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Synchronising Thunderbird with webmail

  • 12 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

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I am looking for a webmail service that will let me upload my existing e-mail files, use Thunderbird as the client and synchonise my e-mail files.

Can anybody help?

I am looking for a webmail service that will let me upload my existing e-mail files, use Thunderbird as the client and synchonise my e-mail files. Can anybody help?

All Replies (12)

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How about Gmail?

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Thanks for the suggest, but as far as I am aware Gmail will not let me upload my existing e-mail files and folders from Thunderbird and will not let me synchronise files.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

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I think there are millions of people using Thunderbird to sync via IMAP with Gmail. Make sure IMAP is turned on in your Gmail account per https://support.google.com/mail/troubleshooter/1668960?hl=en

As far as uploading existing emails, it would depend on what format you have them in.

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Thanks for your help. I'll give it a try tomorrow. My TB e-mails are in eml format.

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You don't need to upload existing e-mails, so eml-format is irrelevant in this context. Synchronizing is done automatically with IMAP.

Please read this article Thunderbird IMAP Synchronization before you start with setting up IMAP.

Perhaps also Thunderbird and Gmail or Google: Recommended IMAP client settings

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Thanks for this. I'll see how it works out.

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I tried this out and got as far as this screen:

italic texthttps://support.google.com/mail/troubleshooter/1668960?rd=1#ts=1665018,1665141,2769074

Open Thunderbird, enter your account information and click Continue.

   Full Name: [your name]
   Email Address: your full email address [username@gmail.com, or username@your_domain.com for Google Apps users]
   Password: your Gmail password

Thunderbird will do all of the setup for you, but confirm your settings with the information below.italic text

I opned TB, but do not know where to enter this account information. Can you please help?

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No sure if I understand your question.

Basically, in Thunderbird you would enter the details such as e-mail address, user name, password from your existing Gmail account (or the account you just created before starting TB), considering Google distinctive "features" mentioned in the links above.

To do this you can also skip the assistant in TB and configure it later on (Edit menu > Account Settings).

Modified by wuergler

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Okay, "in Thunderbird you would enter the details such as e-mail address, user name, password from your existing Gmail account (or the account you just created before starting TB)."

But WHERE do I enter it?

What is the "assistant in TB" and WHERE do I find it?

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I see ... Have you used TB before?

  • If not, the the first time you open Thunderbird after installing, you are prompted to create a profile. Next you will be asked to provide details about your e-mail account in a dialog box. This is described in detail in Automatic Account Configuration (whcih is what I call "assistant", but you may select "Skip this and use my existing email").
  • If yes, you may use File > New > Existing Mail Account. You'll be able to enter your account details.

In any case select IMAP for incoming mail when prompted rather than POP.

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Thanks for this. I gave it a try, but it did not seem to want to work. I'll try again when I have time and see what I did wrong.

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First you need to actually have a gmail account. Then in the gmail webmail account which you access via a Browser make sure IMAP forwarding is selected. Gmail login / create gmail account. https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?

Enable IMAP in your Gmail account settings

  • Click the gear in the top right.
  • Select Settings.
  • Click Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
  • Select Enable IMAP.
  • Click Save Changes.

In Thunderbird:

  • 3bar menu icon > New Messages > Existing mail account

or via mail toolbar

  • File > New > Exisitng mail account

Enter your name Enter the full gmail email address. enter the password you use to access the webmail gmail mail account select to remember the password. click on 'Continue'

Thunderbird will lookup configuration. make sure it has selected IMAP. Click on 'Done' when configuration has been located.

This will create an IMAP mail account for the gmail email address. More info on IMAP mail account: