I use insert link all the time and it will work great for weeks and then randomly freezes. I have read so many threads about Band-Aid solutions for this as it seems to be a well established problem - so come one TB- solve it so it doesn't happen!! '''Anyway these are the solutions that have worked best for me ''' # Use the '''esc key''' when your email freezes - this unfreezes the email instead of having to force close thunderbird - and then you can chose to paste the http link instead of insert. # If you have two screens - '''move your email to the opposite screen ''' and try again - I found that the link screen dialogue box seems to have a preferred space between itself and the email (so incongruous) # Click Alt+spacebar to open the move dialogue box which allows you to move the email and sometime reset the location of the link dialogue box # Turn off hardware acceleration in settings general (at the bottom) # close thunderbird and open in safe mode by holding shift whist clicking TB. at the prompt: 'Reset toolbars & controls', 'Make changes & restart'. But this should not be an ongoing problem - its super annoying and needs to be addressed