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Thunderbird

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Keywords: email | setup | mozilla | thunderbird | client Summary: A guide to setting up Thunderbird - a simple email client program from Mozilla.
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Follow this guide to configure Mozilla Thunderbird for reading and sending email.

  1. Setting up Thunderbird
  2. Removing SMTP authentication
  3. Reading your email

 

Flash tutorial icon To watch a step-by-step video tutorial see Setting Up Thunderbird [Video Help].

 

Setting up Thunderbird

1. When you first launch Thunderbird you are asked to create a new account. First click Email account and click Next.

    Thunderbird Account Wizard

 

2. Complete your name and email address then click Next.

    Thunderbird Identity

3. Next you are asked for server information, see the options below the image for details.

    Thunderbird Server Information

    1. You can choose either POP or IMAP, we recommend POP.

    2. Enter your Incoming Server name, this should be mail.plus.net.

    3. If you choose to use the Global Inbox, all emails will appear in the default set of folders. If you are running a single account or running multiple accounts but want all the emails to be delivered to the same place, you want to choose this option.

    4. Enter your Outgoing Server name, this should be relay.plus.net.

    5. Click Next.

4. You are now asked for user information. See the options below the image for details.

    Thunderbird User Information

    1. Fill in your Incoming User Name, this is the same as your Account Username. If you are using a mailbox that you have added to your account, your Username will be 'Account Name + Mailbox Name'.

    2. Leave the Outgoing User Name blank.

    3. Click Next.

Read more about additional mailboxes in our Mailbox help page.

5. You are now asked what you would like to call your Thunderbird account. Type a name and click Next.

    Thunderbird Account Name

6. You'll now see a summary of all the details you entered during setup. Check that everything is setup how you'd like it to be, if anything is wrong, just click Back and enter the right information. Ensure the Download Messages Now option is unticked. Click Finish.

    Thunderbird Wizard Completed

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Removing SMTP authentication

By default, Thunderbird will try to use a username and password when sending email. This is not an option that PlusNet supports so we need to turn it off.

1. Click on the Tools menu then Account Settings.

    Thunder Account Settings

 

2. Click the Outgoing Server (SMTP) option in the left hand menu then select the default SMTP account and click Edit on the right hand side

    Thunderbird Account Changes

 

3. Untick the Use name and password option then click OK.

    Thunderbird Outgoing Server

 

Congratulations, you have now finished setting up Thunderbird!

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Reading your email

1. In the screen that appears highlight your account name (above Inbox) and click Get Mail.

    Thunderbird Get Mail

2. Now enter your Thunderbird password. (You can ask Thunderbird to remember this if you want). If you've filled in everything in correctly, you should now be able to start sending and receiving emails using Thunderbird.

    Thunderbird Password Confirmation

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