Cannot always get new messages
Thunderbird picks up new messages only when I first start the program. But it won't get new messages aftewards regardless of what time interval I choose for it to do so. It also will not get messages manually if I press on the Get Messages button. So the only way I can get messages is to shut the program and restart it. However, if i click on any of the other folders (other than the Inbox) it will sync with the my server. But not if I click on the Inbox folder. My ISP Charter (Spectrum). All 3 boxes under Server Settings are checked, and the "check for new messages every__minutes" is set for 1 min. But it doesn't work under longer minutes either.
All Replies (4)
The setting "Check for new messages every X minutes", is not really relevant when using IMAP, because IMAP communications are supposed to be immediate. Setting that to 1 minute will just confuse things and not do any good. So change it to 30 minutes or disable it.
I'm going to go through the various settings relevant to IMAP, giving screenshots, and you check your settings to see if they are the same.
1. Thunderbird menu: Tools: Account Settings. See my first two screenshots.
2. Synchronization & Storage. See my third screenshot.
3. Subscribed Folders. In the normal Thunderbird view, right-click your e-mail address and choose "Subscribe". See my 4th & 5th screenshots. Checkmark the relevant folders for you, making sure that "Inbox" is checkmarked. Notice that I have more than one "Inbox", because my e-mail server is complicated. Maybe yours is complicated also. Checkmark all the folders to see if there is any difference.
If after checking all these settings, your Inbox still doesn't update, then the issue is probably with the e-mail server not telling Thunderbird that there are new e-mails in the Inbox.
Modified by user1121639
I changed the new message pickup from 1 to 30 min. The other setting were fine. However, that did not help. So the only way I can pick up new mail is still only by closing Thunderbird and then restarting it. Thank you.
So there is something about your mail provider's servers that don't act like most other mail servers.
So please check that you have the e-mail server settings in Thunderbird to what "Charter.net Spectrum" wants you to set them. Their instructions are "interesting", in that they want your home computer to have different settings than mobile devices.
http://www.charter.net/support/internet/email-quick-reference-guide/#/desktop-settings
Thunderbird menu: Tools: Account Settings: For incoming e-mail: Select "Server Settings" on the left side under your e-mail account, and the settings are on the right side. For outgoing e-mail: Select "Outgoing Server (SMTP)" on the left side, then select the server you want on the right side. Click the "Edit" button to change the settings.
It is a known problem with Charter for a long time. Whatever they are telling you, you'll need to complain to Charter and urge them to fix it. Also see https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1153184