Thunderbird does not query my imap server except on start-up.
I very recently decided to load Thunderbird to use as a modern e-mail client. All is fine except for the fact that I cannot find a setting to command T-bird to query my imap server. There is the setting to "check for new messages at startup" which seems to be the case whether or not that box is checked. That is fine. I expect the program to download new messages at startup.
The problem is that while T-bird is active, it NEVER checks for new messages. Yes, I do have the box checked to "check for new messages every "X" minutes." Absolutely NOTHING seems to be happening with the periodic "check for messages" setting.
I am certainly missing a setting adjustment, whether in T-bird or with my imap e-mail server (charter.net).
All Replies (7)
If the mail service supports IDLE, it doesn't poll the IMAP server periodically, instead it notifies you of new messages as soon as they are received at the server.
Are you using Charter?
Yes, I am using Charter.net. I have searched everywhere in Charter's Support, but cannot find a reference to "push." I added my gmail account to my T-Bird, and it works just fine, so I'm thinking the issue is with Charter.
Try this: Right click on mail account and select 'Settings' select 'Server Settings' If selected then uncheck: 'allow immediate server notifications when new messages arrive' click on 'Advanced...' button Max number of server connections = 1 click on all 'OK'
Exit Thunderbird. Make sure any other divice eg: phone is all not connected to server.
Start Thunderbird Then send yourself an email and wait to see if the email gets downloaded after the set time period.
Please report back on results.
This is a known problem with Charter, and there have been several complaints in this forum. Unfortunately Charter are neither willing to admit it's their problem nor able to fix it. You should complain to Charter in any case.
See https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1153184?page=1
This issue is sooo puzzling! I did exactly what Toad-Hall suggested, and at the first try, it worked! Then when I set up my other accounts in the same way, it didn't work. Hmmm. The ONLY constant is that my gmail account works WITHOUT doing what Toad-Hall suggested! That particular account is set to the default "allow" immediate notifications, and to the default of Max number of connections, 5.
So as christ1 is suggesting, Charter seems to be the culprit. I did contact Charter, and they were unbelievably in-helpful.
I am all-ears to any other suggestions. But my final solution may well be to dump Charter as my e-mail server. gmail seems to be the logical choice, but I am also all-ears for suggestions for options for a different e-mail server. I have had a single, main, e-mail address for over 10-years without a hacking or hijacking event, so I am hesitant to change. Not to mention the headache of notifying everybody I want to stay connected to of a new e-mail address.
All ideas are welcome.
One more puzzling issue - The "Get Messages" function doesn't work either as far as bringing up new messages from the imap server. The ONLY way I can get new messages from the Charter.net imap server is by closing, then re-opening Thunderbird.