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 sends my email from a secondary account

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 13 views
  • Last reply by raphael2202

more options

I have about 12 email accounts managed by Thunderbird. When I send an email from my primary email account to any address the email is sent as from a secondary account from my list. Strange enough in my sent folder, it appears as if the email was sent correctly from the primary account although the receiver sees it as coming from the wrong email address. This creates a lot of troubles because people start corresponding with me on the inccorect email address! What can be wrong?

I have about 12 email accounts managed by Thunderbird. When I send an email from my primary email account to any address the email is sent as from a secondary account from my list. Strange enough in my sent folder, it appears as if the email was sent correctly from the primary account although the receiver sees it as coming from the wrong email address. This creates a lot of troubles because people start corresponding with me on the inccorect email address! What can be wrong?

Chosen solution

It is highly likely your Primary account is using the secondary account outgoing smtp server.

Right click on a mail account in the fodler Pane and select 'Settings'. At the bottom of left pane, click on 'Outgoing Server (SMTP)' On the right it willl show you a list of outgoing servers. Ideally, you should have one per mail account.

Scan through the list, you are looking for the one which has User name = primary email address account. Then click on 'Edit' button Under 'Description', type something that is meaningful such as 'Primary'. clickon OK

Now select the primary account name in left pane. Bottom right will say 'Outgoing server (SMTP) and it will offer a drop down of available smtp servers. Select the one which starts with 'Primary'. Clickon OK

See example images.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (2)

more options

Chosen Solution

It is highly likely your Primary account is using the secondary account outgoing smtp server.

Right click on a mail account in the fodler Pane and select 'Settings'. At the bottom of left pane, click on 'Outgoing Server (SMTP)' On the right it willl show you a list of outgoing servers. Ideally, you should have one per mail account.

Scan through the list, you are looking for the one which has User name = primary email address account. Then click on 'Edit' button Under 'Description', type something that is meaningful such as 'Primary'. clickon OK

Now select the primary account name in left pane. Bottom right will say 'Outgoing server (SMTP) and it will offer a drop down of available smtp servers. Select the one which starts with 'Primary'. Clickon OK

See example images.

more options

Excellent answer and very prompt as well! It worked perfectly! It was indeed an error following an external intervention that has messed up the outgoing servers! Thanks a lot!