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Why doesn't cyrillic text show correctly in Thunderbird

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  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by bwetherill

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When I receive an e-mail with Cyrillic text in Thunderbird it shows as nonsense text. How do I fix this without changing my primary language from English? I have version 60.8.0.

When I receive an e-mail with Cyrillic text in Thunderbird it shows as nonsense text. How do I fix this without changing my primary language from English? I have version 60.8.0.

Chosen solution

Try this: Menu icon > Options > Display > 'Formatting' tab Click on 'Advanced' button

Fonts for: Latin set fonts and sizes as desired Select: "Allow messages to use other fonts" Select: "Use fixed width font for plain text messages" Outgoing Mail : select Unicode (UTF-8) Incoming Mail  : select Unicode (UTF-8) untick "When possible use the default character encoding in replies"


On "Fonts For" drop-down menu repeat the procedure for Cyrillic and any other eg: Greek

On "Fonts For" drop-down menu select "Other Writing Systems" and repeat the procedure. Click on 'OK


In same 'Options' window...select Advanced > 'General' tab click on 'Config Editor' button It will say be careful :) In top search type: charset look for this line:

  • mailnews.force_charset_override

If Value = False then all is ok If Value = true double click on that line to toggle the value to 'False' Close window - top right X Click on OK to save and close Options window


Now check the Folder Properties Right click on Folder and select 'Properties' Fallback Text Encoding should say Unicode (UTF-8) Uncheck 'Apply encoding to all messages in the folder.............'. click on OK

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Chosen Solution

Try this: Menu icon > Options > Display > 'Formatting' tab Click on 'Advanced' button

Fonts for: Latin set fonts and sizes as desired Select: "Allow messages to use other fonts" Select: "Use fixed width font for plain text messages" Outgoing Mail : select Unicode (UTF-8) Incoming Mail  : select Unicode (UTF-8) untick "When possible use the default character encoding in replies"


On "Fonts For" drop-down menu repeat the procedure for Cyrillic and any other eg: Greek

On "Fonts For" drop-down menu select "Other Writing Systems" and repeat the procedure. Click on 'OK


In same 'Options' window...select Advanced > 'General' tab click on 'Config Editor' button It will say be careful :) In top search type: charset look for this line:

  • mailnews.force_charset_override

If Value = False then all is ok If Value = true double click on that line to toggle the value to 'False' Close window - top right X Click on OK to save and close Options window


Now check the Folder Properties Right click on Folder and select 'Properties' Fallback Text Encoding should say Unicode (UTF-8) Uncheck 'Apply encoding to all messages in the folder.............'. click on OK

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Thank you. The Incoming Mail Unicode (UTF-8) correction fixed it.