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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

cannot connect to imap mail.outlook/imap .gmail.com, the connection was refused

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 10 views
  • Last reply by cockerellc

throwawayspammail
throwawayspammail
more options

I'm using thunderbird 68.7.0 on windows 10. I've been noticing glitches recently where Thunderbird won't connect to Imap, now it just plain refuses. The error messages which pops up say Could not connect to mail server imap.gmail.com, the connection was refused

Could not connect to mail server imap-mail.outlook.com the connection was refused

Could not connect to mail server outlook.office365.com the connection was reused

I've made no alterations to installed programs in last 9 months, up to 2 months ago everything was fine, then errors started occuring. I've uninstalled Thunderbird and reinstalled, no help, same error. I can connect to the emails with Windows Mail (horrible client) and via web interface, also through my Android device.

Any suggestions

I'm using thunderbird 68.7.0 on windows 10. I've been noticing glitches recently where Thunderbird won't connect to Imap, now it just plain refuses. The error messages which pops up say Could not connect to mail server imap.gmail.com, the connection was refused Could not connect to mail server imap-mail.outlook.com the connection was refused Could not connect to mail server outlook.office365.com the connection was reused I've made no alterations to installed programs in last 9 months, up to 2 months ago everything was fine, then errors started occuring. I've uninstalled Thunderbird and reinstalled, no help, same error. I can connect to the emails with Windows Mail (horrible client) and via web interface, also through my Android device. Any suggestions

Chosen solution

Just discovered what it was, I updated Thunderbird recently and needed to whitelist the new version in my VPN. Took the live chat rep at Surfshark less than a minute to identify the problem. Now working :)

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (3)

Рина Громова
Рина Громова
more options

There may be a problem in the windows on your device. Try reinstalling windows.

throwawayspammail
throwawayspammail Question owner
more options

Chosen Solution

Just discovered what it was, I updated Thunderbird recently and needed to whitelist the new version in my VPN. Took the live chat rep at Surfshark less than a minute to identify the problem. Now working :)

cockerellc
cockerellc
more options

VPNs block port 25... SMTP uses port 25. Get with your VPN support to see what they can whitelist.

Modified by cockerellc