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Gmail and Thunderbird both are popular email clients. Gmail is a web-based platform, whereas Thunderbird is a desktop-based platform. Both email clients offer advanced features to make email communication easy. But managing two email accounts becomes a challenge for users. For easy management of emails in one place, users want to configure Thunderbird for Gmail.
However, many users find it difficult to setup Gmail for Thunderbird due to lack of knowledge. But with proper Gmail Thunderbird settings information, you can smoothly configure your Gmail account in Thunderbird. Continue reading this guide and let’s find out the best way for Thunderbird configuration for Gmail.
Why do you need to setup Gmail for Thunderbird?
The need to setup Gmail for Thunderbird arises for many reasons, and some of them are:
- Easy offline accessibility
Thunderbird allows you to access emails offline without connecting to the internet. - Outstanding features
Thunderbird provides many advanced and excellent features to improve your emailing experience. - Multiple account handling
Thunderbird allows you to manage multiple email accounts of different email clients at one place. - Improved productivity
With Thunderbird, you can improve your productivity as it is a desktop-based platform.
Precautions to consider before Thunderbird configuration for Gmail
Before you configure Thunderbird for Gmail, you must take some precautionary measures to save them from multiple risks.
Here are some of the precautionary measures listed below:
- Create data backup
Before performing manual methods, you must create a backup of your data. - Verify credentials
Make sure the Gmail credentials (email address and password) you are using are correct. - Check server settings
Make sure Gmail Thunderbird settings are correct such as server address and port number. - Cross-check access permissions
Verify all the required permissions are granted to setup Gmail for Thunderbird.
Email settings for Thunderbird
To setup Thunderbird for Gmail, you need outgoing and incoming email server information. With accurate Gmail Thunderbird settings, you can perform the method easily:
| SMTP settings | IMAP settings | POP3 settings |
| Hostname: smtp.gmail.com | Hostname: imap.gmail.com | Hostname: pop.gmail.com |
| Port: 465 (with SSL), 587 (without SSL) | Port: 993 (with SSL), 143 (without SSL) | Port: 995 (with SSL), 110 (without SSL) |
| Username and Password: Credentials of your account. | Username and Password: Credentials of your account. | Username and Password: Credentials of your account. |
Method to setup Gmail for Thunderbird
The process of Thunderbird configuration for Gmail is very simple. To perform Thunderbird setup for Gmail with error-free results, you need an IMAP-enabled Gmail account. As per a new update from Google, IMAP is automatically enabled for all Gmail accounts. Furthermore, follow the below mentioned steps to setup Thunderbird for Gmail:
Step 1. Launch Thunderbird on your system and click on three lines located at top right corner, then select Account Settings.
Step 2. Click on Account Actions and then tap on Add Mail Account.
Step 3. Enter Your full name, Email address and Password, then click Configure manually.
Step 4. Enter the required details, and click Re-test, then Done.
In this way, your Gmail account is configured in Thunderbird email client. Now, you can access your Gmail emails in Thunderbird.
Automated solution to backup Gmail emails
Configuring a Gmail account in Thunderbird is easy and doesn’t require much effort. However, if you want to back up your Gmail emails, you can use third-party software. Kernel for MBOX to PST is the prime choice of users to backup Gmail MBOX files into desired file format. This software can easily convert MBOX to PST, MSG, EML, etc. formats. You can add multiple files at once as there is no file size restriction with this software.
The software even allows you to transfer MBOX files to different email servers such as Office 365, GroupWise, Microsoft Exchange Server, etc. and web-based email clients such as Yahoo, Outlook.com, iCloud, etc. Additionally, you can use the split PST option to deal with oversized MBOX file issue. Utilize the software’s trial version to try out the outstanding features and convert 25 items per folder for free.
Conclusion
Gmail setup for Thunderbird email client is simple and can be performed easily with proper knowledge of server settings. But before implementing the method, you must backup your Gmail data to save it from data loss and corruption issues. Use Kernel for MBOX to PST to export emails from Gmail to Outlook PST or other formats and create a secure backup of Gmail data.
Frequently asked questions
A. Consider the following Gmail Thunderbird settings to easily configure Gmail in Thunderbird:
1. Incoming server host and port number (IMAP-993 and POP3-995).
2. Outgoing server host and its port number (SMTP-465).
3. Username and password of the Gmail account.
A. Yes, you must backup your Gmail account data before you configure Thunderbird for Gmail to avoid unnecessary data loss risks.
