re :i have tried troubleshooting mode, but there is no actual troubleshooting to be done there, just a page full of jargon i dont understand.

That does not sound like 'Troubleshoot mode' - it sounds like 'Troubleshooting Information'.

But that information should have a section called 'Mail and News Accounts' It would be useful to see what it says in that section because it would tell us what server you are talking about and whether settings are ok.

But first - since Windows OS was was updated please check the following:

Firewall - this will be either the default that comes with Windows or it might be controlled by an Anti-Virus product you installed.

Exit Thunderbird Access Firewall You need to make sure Thunderbird has been set up as an allowed program otherwise the Firewall may be blocking it. Please check this and confirm you have Thunderbird program set up as allowed. This is important.

VPN Please check your computer for any VPN which may have enabled. Most servers do not like VPN because it hides your IP address and then servers think you are a hacker so they block access. Disable/switch off VPN. Some Anti-Virus now come with a VPN and in some cases users have discovered it was auto enabled.

re :I have tried removing and reinstalling thunderbird, Please tell us where you got the installation. Windows does provide Thunderbird in a 'Windows App Store', but it stores both program and profile in an entirely different location which is a pain.

I would advise you get the download from the Thunderbird webpage link below:

• https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/all/

Please note - in general most issues have nothing to do with the program itself and reinstalling rarely resolves anything.

When you uninstall the program it just uninstalls the program - it does not delete anything to do with your profile, accounts, etc. So it should pick up all your data.

re :at one stage i clicked on the "repair folder" button in account settings, and that instantly removed all of my emails from the inbox, so i have lost all my emails (which i really need)

Repairing the folder means repairing the index file. Thunderbird uses the index file to show list of mail, but when you select an email, it then locates the stored email in the mbox file. Repairing does not delete emails from mbox file. It just recreates the index - it checks the real store of emails to see what exists and creates an index of emails in that store. If you repaired index and now emails are missing then they were already gone.

If you click on 'Get Messages' then do you get an error message ? If yes, what does the error message say word for word?

Hi, thank you for trying to help. But none of this seems to have worked.

Yes the troubleshoot mode thing restarts the client, and it opens it with a tab with the troubleshooting information in it. But i cannot find any actual trouble shooting functions.

been to my firewall, cant find thunderbird anywhere in there (either allowed or not) its just a list of programs and thunderbird isnt in there. I cant find a way to add it either

the reinstalled download came from the thunderbird site.

I managed to get outlook to open/download my emails from the imap sever. So i copied the SMTP and IMAP server info into thunderbird, so its the same in both...but thunderbird still wont connect

The error message i get is "failed to connected to server"

I think i am just going to give up and install a different client. Its nearly 5pm now, and i have been trying to fix this since 9am. its literally cost me a days work.

Thank you for trying, but i think me and thunderbird are going to part company :-(

re :been to my firewall, cant find thunderbird anywhere in there (either allowed or not) its just a list of programs and thunderbird isnt in there. I cant find a way to add it either

Sounds like your Firewall is just not allowing Thunderbird.

Did you look for help regarding Windows defender ? https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/risks-of-allowing-apps-through-windows-firewall-654559af-3f54-3dcf-349f-71ccd90bcc5c

Thunderbird program is in this location - I'm presuming you are using win 64 C://Program Files/Mozilla Thunderbird/thunderbird.exe

If it's not in the list then you need to add it. As for allowing Outlook- not surprised in the least - it's a microsoft product so they are not going to block it. If you are using the Windows default Firewall

• In the Windows Security app on your PC
• select 'Firewall & network protection'
• Select 'Allow an app through firewall'
• Select 'Change settings'. You might be asked for an administrator password or to confirm your choice

• To add an app which is not in the list select 'Allow another app' and enter the path for the app
• which is C://Program Files/Mozilla Thunderbird
• Usually there is a browse type option to locate it.
• then select OK

I also located this other question which may also provide help as it shows good images. OK in this instance they are adding 'Mailbird' but it's exactly the same process you just select Thunderbird instead of Mailbird. https://support.getmailbird.com/hc/en-us/articles/4483666267671-How-to-prevent-Windows-11-Defender-from-blocking-Mailbird