# Setup Email on Thunderbird (IMAP)

Thunderbird is a free, open-source email client that offers excellent support for IMAP and advanced groupware features. Follow the steps below to connect your mailbox.

<span data-path-to-node="6,0">**<span class="citation-713">Large Mailboxes:</span>**<span class="citation-713"> Depending on your internet speed and the size of your mailbox (up to 200GB per account), the initial synchronization can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to fully build your local data file</span></span><span data-path-to-node="6,1"><span class="citation-713 citation-end-713"><sup class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="2"></sup><sup class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="2"></sup><sup class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="2"></sup><sup class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="2"></sup><sup class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="2"></sup><sup class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="2"></sup><sup class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="2"></sup><sup class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="2"></sup><sup class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="2"></sup></span></span><span data-path-to-node="6,2">.</span>

<p class="callout info"><span data-path-to-node="6,2">You can setup [Autoconfig](https://wikidev.emailarray.com/books/1-configure-a-new-e-mail-address-getting-started/page/dns-configuration#bkmrk-5.-autodiscover-reco) in your DNS to make the process of setting up Thunderbird much easier.</span></p>

<p class="callout success"><span data-path-to-node="25,1,0,1">Enhanced mailbox? [<span class="citation-743">Connect a </span>**<span class="citation-743">CardDAV</span>**<span class="citation-743"> address book or a </span>**<span class="citation-743">remote calendar</span>**](https://wikidev.emailarray.com/books/1-configure-a-new-e-mail-address-getting-started/page/thunderbird-syncing-contacts-and-calendars)<span class="citation-743">[ (CalDAV) ](https://wikidev.emailarray.com/books/1-configure-a-new-e-mail-address-getting-started/page/thunderbird-syncing-contacts-and-calendars)to keep your contacts and schedule in sync.</span></span></p>


### Getting Started

To open the setup window for a new email account:

1. Click on **Account Actions** in the bottom left of the account pane.
2. Select **Add Mail Account...** from the menu.  
      
    [![Thunderbird - Account Actions - Add Mail Account.PNG](https://wikidev.emailarray.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/scaled-1680-/thunderbird-account-actions-add-mail-account.PNG)](https://wikidev.emailarray.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/thunderbird-account-actions-add-mail-account.PNG)


### Option 1: Automatic Configuration (Recommended)

If you have [**Autoconfig** ](https://wikidev.emailarray.com/books/1-configure-a-new-e-mail-address-getting-started/page/dns-configuration#bkmrk-5.-autodiscover-reco)set up in your DNS, Thunderbird will handle the heavy lifting for you.

1. **Enter Your Details:** Fill in your full name, email address, and password. Keep **Remember password** checked.  
      
    [![Thunderbird - Setup - step 1.PNG](https://wikidev.emailarray.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/scaled-1680-/thunderbird-setup-step-1.PNG)](https://wikidev.emailarray.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/thunderbird-setup-step-1.PNG)
2. **Search for Settings:** Click **Continue**. Thunderbird will automatically search for the recommended server configuration.
3. **Confirm Configuration:** Once the green "Configuration found" message appears, verify that **IMAP** is selected.  
      
    [![Thunderbird - mailbox with autodiscover - server names found.PNG](https://wikidev.emailarray.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/scaled-1680-/thunderbird-mailbox-with-autodiscover-server-names-found.PNG)](https://wikidev.emailarray.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/thunderbird-mailbox-with-autodiscover-server-names-found.PNG)
4. **Finish Setup:** Click **Done**.

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### Option 2: Manual Configuration

If Autoconfig is not available or you need to specify custom ports, follow these steps.

1. **Enter Your Details:** Input your name, email, and password, then click **Configure manually** at the bottom of the window.  
      
    [![Thunderbird - Setup - step 1.PNG](https://wikidev.emailarray.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/scaled-1680-/thunderbird-setup-step-1.PNG)](https://wikidev.emailarray.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/thunderbird-setup-step-1.PNG)
2. **Enter Server Details:** <span data-path-to-node="8,1"><span class="citation-712">We recommend using </span>**<span class="citation-712">IMAP with SSL/TLS</span>**<span class="citation-712"> to ensure your data remains private and your folders stay synchronized across all devices</span></span><span data-path-to-node="8,2"><span class="citation-712 citation-end-712"><sup class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="3"></sup></span></span><span data-path-to-node="8,3">.</span>
    
    
    - Incoming Server
        
        
        - **Protocol**: IMAP
        - **Hostname**: imap.emailarray.com
        - **Port**: 993
        - Connection Security: SSL/TLS
        - Authentication Method: Normal password
        - Username: Your full email address (e.g., name@yourdomain.com)
    - Outgoing Server
        
        
        - **Protocol**: SMTP
        - **Hostname**: smtp.emailarray.com
        - **Port**: 465
        - Connection Security: SSL/TLS
        - Authentication Method: Normal password
        - Username: Your full email address (e.g., name@yourdomain.com)

  
[![Thunderbird - Setup - step 3 - re-test to auto-fill unknown fields like ports and authentication method.PNG](https://wikidev.emailarray.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/scaled-1680-/thunderbird-setup-step-3-re-test-to-auto-fill-unknown-fields-like-ports-and-authentication-method.PNG)](https://wikidev.emailarray.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-01/thunderbird-setup-step-3-re-test-to-auto-fill-unknown-fields-like-ports-and-authentication-method.PNG)

1. **Test and Verify:** Click **Re-test**. Thunderbird will verify the connection.
2. **Finalize:** Once the green success bar appears ("The following settings were found by probing the given server"), click **Done**.

### Success!

Your account is now ready to use.

On the final screen, you can also:

- Add a custom signature.
- <span data-path-to-node="25,1,0,1">Enhanced mailbox? [<span class="citation-743">Connect a </span>**<span class="citation-743">CardDAV</span>**<span class="citation-743"> address book or a </span>**<span class="citation-743">remote calendar</span>**](https://wikidev.emailarray.com/books/1-configure-a-new-e-mail-address-getting-started/page/thunderbird-syncing-contacts-and-calendars)<span class="citation-743">[ (CalDAV) ](https://wikidev.emailarray.com/books/1-configure-a-new-e-mail-address-getting-started/page/thunderbird-syncing-contacts-and-calendars)to keep your contacts and schedule in sync.</span></span>
- Enable end-to-end encryption for extra security.

Click **Finish** to head to your inbox. Thunderbird will now begin synchronizing your folders.