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How can I suspend an account?

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  • 1 has this problem
  • 155 views
  • Last reply by ramasaig

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I have an e-mail account as secretary of a society. I am taking a break as secretary, so for the duration of that break I no longer want to download e-mails from that account. I could 'Remove' the account, but that would mean re-entering it at the end of the break. Is there a way to 'suspend' the account so that TB doesn't download e-mails?

I have unchecked all the boxes on the 'Server Settings' but that doesn't prevent TB trying to connect when I click 'Get Messages'. (There are other e-mail accounts from which I do still want to get messages),

I have an e-mail account as secretary of a society. I am taking a break as secretary, so for the duration of that break I no longer want to download e-mails from that account. I could 'Remove' the account, but that would mean re-entering it at the end of the break. Is there a way to 'suspend' the account so that TB doesn't download e-mails? I have unchecked all the boxes on the 'Server Settings' but that doesn't prevent TB trying to connect when I click 'Get Messages'. (There are other e-mail accounts from which I do still want to get messages),

Chosen solution

re :I've got all the accounts (five) set up with a Global inbox,

A Global Inbox account will use this setting: 'Inbox for different account'

  • uncheck 'Include this server when getting new mail'
  • click on OK
  • click on OK

see image - it shows 'Include this server when getting new mail' as selected, but you need to uncheck it, then click on all OK's

If this is the solution, please mark this response as a 'Chosen solution'.

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All Replies (8)

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Hello, if I'm right, you do not want to download your email while your retreat then I suggest to change your thunderbird configuration. Follow these steps from

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Thank you for your reply.

I've followed the link, but it only tells me about normal configuration of accounts. I could not find anything about suspending an account temporarily. Perhaps there is no provision to do this, in which case I'll just have to delete it and reinstate later.

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If you are talking about an imap mail account, there are three items you need to uncheck.

  • Right click on imap mail account and select 'Settings'
  • Select 'Server Settings'
  • uncheck: 'check for new messages at start up'
  • uncheck: 'check for new messages every XX minutes'
  • uncheck: 'allow immediate server notification when new messages arrive'
  • click on 'OK'

If you want, you can also unsubscribe from seeing folders.

  • Right click on imap mail account and select 'Subscribe'

This will show a list of folders. select the folders checkboxes and click on 'Unsubscribe' click on 'OK'

Exit Thunderbird and wait a few moments for background processes to complete. Start thunderbird.

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Thank you for your reply.

Mine is a POP account. I know I can prevent messages being downloaded (by following the procedure you outlined). What I'm trying to do is to prevent the account (temporarily) from attempting to log in to the server.

I want to do this because the relief secretary is using the account, and my password is temporarily invalid. So when TB tries to log in I get an error message which I have to dismiss.

It is looking as if there's no way to do that, so I'll have to delete the account and reinstate it later.

Tim Dawson

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updated info...POP mail accounts:

  • Right click on pop mail account and select 'Settings'
  • Select 'Server Settings'
  • uncheck: 'check for new messages at start up'
  • uncheck: 'check for new messages every XX minutes'
  • uncheck: 'Automatically download messages'
  • click on 'OK'

Exit Thunderbird.

Restart Thunderbird.


Can you confirm that this is a pop mail account with it's own account and folders displaying in the Folder Pane? OR is it set up as a Global Account which uses the Inbox in Local Folders mail account?

Check this:

  • Right click on pop mail account and select 'Settings'
  • Select 'Server Settings'
  • click on 'Advanced' button

A Global Inbox account will use this setting: 'Inbox for different account'

  • uncheck 'Include this server when getting new mail'
  • click on OK
  • click on OK

Modified by Toad-Hall

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Thank you for continuing to help.

I have already done what you first suggested. It does indeed stop TB from downloading messages from that account. What it DOES NOT do is to prevent TB from trying to connect to that account, so I always get a pop-up saying connection has failed and then a second asking for a new password.

I've got all the accounts (five) set up with a Global inbox, and you're probably right that if I exclude the account when getting new mail I may achieve my object. I wish I'd thought of that before!

Thanks again for your help.

Tim Dawson

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Chosen Solution

re :I've got all the accounts (five) set up with a Global inbox,

A Global Inbox account will use this setting: 'Inbox for different account'

  • uncheck 'Include this server when getting new mail'
  • click on OK
  • click on OK

see image - it shows 'Include this server when getting new mail' as selected, but you need to uncheck it, then click on all OK's

If this is the solution, please mark this response as a 'Chosen solution'.

Modified by Toad-Hall

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I'm sure that would have worked. But eventually I decided I dodn't need to keep the account so I have deleted it.

Thanks for your help. I'll know for next time.

Regards,

Tim Dawson