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.

Avatar for Username

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

slow loading of email content using POP3

NormanMcNorris7
NormanMcNorris7
more options

I use Thunderbird as an email client, and a POP3 connection to Virginmedia to download emails. This has worked pretty well for years. In the last few weeks the email content has been very slow to load. Although the list of emails in the inbox in Thunderbird appears quickly, when I select an email to view its content there is a delay of perhaps 5s while it says 'Loading Message...'. There is a similar delay when deleting a message.

Once a message has been loaded, it can be re-visited without a delay, but if marked as unread there is again a delay next time it is read. This is also true if I work offline, so it can't be Virginmedia's server.

I have another account using an IMAP connection which doesn't suffer from any delay. Thanks if anyone can advise.

I use Thunderbird as an email client, and a POP3 connection to Virginmedia to download emails. This has worked pretty well for years. In the last few weeks the email content has been very slow to load. Although the list of emails in the inbox in Thunderbird appears quickly, when I select an email to view its content there is a delay of perhaps 5s while it says 'Loading Message...'. There is a similar delay when deleting a message. Once a message has been loaded, it can be re-visited without a delay, but if marked as unread there is again a delay next time it is read. This is also true if I work offline, so it can't be Virginmedia's server. I have another account using an IMAP connection which doesn't suffer from any delay. Thanks if anyone can advise.

All Replies (3)

Wayne Mery
Wayne Mery
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Start Windows in safe mode with networking enabled - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12376/windows-10-start-your-pc-in-safe-mode

Still In Windows safe mode, start Thunderbird in Troubleshoot Mode - https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-mode-thunderbird

Does problem go away?

Helpful?

NormanMcNorris7
NormanMcNorris7 Question owner
more options

Thanks for your reply, Wayne, but Thunderbird was working OK all yesterday and now is OK today, so I can't test it further.

Helpful?

NormanMcNorris7
NormanMcNorris7 Question owner
more options

OP here.. I'm still struggling with this problem. Some days it is OK, other days fails once or more times, making Thunderbird difficult to use. I've now been able to do the following test (as suggested above by Wayne Mery) ..

  • Start Windows in safe mode with networking enabled, then still In Windows safe mode, start Thunderbird in Troubleshoot Mode.

So far it hasn't failed in this mode. It has failed using thunderbird in troubleshoot mode (but normal Windows).

What does this tell us?

The problem has been present for 2 or 3 months, possibly more. Current Thunderbird version is 128.4.2esr (32-bit) although the PC is 64 bit:

Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3470 CPU @ 3.20GHz 3.20 GHz Installed RAM 8.00 GB (7.88 GB usable) System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor Edition Windows 10 Pro Version 22H2 Installed on ‎12/‎02/‎2021 OS build 19045.5011 Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19060.1000.0


Thanks

Helpful?

Ask a question

You must log in to your account to reply to posts. Please start a new question, if you do not have an account yet.