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two identities; reply to default account error

  • 7 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 13 views
  • Last reply by gron00

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My wife (Marilyn) and I (Ron) have been sharing Thunderbird for a few years with separate identities. Ron's identity is the default account. This started a few weeks ago. When Marilyn sends an email, her "SENT" file shows correctly the email FROM: Marilyn; TO: recipient. But the recipient receives FROM: Ron; TO: recipient. And of course, when the recipient replies, it goes to Ron. This is very annoying. I have changed Marilyn's identity to include her REPLY TO address. So now, the recipient receives FROM: Ron; REPLY TO: Marilyn; TO: recipient. How can I fix this?

My wife (Marilyn) and I (Ron) have been sharing Thunderbird for a few years with separate identities. Ron's identity is the default account. This started a few weeks ago. When Marilyn sends an email, her "SENT" file shows correctly the email FROM: Marilyn; TO: recipient. But the recipient receives FROM: Ron; TO: recipient. And of course, when the recipient replies, it goes to Ron. This is very annoying. I have changed Marilyn's identity to include her REPLY TO address. So now, the recipient receives FROM: Ron; REPLY TO: Marilyn; TO: recipient. How can I fix this?

Chosen solution

Perhaps Sympatico changed their policy so that now the sender's address must match the authentication of the outgoing server. Try adding a second outgoing server under Tools/Account Settings/Outgoing Server (SMTP) with Marilyn's user name, then set Tools/Account Settings/marilynaccountname to select that server from the Outgoing Server (SMTP) drop-down box in the right pane.

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Are these Gmail accounts? If so, I think this might happen if Ron's Gmail SMTP server is the default sending server, and Marilyn's account is set to use that server. My understanding is that Gmail will label the message as sent from Ron, even when Marilyn is specified in the From: box of the Write window.

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It is not gmail. The outgoing SMTP server is smtphm.sympatico.ca. Also, it was working well for over a year before the problem started.

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It is not gmail. The outgoing SMTP server is smtphm.sympatico.ca. Also, it was working well for over a year before the problem started.

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Chosen Solution

Perhaps Sympatico changed their policy so that now the sender's address must match the authentication of the outgoing server. Try adding a second outgoing server under Tools/Account Settings/Outgoing Server (SMTP) with Marilyn's user name, then set Tools/Account Settings/marilynaccountname to select that server from the Outgoing Server (SMTP) drop-down box in the right pane.

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Sorry for the very late reply. When I get to Outgoing server in Marilyn's account, there is only one option offered, and that is the default server. How can I change it or add a server?

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As sfhowes advises: Try adding a second outgoing server under:

  • Tools/Account Settings/Outgoing Server (SMTP)

Make a good note of the settings used in the current default smtp server.

Description: Server name: port UserName: Authentication method: Connection security:

click on 'Add' button Enter the same details with slight modification on these: DEscription eg: Sympatico - Marilyn username = your wifes email address

click on OK

Now, you should have two Outgoing server (SMTP) settings.


then set : Tools/Account Settings/marilynaccountname select the newly added server from the Outgoing Server (SMTP) drop-down box in the right pane. click on OK to save chnages to Account Settings.

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Great! That seems to solve the problem, until Sympatico makes more changes.