Start by checking the following 4 items to make sure nothing is blocking access.

Firewall The Firewall may be the one supplied by the OS or it might be controlled by an Anti-Virus product you installed. Access Firewall - is Thunderbird program is set up as an allowed program? Do not disable Firewall as this may mean another default one takes over the role and it solves nothing. 1. Confirm - Thunderbird is set up as an allowed program.

VPN Please check computer for a VPN. Some Anti-Virus products now offer a VPN and in some cases they auto switch it on. Servers do not like VPN's because they hide your IP, so servers think you are a hacker and block access. I've come across some people who did not realise they had a VPN operating, so please double check. If you have a VPN then either switch it off or you need to create a split tunnelling and set up Thunderbird to use it. 2. Confirm - VPN is disabled/switched off.

Password Check your password is still ok. There is only one way to confirm the password is good. Logon to your webmail account via a browser. 3. Confirm you can get access to your webmail account, so password is ok.

Check account is set up to allow third party apps and pop Login to Webmail ensure you're in classic mode then go to preferences. Select mail, scroll down near the bottom and see if you need to enable POP . 4. Confirm - classic is selected and pop is enabled.

check your server settings are correct:

Server Type: POP

• Server name: pop.shaw.ca
• Port :995
• Connection Scurity: SSL/TLS
• Authentication Method: Normal Password
• username : most servers use full email address, but I think shaw may use just the first part - the bit before the @ in email address.
• password: same one you use to logon to webmail account.

Outgoing SMTP server

• Server name: mail.shaw.ca
• Port :587
• Connection Scurity: STARTTLS
• Authentication Method: Normal Password
• username : most servers use full email address, but I think shaw may use just the first part - the bit before the @ in email address.
• password: same one you use to logon to webmail account.

Check stored password is correct: In Thunderbird

• Settings > Privacy & Security
• Scroll down to Passwords section
• click on 'Saved Passwords'
• click on 'Show Passwords'

Check the password and username are correct for both incoming and outgoing smtp lines for the account.

• Right click on line and select 'Edit Password'
• completely clear all contents and carefully type in correct password.
• when all is correct....click on 'Close'
• Now Exit Thunderbird , wait a few moments and then start Thunderbird. It will now use the passwords you inserted.

It's also worth checking to see how many emails you have on the server - via webmail. Have you used up your quota because if yes then maybe the server cannot receive new mail, so Thunderbird cannot download anything. If you have a load of old emails then it's worth clearing out some old emails off server via webmail.

Thank you so very, very much Toad-Hall! You are my favourite person today! I had been trying to figure that out myself for weeks to no avail - and the fourth thing you suggested solved the problem in minutes. It turns out that somehow post update, POP was no longer enabled and so the emails wouldn't download.

I really appreciate you!!!