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Add-ons are extensions and other additions that add new functionality to Thunderbird or change its appearance.

__TOC__ = What is an add-on? = Add-ons are extensions and other additions that add new functionality to Thunderbird or change its appearance. Thunderbird has an open, extensible design and program architecture. This enables people to create "add-ons" to Thunderbird. = Who creates add-ons? = Add-ons are mostly created by volunteer authors, typically '''not''' the developers of Thunderbird. Thunderbird hosts a site for the distribution of add-ons, but Thunderbird is '''not''' responsible for supporting add-ons. If you need help with an add-on, you should contact the add-on's author. = What and where is the add-on manager? = The add-on manager is the central interface to list, update, enable, disable, remove and install add-ons. To open the add-on manager, click the menu button {for not tb60}[[Image:New Fx Menu]]{/for}{for tb60}[[Image:fx57menu]]{/for} and click {menu Add-ons}, or select {menu Tools > Add-ons} from the menu. The add-on manager has multiple panels: * {menu Recommendations} : List of popular and recommended add-ons. * {menu Extensions} : List of installed extensions (add-ons adding functionality to Thunderbird). * {menu Themes} : List of installed themes (add-ons changing the appearance of Thunderbird). = Where do I get add-ons? = Most Thunderbird add-ons are distributed via the [https://addons.thunderbird.net/ Thunderbird add-ons site] (although authors can distribute their add-ons any way they choose). You can search and browse the add-ons site using a web browser. You can also open the [[Thunderbird add-ons - frequently asked questions#w_what-and-where-is-the-add-on-manager|add-on manager]] and search for add-ons by typing search terms into the search field in the top right corner, or browser the list of recommended add-ons in the {menu Recommendations} panel. = How do I see which add-ons are installed? = # Open the [[Thunderbird add-ons - frequently asked questions#w_what-and-where-is-the-add-on-manager|add-on manager]]. # Switch to the {menu Extensions} or {menu Themes} panel. = How do I install an add-on? = See [[Installing an Add-on in Thunderbird]] = How do I configure add-ons? = # Open the [[Thunderbird add-ons - frequently asked questions#w_what-and-where-is-the-add-on-manager|add-on manager]]. # Switch to the {menu Extensions} panel, to see all installed extensions (only extensions can be configured). # Click on the 3-dot-icon on the right side of the add-on entry. # The opening sub-menu will have an {for win}"Options"{/for}{for mac,linux}"Preferences"{/for} entry, if the add-on provides a standard option page. [[Image:Add-On Options]] = How do I change the update behavior of an add-on? = The standard update behavior can be changed by toggling the {menu Update Add-ons Automatically} setting in the menu behind the gear icon of the [[Thunderbird add-ons - frequently asked questions#w_what-and-where-is-the-add-on-manager|add-on manager]]. [[Image:MenuUnderCogWheel]] The update behavior of each add-on can also be set individually: # Open the [[Thunderbird add-ons - frequently asked questions#w_what-and-where-is-the-add-on-manager|add-on manager]]. # Switch to the {menu Extensions} or {menu Themes} panel. # Click on the name of an add-on to open its management page. # Scroll to the {menu Allow automatic updates} entry and select ''On'' or ''Off'' instead of ''Default''. = How do I update an add-on manually? = # Open the [[Thunderbird add-ons - frequently asked questions#w_what-and-where-is-the-add-on-manager|add-on manager]]. # Switch to the {menu Extensions} or {menu Themes} panel. # Click on the gear icon at the top-right corner and then select {menu Check for Updates}. # The 3-dot-icon of all add-ons which could be updated, will show a small blue dot. # Click on the 3-dot-icon and then select {menu Update}. = What if my add-on is broken? = If you updated to a newer version of Thunderbird or are using the beta version of Thunderbird and an add-on is not working or won't install, it is possible that the add-on author does not support that version of Thunderbird and you can contact the author as described below. But it is also possible that the add-on has been abandoned by the author, defined as not having been updated within the past two years. Thunderbird will inform you whether it is potentially abandoned, and also whether an alternative add-on is available. You can also check the web based [https://extension-finder.thunderbird.net/ Extension Finder] tool. Contact the add-on author for support as documented on the add-on's management page. # Open the [[Thunderbird add-ons - frequently asked questions#w_what-and-where-is-the-add-on-manager|add-on manager]]. # Switch to the {menu Extensions} or {menu Themes} panel. # Click on the name of the broken add-on to open its management page. # Scroll to the {menu Homepage} entry. = How do I disable an add-on? = # Open the [[Thunderbird add-ons - frequently asked questions#w_what-and-where-is-the-add-on-manager|add-on manager]]. # Switch to the {menu Extensions} or {menu Themes} panel. # Toggle the slider on the right side of the add-on's entry to disable the add-on and to prevent it from loading. = How do I uninstall an add-on? = Before uninstalling an add-on, make sure to have backuped all data related to that add-on. All data stored by add-ons will be deleted upon add-on removal. # Open the [[Thunderbird add-ons - frequently asked questions#w_what-and-where-is-the-add-on-manager|add-on manager]]. # Switch to the {menu Extensions} or {menu Themes} panel. # Click on the 3-dot-icon and then select {menu Remove}. The add-on manager will show an {menu Undo} button at the top to restore the add-on (including its data). Once the add-on manager is closed, the add-on has been removed permanently. = How do I create/develop an add-on? = You may find information on Thunderbird Add-on development on [https://developer.thunderbird.net/add-ons/ developer.thunderbird.net] (DTN).