Set up your email

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Set up a new account

Step by step I would rather use POP3

  1. 1

    Click the ≡ menu at the top right, then “Add Account”, then “Email”.

    Thunderbird
    • Add Account ›
      • Email
      • Calendar
    • Account Settings
    • Settings
    • Help ›
    • Exit
  2. 2

    Enter your name and your email address. Then click “Manual configuration” below the address – not “Continue”: that finds the servers by itself but sets up sending wrongly.

    Thunderbird

    Mozilla ThunderbirdAccount Hub

    Sign in with Thundermail

    or

    Add your email address

    Full nameJohn Doe
    Email addressinfo@example.com

    Manual configuration

    Continue

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  3. 3

    Choose IMAP and click “Set up account”.

    Thunderbird

    Choose an email account type

    Additional information is required to set up this account.

    RecommendedIMAPSync across devices
    MicrosoftExchange or Microsoft 365
    POP3Download to device
    BackSet up account

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  4. 4

    Under “Incoming server”: hostname imap.mailprotect.be, username your full email address. Further down: connection security SSL/TLS, port 993. Leave “Authentication method” on “Autodetect”.

    Thunderbird

    IMAP Settings

    Incoming server

    Advanced configuration

    BackConnect

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  5. 5

    Scroll down to “Outgoing server”: hostname smtp-auth.mailprotect.be, connection security STARTTLS, port 587. Leave “Same username as incoming server” ticked.

    Thunderbird

    IMAP Settings

    Outgoing server

    Same username as incoming server

    Advanced configuration

    BackConnect

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  6. 6

    Click “Connect”. Thunderbird checks the settings; this can take a moment.

    Thunderbird

    IMAP Settings

    Outgoing server

    Same username as incoming server

    Advanced configuration

    BackConnect

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  7. 7

    Thunderbird shows the checked settings; “Authentication method” now reads “Normal password”. Click “Connect” again.

    Thunderbird

    Review updated settings

    Thunderbird found the correct settings and updated them.

    Incoming server

    Advanced configuration

    BackConnect

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  8. 8

    Enter your password, leave “Remember password” ticked and click “Continue”.

    Thunderbird

    Enter your email account password

    Your credentials will only be stored locally on your computer

    Remember password

    BackContinue

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  9. 9

    The account is set up. Click “Finish”.

    Thunderbird

    Mozilla ThunderbirdAccount Hub

    Explore options for security and personalization:

    End-to-end encryption

    Email signature

    Add another emailFinish

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  10. ✓

    Done

    Your settings at a glance

    Incoming server (IMAP)imap.mailprotect.be
    Port 993, SSL/TLS
    Outgoing server (SMTP)smtp-auth.mailprotect.be
    Port 587, STARTTLS
    UsernameYour full email address
    PasswordYour mailbox password

    If it does not work

    • The username must be the full email address, for incoming and for outgoing mail.
    • Password rejected? Check upper and lower case. It is your mailbox password – when switching servers, the same one as before.
    • Sending does not work? Try port 465 with SSL/TLS for the outgoing server.
    • A certificate warning almost always means a typing error in the server name.
    • Did you let Thunderbird set the account up through “Continue”, and you can receive but not send? Open the account settings, click the outgoing server at the very bottom on the left, then “Edit…”, and set the authentication method to “Normal password”. Then quit Thunderbird and start it again.

Modelled on Thunderbird 157. Your program may differ slightly.