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Mac Thunderbird: imap connections refused

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I've used Thunderbird on my Windows computers for years. I just purchased a Mac and was less than satisfied with Mac Mail, especially since I have multiple email servers. So, I installed Thunderbird. It has worked well for well over a month. Saturday, I started getting connection refused for all 3 of my imap email servers. All still work fine on my Windows computer (I still have it).

Support with AppleCare this morning fixed my Mac Mail, but not Thunderbird. She tried, but... they don't support 3rd party apps. Seems to me this is an Mac problem since Thunderbird still connects on Windows perfectly.

Hints please. Thunderbird email is dead on my Mac. I'll be checking in on my Windows Thunderbird for notifications.

I've used Thunderbird on my Windows computers for years. I just purchased a Mac and was less than satisfied with Mac Mail, especially since I have multiple email servers. So, I installed Thunderbird. It has worked well for well over a month. Saturday, I started getting connection refused for all 3 of my imap email servers. All still work fine on my Windows computer (I still have it). Support with AppleCare this morning fixed my Mac Mail, but not Thunderbird. She tried, but... they don't support 3rd party apps. Seems to me this is an Mac problem since Thunderbird still connects on Windows perfectly. Hints please. Thunderbird email is dead on my Mac. I'll be checking in on my Windows Thunderbird for notifications.

Valgt løsning

What are the proxy settings in Preferences/General/Network & Disk Space/Connection? Some Mac users have had to select a different entry from the first 3 choices. Also, try running in OS X safe mode and see if it makes any difference.

What is the version of TB on the Windows PC?

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All Replies (7)

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On TB v78 the minimum requirement for SSL has increased and probably your email service provider still uses deprecated security for the mail server. Can you try to set a lowest security by following the below steps and let us know how it works?

From the menu at the top right, go to Options. Scroll all the way to the bottom and click on Config Editor -> Skip past the warning. Scroll down until you find security.tls.version.min (or paste security.tls.version.min to upper frame) Change the value 3 to 1. Restart TB

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Valgt løsning

What are the proxy settings in Preferences/General/Network & Disk Space/Connection? Some Mac users have had to select a different entry from the first 3 choices. Also, try running in OS X safe mode and see if it makes any difference.

What is the version of TB on the Windows PC?

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On my Mac, I went into proxy settings and clicked "No proxy". That fixed two of my accounts. Maybe all three but I deleted my gmail password... can't figure out how to reset it. On my Windows Thunderbird(68.12, 32b), under Tools/Options/Security I can get to passwords. I can't find Security Options on the Mac. How do I reset a password?

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Ok. Figure it out. When Thunderbird logs into gmail on the Mac, it takes me to a Google screen to log in and then syncs. Don't do it through TB.

I guess all is well. Thanks for the input.

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I just downloaded Big Sur on my Mac. Thunderbird will not connect to my web email. I used it successfully under Catalina. Changing to "no proxy" did nothing. Apple support got Mail going for me, but knew nothing about Thunderbird.

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I have changed passwords, tried no proxy, tried safe mode, repeatedly tried to run Thunderbird but it will not receive or send emails on my Mac with Big Sur. I really do not want to download a new version of Thunderbird as I will lose personal information stored in the app now. Mac support got Mail going, but they know nothing about Thunderbird. I have used Thunderbird on both PCs and Mac and much prefer it to Mail. What will get it functional? The console says "Component returned failure code: 9x80520001 (INS-ERROR-FILE-UNRECOGNIZED-PATH) [nslXPCComponents_Utils.readUTF8URl]"

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Yesterday at midday Google stopped talking to Thunderbird (or vice versa). I had changed absolutely nothing on Thunderbird or my Google mail. I then tried to solve the problem with each of the preceding suggestions: none worked.

I am on Mac OSX.10.12.6. Thunderbird is 78.6.0. Apple Mail (which I HATE and had never ever used) opened and worked immediately, without any configuration or password.

What is wrong, and what can I do? Please help. (Female non-technical senior citizen here.)