This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Thunderbird higher than 38.7.2 can't send emails

  • 6 cavab
  • 4 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by SGNichols

more options

A year ago, I updated Thunderbird from 38.7.2 to 45.0. For several reasons, I found it necessary to revert to 38.7.2. The most compelling reason was that 45.0 would not send emails from any of my email accounts.

Today, more or less a year later, I updated Thunderbird from 38.7.2 to 45.8.0 -- hoping that the update would work out better this time. One issue did indeed work out better -- there was no longer an automatic change to a "Correspondents" column instead of the "From" and "Recipient" columns. However, the BIG problem -- the inability to send emails from any account -- happened again, so again I reverted to 38.7.2.

Am I correct in thinking that updating from 38.7.2 to 45+ -- and then not being able to send emails from any of my email accounts -- is in itself diagnostic of the problem?

If such updating is in itself diagnostic of the problem, then I am hoping that I will not need to work through the ideas at https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/cannot-send-messages , and can simply fix the problem directly.

I would be grateful if anyone can suggest why updating from 38.7.2 to 45+ results in not being able to send emails from any of my email accounts -- and, of course, what can be done to fix that problem.

A year ago, I updated Thunderbird from 38.7.2 to 45.0. For several reasons, I found it necessary to revert to 38.7.2. The most compelling reason was that 45.0 would not send emails from any of my email accounts. Today, more or less a year later, I updated Thunderbird from 38.7.2 to 45.8.0 -- hoping that the update would work out better this time. One issue did indeed work out better -- there was no longer an automatic change to a "Correspondents" column instead of the "From" and "Recipient" columns. However, the BIG problem -- the inability to send emails from any account -- happened again, so again I reverted to 38.7.2. Am I correct in thinking that updating from 38.7.2 to 45+ -- and then not being able to send emails from any of my email accounts -- is in itself diagnostic of the problem? If such updating is in itself diagnostic of the problem, then I am hoping that I will not need to work through the ideas at https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/cannot-send-messages , and can simply fix the problem directly. I would be grateful if anyone can suggest why updating from 38.7.2 to 45+ results in not being able to send emails from any of my email accounts -- and, of course, what can be done to fix that problem.

All Replies (6)

more options

It is usually antivirus or firewall software that causes this type of problem. I have used all those versions, and have trialed v53 and all send perfectly.

more options

Zenos said

It is usually antivirus or firewall software that causes this type of problem. I have used all those versions, and have trialed v53 and all send perfectly.

Zenos, thanks for your reply and suggestion.

Thunderbird is specifically fully permitted in my computer's firewall software, and is specifically fully excluded in my computer's antivirus software. Thus, as far as I know, neither of those is likely to be the problem.

In connection with sending emails, what is different between Thunderbird version 38.7.2 and versions 45+?

more options

Does anyone know what is different between Thunderbird version 38.7.2 and Thunderbird versions 45+ that could cause an upgrade from version 38.7.2 to versions 45+ not to be able to send emails?

Version 38.7.2 sends emails normally from all my email accounts -- but an upgrade to versions 45+ cannot send emails from any of my email accounts. If I then reinstall version 38.7.2, it again sends emails normally from all my email accounts.

I experienced the inability to send emails from versions 45.0 and 45.8.0.

more options

My guess is your mail server has defective security. What is the server name and port you are using?

SSL?

more options

Matt said

My guess is your mail server has defective security. What is the server name and port you are using? SSL?

Matt, thanks for your reply. This coming weekend I should have time to follow the idea that you mention.

more options

Matt said

My guess is your mail server has defective security. What is the server name and port you are using? SSL?

Matt, I did not yet have time to get into the issue you mention. The upcoming weekend is a long weekend where I live, and that should give me my chance.