How to Add an Email Account in Thunderbird? IMAP, POP & OAuth Setup
Published: May 12th, 2026 • 5 Min Read
This guide provides step-by-step instructions to add an email account in Thunderbird manually or automatically on Mac & Windows.
Mozilla Thunderbird is a desktop email client that lets you access multiple accounts, Gmail, Yahoo, Office 365, business accounts, and private server accounts in one place. One can set up an email address in Thunderbird either using IMAP4rev1 (RFC 3501) or via the POP protocol.
Automatically Add Email Account in Thunderbird
The automatic email account setup in Thunderbird still requires your email credentials, i.e., username & password. The auto-configuration directly fetches account server information (protocol, server addresses & security) from ISPDB (Thunderbird’s Internal Service Provider Database).
Important: Whether you are connecting the account manually or automatically. Ensure you are using a stable internet.
Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Go to the Account Setup Window in Thunderbird
Note: If you have newly installed the Thunderbird email client or do not have an account configured. Thunderbird will automatically prompt you to configure an email ID upon restart.
To add a second email account in Thunderbird to a pre-existing installation.
- Click on the Hamburger Menu (three lines) on the top right.
- Choose the New Account option.
- Select Email.
Step 2: Enter Email Credentials
Feed in your Full Name & Email address, and press Continue.
Disclaimer: If the Thunderbird ISPDB does not fetch your email server account or cannot connect to your account, you will have to choose the manual configuration approach.
Step 3: Choose Connection Type
- Choose whether you want to connect to the account via IMAP or POP.
- Press Continue.
Recommend: IMAP, as it lets you access your email over multiple device platforms and has a lower risk of data corruption.
- IMAP: Keep your folders and emails synchronised on your server (only keeps a local copy in Thunderbird)
- POP: Keep your folders and emails on your computer. No data will be stored on the server.
Note: Some legacy email services, such as Juno and older Rediff Mail accounts, do not support IMAP connections.
Step 4: Authenticate the Connection
To authenticate the connection, you will need to enter the password.
Email providers like Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook.com use OAuth. Thus, you are not directly entering the password in Thunderbird.
- Press “Next”.
- Click on the Allow Button to provide Thunderbird with data access.
Note: You may have to fulfill 2FA or MFA prompts if enabled.
Step 5: Finish Account Setup in Thunderbird
You will get an “Email Connection Successful” message. Press the Finish button, or you can also choose to add another email ID in Thunderbird.
Set Up an Email Account in Thunderbird Manually
In cases where ISPDB cannot add an email account to Thunderbird by directly connecting to the email server settings, or is fetching incorrect server details, leading to connection failure.
This is often required in cases where you are dealing with a company email account or on-premise connections.
Note: To add a second email account in Thunderbird via IMAP or POP manually. You must know the following details:
- Incoming mail server
- Outgoing SMTP server
- Port numbers
- Security type
- Account credentials
You can find these details from your email service provider’s support page, hosting control panel, or by contacting your email admin.
- Click the Hamburger menu button (three lines) on the top-right.
- Choose New Account >> Email.
- Enter your credentials (full name and email address).
- Click on the Manual Configuration link below instead of Continue.
- Feed in IMAP/POP details – Hostname, connection security, port number.
- Choose an authentication method. (OAuth Recommended or use Normal Password). Press Continue.
- Enter the SMTP details and press Test to add an email account in Thunderbird.
- If the details entered were correct your will have successfully connected a mail account.
FAQs: Add Email Account in Thunderbird
Q1: Can I not do any tasks in Thunderbird before adding an account?
Although Thunderbird lets you perform certain tasks without adding an email account. Originally, it was developed to access emails, hence most tasks require account configurations.
Q2: Is it safe to connect an email account to Thunderbird?
With the evolving email technology to enhance security, there are multiple ways to establish a secure email connection between your email account & Thunderbird – such as OAuth or Normal Password (for Authentication) & there are multiple secure protocols like SSL/TLS to establish a secure connection.
Q3: What are the advanced configurations when setting up a new account manually in Thunderbird?
Advanced configuration in Thunderbird lets you choose where your email data will be stored under the profile folder, signature, and other organisational details.
Q4: Is there any limit on the number of email accounts that can be configured in Thunderbird?
No, however, there is a Thunderbird mailbox size limit based on your computer storage.
