We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Thunderbird 78 Email Encryption

  • 2 cavab
  • 1 has this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by Wayne Mery

more options

Is there a step by step process to setup secure email encryption for Thunderbird 78? I searched through the FAQs and Support areas and found generalized direction. However, when following directions to setup PGP encryption, the certificate boxes are not enabled.

1. How do I setup a certificate that is recognized by Thunderbird's encryption? 2. If I can't setup the certificate, where do I find a cert that is recognized by Thunderbird's encryption?

It would be much appreciated if someone could provide a step by step process for setting up email encryption for Thunderbird 78.x.x

Thanks and hope all is healthy!

Is there a step by step process to setup secure email encryption for Thunderbird 78? I searched through the FAQs and Support areas and found generalized direction. However, when following directions to setup PGP encryption, the certificate boxes are not enabled. 1. How do I setup a certificate that is recognized by Thunderbird's encryption? 2. If I can't setup the certificate, where do I find a cert that is recognized by Thunderbird's encryption? It would be much appreciated if someone could provide a step by step process for setting up email encryption for Thunderbird 78.x.x Thanks and hope all is healthy!

All Replies (2)

more options
when following directions to setup PGP encryption, the certificate boxes are not enabled.

Currently OpenPGP in TB78.1.0 is still considered experimental, and hence is disabled. If you would like to test while OpenPGP support is still experimental, you may open Thunderbird preferences, and use the config editor to change the preference with the name "mail.openpgp.enable" to the value "true". Then restart Thunderbird. This will enable the user interface for OpenPGP.

Presumably OpenPGP will be declared stable in TB78.2.0.

It would be much appreciated if someone could provide a step by step process for setting up email encryption for Thunderbird 78.x.x

You'd need to provide more information about where you're coming from. Have you already used Enigmail/GPG with TB68, and thus already have a key? Or are you starting from scratch? Are you having any recipient keys you can use to send encrypted messages?

Modified by christ1

more options

Also, the comments on OpenPGP at https://www-stage.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/78.0/releasenotes/ have reference links