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Unable to use OS Contacts in fresh install of Thunderbird 102 on macOS 12.4

  • 5 cavab
  • 3 have this problem
  • 13 views
  • Last reply by David S.

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I've done a fresh install of Thunderbird 102 on macOS 12.4 (Monterey). On this system, Thunderbird does not see any of the contacts stored in the OS Contacts application.

Within Thunderbird settings -> Composition -> Addressing there is no option to use the OS Contacts list.

The OS System Preferences -> Security & Privacy -> Privacy -> Contacts screen does not list Thunderbird as a program that has ever requested access to the OS Contacts, and there is no way to enable/disable this access from this screen unless the program has actually requested access.

I've done a fresh install of Thunderbird 102 on macOS 12.4 (Monterey). On this system, Thunderbird does not see any of the contacts stored in the OS Contacts application. Within Thunderbird settings -> Composition -> Addressing there is no option to use the OS Contacts list. The OS System Preferences -> Security & Privacy -> Privacy -> Contacts screen does not list Thunderbird as a program that has ever requested access to the OS Contacts, and there is no way to enable/disable this access from this screen unless the program has actually requested access.

All Replies (5)

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It worked for you in version 91?

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Yes. This has worked in previous versions.

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If this still occurs in version 102.2.0, please file a bug report https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/enter_bug.cgi?product=Thunderbird

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The issue remains. It appears that bug 1720257 is the "master" bug id for this issue. A note has been added to that bug.

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There is a rather messy but effective workaround for this issue:

1. Quit TB 102. 2. In your /Applications folder rename or zip the TB 102 app. 3. Rename ~/Library/Thunderbird folder, e.g. Thunderbird.old 4. Download an older version of TB that requests access to Contacts correctly (e.g. TB 78.x) and copy it to your /Applications folder. 5. Open TB 78.x and when prompted to allow access to Contacts click OK. 6. Quit TB 78.x 7. Trash the new ~/Library/Thunderbird folder that TB 78.x created and then rename Thunderbird.old folder back to Thunderbird. 8. Trash the TB 78.x app in /Applications, then rename or unzip the TB 102 TB app from step 2 back to Thunderbird. 9. Open TB 102 and voilà you have access to macOS Contacts from TB.

You should be good for future macOS updates (e.g. 13.0) as TB is now in System Preferences->Privacy & Security->Contacts and this should be carried forward when you upgrade.