NetFAQs: Macintosh - E-mail - Mozilla Thunderbird

Thunderbird - E-mail Client for Macintosh OS X

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Key Settings:

Key Settings Cookies

Incoming Mail Server = Follows this format: mail.ispname.com (or .net) with your ISP's name substituted for "ispname.com (or .net)".

Outgoing Mail Server = Follows this format: mail.ispname.com (or .net) with your ISP's name substituted for "ispname.com (or .net)".

SMTP Authentication (e-mail username) is required to send e-mail.

Creating new e-mail accounts for the first time:

The first time you launch Thunderbird, the New Account Setup window opens automatically. If this doesn't appear for you, click here. If the following window does appear for you, do the following:

Select the Email account option.

Click Next to continue.

Your Name = Enter your name or a nickname.
Email Address = Enter the e-mail address of the account.

Click Next to continue.

Select POP.

Incoming server = Incoming Server The Incoming (POP3) mail server usually follows this format: mail.ispname.com (or .net). Replace the "ispname.com (or .net)" with your ISP's name. Outgoing server = Outgoing Server The Outgoing (SMTP) mail server usually follows this format: mail.ispname.com (or .net). Replace the "ispname.com (or .net)" with your ISP's name.

Click Next to continue.

User Name = Enter your e-mail username (everything before the @).

Click Next to continue.

Account Name = Enter a name for the account. It can be anything you wish. Make is distinctive to help distinguish it from any other accounts you may create. In this example I named the account 'Work'.

Click Next to continue.

Review the information you entered. Click "Back" to make any necessary changes.

Click Finish to complete the wizard.

Note: You must still enable SMTP Authentication in order to send e-mail. Continue to the next screenshots.

Enabling SMTP Authentication:

SMTP authentication is required to send e-mail and without this enabled, you cannot send e-mail. SMTP authentication helps deter would-be spammers from spamming you. SMTP authentication is as simple as entering a username and a password. Do the following:

On the Toolbar, click Tools and select Account Settings from the drop-down menu.

In the left-hand column, highlight Outgoing Server (SMTP).

To the right, you'll see three fields: Server Name, Port, and User Name.

Server Name = Outgoing Server The Outgoing (SMTP) mail server usually follows this format: mail.ispname.com (or .net). Replace the "ispname.com (or .net)" with your ISP's name.
Port = The default port number is perfect: 25.

Check the box Use name and password.

User Name = Enter your e-mail username (everything before the @).

Thunderbird ask for you password the first time you send e-mail. You can then choose to save the password.

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