Can't change server settings to new server.
My webhost changed server settings. the server name and port changed.
I have a few different accounts in my Thunderbird application. One of them, I changed the server settings and it's working fine. Another one, I changed the server but it is not connecting.
this is IMAP setup
When i attempt to refresh my mail, the status bar at the bottom indicates that it is attempting to connect to the correct (new) server. But it stalls and after a minute or two I get a popup that says the server timed out. the weird thing is, in the error message it shows the OLD server name. So it looks like it is still trying to connect to the old server, even though I've looked at all the settings 10 times and it is set to the new server name and port for both the incoming and outgoing (SMTP).
the person at the webhost tech help says sometimes it keeps using the old setting and there is no way around it other than to delete the account in the email client and start over. he insists that since it is IMAP, no data will be lost. but i would rather not do that.
i tried rebooting thunderbird several times and I also rebooted my machine.
does anyone have a suggestion? why is it still checking the old server?
thanks, gary in vermont
Modified by Gary
All Replies (4)
Set up a new account for the new server in Thunderbird. Make sure to give it a different name than the existing account.
If your existing account is IMAP as well, make sure to to download your messages to your Local Folders account prior to loosing access to the old IMAP server.
Modified by christ1
thanks.... I already have lost access to the old server. the webhost (bluehost) switched servers without telling me and i suddenly couldn't get my email.
so I can make a new account and connect to the new server, and supposedly/hopefully it will be identical to what I had before on the old server. I hope!
my question is, why can't i just change the server settings in the existing account? why is thunderbird still checking the old server even though I changed it in the settings?
Check in Tools/Options/Security/Passwords/Saved Passwords that there aren't any passwords referring to obsolete incoming or outgoing servers.
hopefully it will be identical to what I had before on the old server.
If your old account is POP, then your data is on the local disc anyway, and nothing will be lost.
If your old account is IMAP, then you'd have to have enable synchronization, so that your data is available offline. https://support.mozilla.org/kb/imap-synchronization
why can't i just change the server settings in the existing account?
It's not possible to change a POP account to an IMAP account. That's the way it is.
If you change an existing IMAP account the new server may wipe your existing data. So it's always better to create a new account when the server changes.
There is no problem changing Connection security, Authentication type or a port no. of an existing account.