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THUNDERBIRD NO LONGER CHECKS FOR MESSAGES AT START UP

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 61 views
  • Last reply by Dapps

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I have no idea why I have Thunderbird right now as I’m no longer informed I have mail unless I physically walk to my computer, open Thunderbird and click on Get Messages.

By default, Thunderbird should check my mail server(s) for new messages on application startup and then, as set up, do it automatically. I’ve been with Thunderbird for years and never ever had a problem with this. In fact I’ve never had any problems at all until approx. 3 months ago. It started happening on the previous version, hence the reason I downloaded the new version 91.1.2. – but sadly I still have the problem.

It doesn’t check to find new mail. [If I click on bottom right of taskbar – Windows Notifications – I can see my emails in the list]. The only way I see if I have mail is if I search for them. So for example, an email could arrive at say 10am (Windows notifications has the info) but it isn’t until I check it manually that it appears in the inbox.

When I open Thunderbird it no longer searches for messages. I will get mail if I manually click on the ‘Get Messages’ box (click on both of my email addresses separately) and if I click on ‘Get All New Messages’. But sadly although it is set up (and has been for years) to ‘automatically get all messages’, this no longer works. So: 1. I open Thunderbird, no mail appears. It doesn’t search for mail 2. If I click on my two different email accounts then the mail will arrive 3. If I click on ‘Get Messages’ both sets of mail will arrive 4. If I use ShiftF5 sometimes it will search for mail, but not always

How am I supposed to know if I have mail? It’s been ‘forwarding to Gmail’ now for a few years so I could always check my phone, but unless I manually download the messages to my inbox they won’t appear on my phone. So now I can sit all day, no notifications to my phone, but when I go through to my computer I can see them on Windows Notification but the 'process of looking for messages/mail' has not happened. So once again I do it manually, then I see my mail, my phone sees my mail, Gmail sees my mail. Obviously it can't carry on like this.

I’ve checked the details of both of my accounts and all is correct. Server info (Manage Identities) states ‘my first account will be the default’ and that is correct. My first email address is also underlined. Account Actions also has the correct account as default.

Both (POP) accounts have the same items checked:

1. Check for messages at startup 2. Check for new messages every 10 mins. (I have altered that to 5, but makes no difference) 3. Automatically download new messages

I’ve even swopped them over (Account Actions) so the 2nd account is the 1st (the default) and still nothing works.

I note that this problem has been around for a few years with many frustrated people waiting for something to be done to put the matter right. Please can someone out there let us know when this horrid situation will be fixed? I'm an elderly lady (computer literate) and I love Thunderbird and appreciate what the guys do to keep it going - but right now I just don't know what to do anymore. Being locked in for months due to Covid my email has been my lifeline - please someone out there help. Thank you.

I have no idea why I have Thunderbird right now as I’m no longer informed I have mail unless I physically walk to my computer, open Thunderbird and click on Get Messages. By default, Thunderbird should check my mail server(s) for new messages on application startup and then, as set up, do it automatically. I’ve been with Thunderbird for years and never ever had a problem with this. In fact I’ve never had any problems at all until approx. 3 months ago. It started happening on the previous version, hence the reason I downloaded the new version 91.1.2. – but sadly I still have the problem. It doesn’t check to find new mail. [If I click on bottom right of taskbar – Windows Notifications – I can see my emails in the list]. The only way I see if I have mail is if I search for them. So for example, an email could arrive at say 10am (Windows notifications has the info) but it isn’t until I check it manually that it appears in the inbox. When I open Thunderbird it no longer searches for messages. I will get mail if I manually click on the ‘Get Messages’ box (click on both of my email addresses separately) and if I click on ‘Get All New Messages’. But sadly although it is set up (and has been for years) to ‘automatically get all messages’, this no longer works. So: 1. I open Thunderbird, no mail appears. It doesn’t search for mail 2. If I click on my two different email accounts then the mail will arrive 3. If I click on ‘Get Messages’ both sets of mail will arrive 4. If I use ShiftF5 sometimes it will search for mail, but not always How am I supposed to know if I have mail? It’s been ‘forwarding to Gmail’ now for a few years so I could always check my phone, but unless I manually download the messages to my inbox they won’t appear on my phone. So now I can sit all day, no notifications to my phone, but when I go through to my computer I can see them on Windows Notification but the 'process of looking for messages/mail' has not happened. So once again I do it manually, then I see my mail, my phone sees my mail, Gmail sees my mail. Obviously it can't carry on like this. I’ve checked the details of both of my accounts and all is correct. Server info (Manage Identities) states ‘my first account will be the default’ and that is correct. My first email address is also underlined. Account Actions also has the correct account as default. Both (POP) accounts have the same items checked: 1. Check for messages at startup 2. Check for new messages every 10 mins. (I have altered that to 5, but makes no difference) 3. Automatically download new messages I’ve even swopped them over (Account Actions) so the 2nd account is the 1st (the default) and still nothing works. I note that this problem has been around for a few years with many frustrated people waiting for something to be done to put the matter right. Please can someone out there let us know when this horrid situation will be fixed? I'm an elderly lady (computer literate) and I love Thunderbird and appreciate what the guys do to keep it going - but right now I just don't know what to do anymore. Being locked in for months due to Covid my email has been my lifeline - please someone out there help. Thank you.

Chosen solution

Thank you so much. :) I'm so happy to have my 'Thunderbird' back :)

Deleting session.jason worked - it's automatically checking for new mail at start up. I used both my email accounts to send/receive mail which appeared in 'inboxes' immediately. It's also being forwarded to GMail so the info is showing on my tablet and phone.

I'm off to send even more 'dosh' to you guys via 'make a donation'.

Thanks again

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If you are accessing an account both in TB and another device or computer, such as a phone, it's advisable to use IMAP instead of POP. The account is already probably IMAP on the phone, so having it POP in TB is likely to cause confusion. If you change an account from POP to IMAP, first copy the POP messages to Local Folders, remove the POP account with Account Actions, then add it as IMAP.

There is a separate issue with accounts not checking at startup, and this is sometimes fixed by deleting session.json from the profile:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1352155

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Above answer has been duplicated.

Modified by Dapps

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Chosen Solution

Thank you so much. :) I'm so happy to have my 'Thunderbird' back :)

Deleting session.jason worked - it's automatically checking for new mail at start up. I used both my email accounts to send/receive mail which appeared in 'inboxes' immediately. It's also being forwarded to GMail so the info is showing on my tablet and phone.

I'm off to send even more 'dosh' to you guys via 'make a donation'.

Thanks again