I am the OP. Further digging on the web helped me see that there are duplicate accounts in my configuration (wish that left-side pane was wider in Account->Settings) but I can't get at all the duplicates to erase the offending profiles..

So I am considering re-installing Thunderbird v31.1 and starting from scratch to set up about seven accounts (not good but willing if it will get everything working again.)

I had switched to IMAP so for the named accounts I assume all the messages I can see now in the TB interface will re-download to the client.

However, there is a local folder listed in my account settings. I have always been confused about the role and operation of local folders. I am worried that content stored here will be erased during the re-install. Is this the case? I will try to find the folders themselves to copy somewhere else, but I'd like to know how the install works in the presence of previous content.

I have this too in 31.2.0.

I have two different (imap) email accounts on the same server, with different usernames and passwords, but the same server settings otherwise. I get "An account with this name already exists" when I try to create the second account.

I have another computer with TB 17.0.8 and it works fine. This appears to be something that was introduced recently.

A poster here:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1012587?esab=a&s=&r=0&as=s

says that 24.6.0 is ok too.

jonathan7007 said

Thunderbird v31.1.0 recently updates Windows7 64-bit, powerful desktop Wired connection I have several e-mail accounts on different servers. I set these up (all IMAP) manually and everything has been working about as expected -- can't remember the details of a few glitches but for a while I have wanted to check server settings for my most important account hosted by HostGator. I have followed all guides for access to server settings but every time I click on the settings access I get a tone and the following error: Account Wizard: An account with this name already exists Yes, I know... I am trying to find the server settings for my account, because other accounts work but not my most important one! I opened a web-based client and mail does arrive on the HostGator server. The messages seem to make it to my phone. Repeat: I looked several times at Help desk screen shots of the process to look at and maybe change server settings in Tools->Account Settings. (I tried to copy a screenshot into the message but that isn't working.) All the nested settings areas, when clicked, return the same error message. All the OTHER accounts (although they seem to retrieve and send mail) also exhibit the same behavior. >Why can't I check settings? >Why might one account stop communicating with the server after it is correctly set up and working? (Host gator did NOT change anything at their end.) Thanks, in advance, for any suggestions. jonathan7007

I have this problem too. After many years of being able to access Settings for Thunderbird, suddenly I can't. This problem is accompanied by another, that is when I try to access e-mails for my account they appear on screen, but it can take 4 minutes for me to be able to open my mails. IS IT POSSIBLE TO UNINSTALL THUNDERBIRD AND REINSTALL WITHOUT LOSING MY E-MAILS AND OTHER SETTINGS?

I fought my way back here (Difficult a get back in) to let people know that this problem has been around for a long time... it shows up in Bug Reports from as early as 2009. Perhaps it gets reawaken as updates are made.

I cannot add a second e-mail account to a server already listed even though the name of the account (the address) is different.

I read a lot of posts about this and found it several times listed as a Bug. To try to fix this I had to delete my profile.ini and the whole Profile folder. This means that in the midst of a very busy week (I am self-employed) I have to completely rebuild by entire Thunderbird e-mail client and re-attach Plug-Ins, Add-on, etc. plus teach the Junk filter what to look for AGAIN.

Looking through what I could find on the web no mere mortal (non-programmer) was able to fix this without drastic measures. Thankfully I switched to IMAP accounts some time back. But there's a LOT of setup required. As I write I have not tried to add a second account to one of my servers. Like many people there are providers with whom I have multiple e-mail accounts.

Perhaps it's time to go back to Outlook.

re: As I write I have not tried to add a second account to one of my servers.

The email address must already exist. then you add as many email addresses as individual email accounts even if they all use same @domain.com. File > New > Existing Mail Account OR Menu Icon > New Messages > Exisitng Mail Account OR via Account Settings click on 'Account Actions Select 'Add mail account'

Enter name, email address and password (the one you use to access that account via webmail) click on 'Continue' button

However, you must make sure that you have logged onto webmail account and selected the 'Forward Pop or IMAP option first. Then make sure you create an account using the selected option.