Before you begin

Ask your email provider for the incoming server, outgoing server, username, password and supported security settings. Do not guess the server names or disable certificate warnings. For most people, IMAP is preferable because messages and folders stay synchronised across computers and phones.

Add the account

  1. Open Thunderbird and choose Account Settings, then Account Actions and Add Mail Account.
  2. Enter your name, full email address and password. Thunderbird will attempt automatic discovery.
  3. Check the detected settings against those supplied by your provider. Choose IMAP unless you specifically need POP3.
  4. Use an encrypted connection: normally port 993 with SSL/TLS for IMAP, or port 995 with SSL/TLS for POP3.
  5. For outgoing mail, use authenticated SMTP. Port 465 with SSL/TLS or port 587 with STARTTLS is common, but your provider’s settings take priority.
  6. Confirm that authentication is enabled and that the username is normally your complete email address. Test sending and receiving.
Security note

Old instructions often recommend ports 110 or 25 without encryption. Do not use these unless your mail provider explicitly requires them within a secured private environment.

If Thunderbird cannot connect

Recheck spelling, the full username, password, ports and encryption type. A security warning can indicate an incorrect hostname or certificate and should be investigated, not bypassed. Multi-factor accounts may require OAuth sign-in or an app-specific password.