1. Start Account Setup
Open Thunderbird and go to:
Menu → New → Existing Mail Account
Enter your name, email address, and password.
Click Continue, and then choose Manual Config if Thunderbird doesn’t detect it automatically.
2. Choose IMAP or POP
- IMAP keeps emails synced across all devices (recommended).
- POP3 downloads emails to your computer and removes them from the server.
3. Enter Server Details
Here are some common settings:
For Gmail:
| Type | Server | Port | SSL | Auth Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMAP | imap.gmail.com | 993 | SSL/TLS | OAuth2 |
| SMTP | smtp.gmail.com | 465 | SSL/TLS | OAuth2 |
For Outlook / Office 365:
| Type | Server | Port | SSL | Auth Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMAP | outlook.office365.com | 993 | SSL/TLS | Normal Password |
| SMTP | smtp.office365.com | 587 | STARTTLS | Normal Password |
If you’re using your own domain, you can usually find the IMAP/SMTP details in your hosting panel or email provider documentation.
4. Test and Save
After filling in the details, click Re-test.
If everything looks good, click Done — Thunderbird will now connect and sync your mailbox.
5. Optional: Add a Signature
To personalize your emails, go to:
Account Settings → Signature Text
You can add your name, company, or even HTML signatures with links and images.
6. Adjust Sync and Storage Settings
If you want to save space, you can choose which folders to sync for offline use:
Account Settings → Synchronization & Storage
7. Troubleshooting
- If setup fails, check your username (use full email address).
- Make sure two-factor authentication (2FA) is configured properly.
- Try selecting OAuth2 for Gmail or Outlook instead of “Normal Password.”