How to Set Up Email in Thunderbird

Thunderbird is a free email app for Windows, Mac and Linux. You’ll add your mailbox as an IMAP account, so it stays in sync with Webmail and your other devices.

Before you start: get your settings

1. Log in to cPanel. If you can’t log in, open a support ticket.
2. In the cPanel sidebar, click Email.
3. Find the address in the list, and click Manage in its row.
4. On the Overview tab, click Open Webmail. Webmail opens in a new browser tab.
5. In the Set up email on your device panel, click Automatically configure my device. The Set Up Mail Client page opens.
6. Keep the Secure SSL/TLS Settings section (marked Recommended) open. Don’t use the Non-SSL settings.

If you see an Email Accounts icon instead, click it, then click Connect Devices next to the address. Or type the tool’s name in cPanel’s search box (Ctrl+K or Cmd+K). If you can’t find it, open a support ticket.

The ports are usually 993 for incoming mail (IMAP) and 465 for outgoing mail (SMTP). Use exactly what Set Up Mail Client shows.

Start the account setup

1. Open Thunderbird. If you have no accounts yet, the Set Up Your Existing Email Address screen opens by itself: go to step 3.
2. Otherwise, open the main menu (≡) and choose Add Account, then Email.
3. Enter Your full name (the name people see), Email address and Password.
4. Tick Remember password only on your own computer.
5. Click Configure manually.

Enter the server settings

1. Under Incoming server, set Protocol: to IMAP.
2. In Hostname:, type the incoming server exactly as Set Up Mail Client shows it.
3. Set Port: to the IMAP port it shows (usually 993) and Connection security: to SSL/TLS.
4. Set Authentication method: to Normal password, and Username: to your full email address.
5. Under Outgoing server, type the outgoing server in Hostname:.
6. Set Port: to the SMTP port it shows (usually 465), Connection security: to SSL/TLS and Authentication method: to Normal password.
7. Set Username: to your full email address.
8. Click Re-test. When the test passes, click Done.

Newer versions of Thunderbird have a different setup screen. There the buttons say Configure Manually, Retest and Continue, but you enter the same settings.

How to tell it worked

1. Check that your inbox loads and shows the same mail as Webmail.
2. Send a test message to another address you own, and check that it arrives.
3. Reply to it, and check that the reply arrives in Thunderbird.

Troubleshooting

• “Authentication failed. Please check the username and password”: make sure Username: is your full email address and Caps Lock is off. If you’re not sure of the password, set a new one. Warning: every other device that uses this address stops connecting until you enter the new password there too. In cPanel, click Email, click Manage in the address’s row, and open the Settings tab. Click Change Password, enter the new password, and click Update Password. (With an Email Accounts icon: Manage, New Password, Update Email Settings.)
• Thunderbird failed to find the settings for your email account: click Configure manually and enter the settings yourself, as above.
• A certificate warning or security exception window appears: don’t add the exception. Check that the server names match Set Up Mail Client exactly. If the warning still appears, stop and open a support ticket. We’ll tell you which server name to use.
• Sending fails but receiving works: open the main menu (≡), choose Account Settings, and select Outgoing Server at the bottom of the list. Edit the server for this account and check the port, security and username. If sending fails on one network only, that network may block the port: try another network. See what to check when you can’t send email.
• Old mail is missing: the account may have been added with POP3, which can move mail off the server. Warning: our backups don’t include email. Open Webmail and check that your messages are still there. If they aren’t, stop: this computer may have the only copy, so open a support ticket before you remove anything. If they are, remove the account from Thunderbird and add it again with IMAP.

Still need help?

Open a support ticket from the Client Portal at my.bluearctic.com (see our support page). Include your domain, the email address, your Thunderbird version, the exact error text, a screenshot of the server settings (password hidden), and what you already tried. Never include a password.