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Thunderbird will not send email, get msg saying connection to SMTP server timed out. Password entered is correct one.

  • 32 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by snowbunny

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Having trouble sending email in Thunderbird. Was working normally, then one day quit sending emails, gives msg saying:

Sending of the message failed. The message could not be sent because the connection to Outgoing server (SMTP) timed out. Try again.

I have searched web and tried several suggestions, nothing has worked yet.

Having trouble sending email in Thunderbird. Was working normally, then one day quit sending emails, gives msg saying: Sending of the message failed. The message could not be sent because the connection to Outgoing server (SMTP) timed out. Try again. I have searched web and tried several suggestions, nothing has worked yet.

All Replies (20)

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Hi skycojon, I have personally had these messages since being on NBN. I found that if I get a 'mail not sent' message, I close that message and resend and off it goes. The message 'could not send because the connection to outgoing server etc, is basically where the service is busy. I got round this by, again, closing the message and re sending. Give this a go and see if it works for you OK. Good Luck.

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ForGoodnessSakes - thank you for the reply. That hasn't worked, in my first post I should have mentioned this has been an on going problem for over 3 weeks now. Was having trouble w/ pw, got it fixed, think one email sent, then started receiving the connection msg.

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I had exactly the very same problem to send mail, after a lot of searching on Google but could not find any answer to it.

It was in my case two Yahoo-accounts and two Gmail The reason for not working was that I used my full email address as myaccount@yahoo.se. And everything works perfectly when using "myaccont"

(Embarrassing)


I hope this can help someone

Modified by Vonzy

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Hi SkycoJon. Sorry that didn't work for you. OK, let's see what else you could do. Yes, I was sending e-mails with no problems when I first encountered the same as you. Have you been into options and re entered your password? I don't know what level you are on IT wise, so I apologise if I am suggesting easy things. But try that. I also had to uninstall Thunderbird and still had the executable file in my downloads. when you take thunder bird off, restart the computer and re install. This should clear the problem. Let me know if this works for you OK.

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My IT level is intermediate, so all suggestions are welcome. I was hoping to avoid uninstalling/reinstalling Thunderbird, but sounds like that is the logical next step. Thanks for all suggestions.

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SkycoJon said

My IT level is intermediate, so all suggestions are welcome. I was hoping to avoid uninstalling/reinstalling Thunderbird, but sounds like that is the logical next step. Thanks for all suggestions.

I am not sure that it will solve any problems, check carefully how your accounts are set up, I think that you can find a solution there.

Is it Gmail or any other account that is the problem?

My Yahoo-accounts stopped working at about the same day that you wrote about the problems here, so check that you only got "yourname" and not the full mail address for in and outgoing mail.

Modified by Vonzy

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Hi SkycoJon,

After you have done that, I hope that it does put everything straight for you. Don't forget to re boot OK.

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Hi Vonzy, An Interesting thing you put there, about only having your name and not the full e-mail address in the SMPT In and Out. Smart piece of advice.

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FORGOODNESSSAKE said

Hi Vonzy, An Interesting thing you put there, about only having your name and not the full e-mail address in the SMPT In and Out. Smart piece of advice.

Thank you for the comment!

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Hi Vozny, Don't be embarrassed, I too am a computer nerd, but as we get older, we forget the simple things when trying to help others. It all starts coming back when we get into sorting problems out and that is what counts. So never put yourself down or be embarrassed because it took time to think about things. Kindest Regards

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Hi Vonzy & Goodnesssake - sorry for the delay in replying. Job where I have that issue, is p/t 10 hrs ish weekly, and I missed a week, so it has been a while since I've been there. I went into Outgoing Server (SMTP) Settings and selected my email as the default. Once I did that, my emails send again.

Thanks to both of you for offering your help. I appreciate it!

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Hi SkycoJon, You are more than welcome for the help.

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I am using hotmail - I have been seeing

"Login to server smtp-mail.outlook.com failed."

for the last week or so - I can save draft and send via windows 10 mail but that is a pain in the rear

what can I do to fix this? I need short simple steps

I had no big problems before and think this started with the last update but not sure

Modified by nameless-1

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Hi nameless-1,

I think what your problem is, is that you have two e-mail programs open. But let's start from the beginning. Go to your e-mail setting and look to see if you have entered all the correct information. If you have, look to see which email program is default. Close one down by signing out, and only use one e-mail account. Conflictions happen when two similar programs are being used specially with email programs. I have just fixed a computer with the same issues. This will also cause a time out error message as the confliction is to where the email is to go. Let me know if you have this works and we can try something else OK.

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thunderbird is default - I checked that yesterday -

this is a recent problem

I just tried to send a message to myself (other email account) - I turned off windows 10 mail

I still get the same error message

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nameless-1 said

I am using hotmail - I have been seeing "Login to server smtp-mail.outlook.com failed." for the last week or so - I can save draft and send via windows 10 mail but that is a pain in the rear what can I do to fix this? I need short simple steps I had no big problems before and think this started with the last update but not sure
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yep that is what is going on

I turned off windows 10 mail to try to send using task manager - that didn't work -

sending messages by thunderbird works rarely now - used to be batting close to 100 % - something has changed in thunderbird or in my ISP - I know we had new servers the first of the month but I think this problem has been since then - also the outgoing port is set at 587 and that is one that is supposed to work

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"Login to server smtp-mail.outlook.com failed."

Hi nameless-1 go back into your account settings and then then open up the outgoing and incoming server options. In here you will be able to edit your settings OK. The SMTP will have to changed to mail.(whatever email program you are using ) Apply this and reboot.

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Hi nameless-1 Try doing as I suggested before this reply. The port is right 587. Also, if the above doesn't clear this problem, turn the modem off, count slowly to ten and turn it back on again. I have had a lot of problems since the NBN came in but it is also where I live, which is Rural. NBN does drop out, but I think your problem is with the outgoing server settings. Give the above a try and let me know how things go OK.

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the modem is rebooted daily

NBN???

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