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Why can't Thunderbird download all messages in IMAP from Outlook (msn.com) account?

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  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by christ1

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I am using Thunderbird Ver. 38.2.0 on a Windows 8.1 computer.

I have been using Thunderbird for years, but just realized that I could use IMAP on an Outlook email account (domain msn.com). I had been using this account with POP, working OK but frustrated that messages that I read or deleted would be downloaded again. I erased the account and installed it again going to IMAP. Thunderbird managed to log in and download some of the e-mails (the account has +4,000 e-mails) but then it would not continue to download all the e-mails. I tried limiting the download option to the last 30 days, but I doesn't download the whole list. It shows in the bottom bar that it is connected and downloading message x of y, but it just cycles. I eventually get a message window flash that says "connection to server timed out". Is this an issue between Thunderbird and Outlook? I manage 3 other accounts, one being a Gmail account with more that 4,000 emails without issue. I assume that if I get some messages the settings are correct, since it is in fact communicating with the email server. Any suggestions on what I can try to get Thunderbird to work? Thank you for reading. jim4ever

I am using Thunderbird Ver. 38.2.0 on a Windows 8.1 computer. I have been using Thunderbird for years, but just realized that I could use IMAP on an Outlook email account (domain msn.com). I had been using this account with POP, working OK but frustrated that messages that I read or deleted would be downloaded again. I erased the account and installed it again going to IMAP. Thunderbird managed to log in and download some of the e-mails (the account has +4,000 e-mails) but then it would not continue to download all the e-mails. I tried limiting the download option to the last 30 days, but I doesn't download the whole list. It shows in the bottom bar that it is connected and downloading message x of y, but it just cycles. I eventually get a message window flash that says "connection to server timed out". Is this an issue between Thunderbird and Outlook? I manage 3 other accounts, one being a Gmail account with more that 4,000 emails without issue. I assume that if I get some messages the settings are correct, since it is in fact communicating with the email server. Any suggestions on what I can try to get Thunderbird to work? Thank you for reading. jim4ever

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Are those 4000+ messages all in one folder, presumably Inbox?