at searching documentation and Q&A history without a glossary and ontology,

That is to say every (software) ecosystem has their own culture (tacit knowledge) and language (jargon)

I want to install mail user agents and web browsers on diverse systems, from e.g. RaspBerry Pi / RiscV etc. to desktops, laptops, on-prem hardware, and multi cloud distributed virtual platforms.

It would be nice to have a subset of the same server configurations and User Interface / Ergonomics descriptions (CSS) everywhere.

Regardless of machine architecture, kernel distribution, package manager, ad nauseum.

I used to be able to do this with trusted hash verified source or binary (reel-to-reel tape) or SHA256, e.g.), and trusted certificates. (e.g. pgp)

What we used to call tarballs for source, and RC configurations per user and per (virtual) machine.

I am SICK of Jenkins / Ansible / Dpkg / apt / yum / yaml / Nix .... as well as Snap, Flatpak, etc. etc. All in incompatible versions. I used to be able to create self-extracting shell archives that Just Worked on everything from mainframes to personal computers.

I CAN compile and run and modify ancient FORTRAN, COBOL, APL, LISP, and SnoBol without these headaches. I got paid very well to do this for Y2K in 1988-1999

Please take your time answering this screed.

Open

Raw code is quoted with Reply of Forward

[I was sure I submitted this but I can't find it. Sorry if it's a dupe.} Thunderbird v. 151.0 (64-bit) Windows 10 When I reply to or forward a message, I get raw code lik… (read more)

[I was sure I submitted this but I can't find it. Sorry if it's a dupe.} Thunderbird v. 151.0 (64-bit) Windows 10

When I reply to or forward a message, I get raw code like:

> ad that says: Mary gets us <https://click.ngpvan.com/

> k/132163625/623609951/778722144?refcode=LOC_EM_FR_2026.05.27_peltola-

> split_B1_F1_S1_C1_60DO90DC120DD_N-

> T0&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9OR1AvTkdQMTkvMS83MjcyMiIsDQogICJEaXN0cmlidXRpb25VbmlxdWVJZCI6ICJlYTIyODEwZS1kYzU5LWYxMTEtOGZjYi0wMDBkM2ExODkwNWMiLA0KICAiRW1haWxBZGRyZXNzIjogImhvb2V5Z29vQGdtYWlsLmNvbSINCn0%3D&hmac=FH6VuhfY9AcHmAdMj2RHECp0IpRhxQHb41JBnp34fM0=>

>

How can I get just the normal readable text quoted (Gmail-style)?

TIA

Solved 6

cardbook edits not saved

Needed to edit an address. 2 problems: 1. somehow part of the address appears in the drop-down = home/work/mobile. How do I delete it? 2. edits are not saved (yes I have… (read more)

Needed to edit an address. 2 problems: 1. somehow part of the address appears in the drop-down = home/work/mobile. How do I delete it? 2. edits are not saved (yes I have clicked save). Permissions all seem good.

Solved 1

I also use [edited] @sbcglobal.net email suddenly it was uable to send emails though it can still receive emails.

I have been using Thunderbird for YEARS, with 3 separate email accounts. Great product. Just recently, with out warning, my [edited from public] @ sbcglobal.net account … (read more)

I have been using Thunderbird for YEARS, with 3 separate email accounts. Great product.

Just recently, with out warning, my [edited from public] @ sbcglobal.net account stopped being able to send email. I can still receive emails. I have not changed any outbound setting. Any help appreciated.

Terry

Open 1 1

Thunderbird will load but immediately os 'Not Responding'. Using 4gb on Windows.

Whilst using TB the screen went white with dozens of little tabs along the top of the screeen with what look like page icons, as the app became 'not responding'. Re-loadi… (read more)

Whilst using TB the screen went white with dozens of little tabs along the top of the screeen with what look like page icons, as the app became 'not responding'. Re-loading didn't help - same screen. Re-starting didn't help. I uninstalled and re-installed TB but it is stil the same. Opening in Windows (11) safe mode produced virtually the same result except for a few seconds I was able to open the hamburger menu and select trouble shooting. Opened in trouble shooting mode showed several alerts of 'failed to connect with servers' (outlook.office365.com imap.gmail.com and Yahoo). Then it shut down as before 'not responding'. When open, TB is using some 80% of available memory., and I can only close it by using Task Manager. I'm a complete dunce at this stuff so, if anyone knows a way out of this hole, please use simple English! Thanks, Jeff

Open 10 36

Word couldn't send mail because of MAPI failure.

With previous computer (Winidows 11) I've been able to send an email from WITHIN Word, but now I get error message "Word couldn't send mail because of MAPI failure." Any … (read more)

With previous computer (Winidows 11) I've been able to send an email from WITHIN Word, but now I get error message "Word couldn't send mail because of MAPI failure." Any idea how I can fix this? Regards, David, running TBird version 151.0.1 (64-bit)

Open 1

Email attachments have gone missing

I had received an important email that had 6 attachments. I was able to open them yesterday, but today the link to them at the bottom of the email is missing, so there is… (read more)

I had received an important email that had 6 attachments. I was able to open them yesterday, but today the link to them at the bottom of the email is missing, so there is no trace of the attachments. Is there any way to recover them? I tried clicking on the inbox folder/ properties & then repair folder, but it didn't help.Thanks

Open 1

threat detected when getting messages from sky email

When I use thunderbird to download messages from my sky email, I get a threat notice and " The file containing the threat was at c:\users\appdata\local\temp\newmsg" - I … (read more)

When I use thunderbird to download messages from my sky email, I get a threat notice and " The file containing the threat was at c:\users\appdata\local\temp\newmsg" - I use mcafee. I do not get this threat notice when getting messages from my bt emails or my zen emails via thunderbird. I do not get this threat message when logging in directly to sky emails on the internet. I have deleted my sky email account in thunderbird and reinstalled the account but I still get the threat notice. Can you help .

Open 1