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I am trying to switch from the ESR channel to the release channel. I have Thunderbird 143.13.0esr and am trying to upgrade to 153 (not ESR). When I upgraded, Thunderbird could no longer find the inbox for my primary email and I had to restore both Thunderbird 143.13.0esr and my email library from my Time Machine backup.

I am seeking advice on how to do some cleanup of an inbox anomaly so that I can install 153 without losing my inbox.

Details follow:

My primary email account has had an oddity in Thunderbird for years in which I have two inboxes: an active one with lots of email messages as well as subfolders, and an inactive one which is empty and no subfolders. I have tried deleting the inactive one by selecting it in the sidebar and choosing File, Delete folder, but that command is gray.

By poking around in my Library, Thunderbird, my profile, Mail, my pop account of interest, I discovered the inactive inbox is named Inbox and has only two files, "Inbox" and "Inbox.msf". The active inbox is named "Inbox prev" and has these files: "Inbox prev", "Inbox prev.msf", and a folder "Inbox prev.sbd" which has a bunch of files and more subfolders. All of my four email accounts have multiple folders and subfolders, but I was able to identify both my primary email account and my active inbox from various folder names that were unique to that account and inbox.

Today I followed the following procedure:

1. Quit Thunderbird (and all other apps) 2. Force a Time Machine backup 3. Download Thunderbird 153 for English, US 4. Verify the SHA hash 5. Install Thunderbird 6. Verify the signature 7. Launch Thunderbird

Both my active and inactive inboxes in my primary email account were gone from the Thunderbird interface. I checked my library and the files appear to still be there.

I proceeded with the following remediation:

8. Restore Thunderbird 143.13.0esr from Time Machine, replacing the 153 version 9. Restore the Thunderbird library folder from Time Machine

I launched Thunderbird and my inbox has been restored to the UI, but I am on the esr channel and not the desired release channel.

Is there any kind of manual cleanup I can do to get rid of the inactive inbox, rename the active inbox from Inbox prev to Inbox, and then re-upgrade to 153?

I can't get Thunderbird to stop updating. My installation is currently set as follows:

Settings > Updates > "Check for updates, but let me choose whether to install them."

That was done around the 21st July, and the version=152.0.1. I was never prompted to update. When I checked today (27th July) version=153.0 and Settings remains the same (as above).

The setting is being ignored. Is there a workaround? Like setting up my installation to deny access to something. (Maybe, like if the update process needs a certain directory to be present, remove the directory.)

my thunderbird freezes at the point of checking mails. when i try to update it, it opens a new application completely and doesn't update my present one. i also can't find the location of the app or the data. pls help!!!

I believe I downloaded 153, but I don't where to find it.

The information regarding Version 153 and downloading it is confusing.

One page states, "Manual upgrade to 153 is now enabled via Help > About", but when I go to Help > About, all I see is the current version and the statement that it is up to date. The recommendation on one page regarding 153 is to switch from Release to ESR, although the contrary seems to be the case for Version 153.

Using Windows 11. I try to update from ESR (version 140.13) to the release path. It concludes with a pop-up saying I must "reboot to finish a Thunderbird de-install" (or words to that effect). I reboot and it hasn't done anything. Version 140.13ESR is still present and if I repeat the update to release, the same thing happens.

I fear if I use the W11 tools to de-install Thunderbird altogether before re-installing TB from scratch, I'll lose all my existing email.

How do I do it?

I am on release 140.12.1 esr and there appears to be no new updates available. If so, what release should I be on and can I just download and install to get back on the latest release

I had logged this issue in early 2025 but it has never been resolved and still exists.

I received a reply today, Tuesday 7th July, from Wayne Mery, who said "If you are still having problems when using a newer version, please post a new question and we'll take a new look at it.". as the original post has been archived.

So, here are the details:

"I am currently running Thunderbird 152.0.1 (64-bit) and I don't get an automatic prompt for updates and haven't been getting them since I updated to Supernova and now Nebula.

I have the settings set to Check for updates, but let me choose whether to install them, which is the setting I have always had and I used to get automatic prompts for updates with a window opening to show the details of the update as I get in Firefox.

Can someone tell me how to get these automatic updates back."

I have attached a screenshot of the original version.

Thanks.

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

I am currently running Thunderbird 137.0.2 (64-bit) and I don't get an automatic prompt for updates and haven't been getting them since I updated to Supernova and now Nebula.

I have the settings set to Check for updates, but let me choose whether to install them, which is the setting I have always had and I used to get automatic prompts for updates with a window opening to show the details of the update as I get in Firefox.

Can someone tell me how to get these automatic updates back.

I have attached a screenshot of the update window.

Thanks.

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.

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.