Followup edit: The forum says "1 has this problem"! Maybe for this post ... I've seen other posts about the same thing, so definitely MORE THAN 1 have this problem!

Hi Maximillium, From the information you've given, I'm not sure if you're on the correct add-ons site, so I'll just go through the steps to installing an add-on.

1. Go Tools > Add-ons to open the Add-ons manager.
2. Select the Get Add-ons panel.
3. If you select any add-on there, you should see a green Add to Thunderbird button. Clicking on that button will install the add-on.

If for some reason, you get taken out of Thunderbird to the add-ons site in Firefox, the Thunderbird Add-ons site is at https://addons.thunderbird.net/ .

1. If you select any add-on there, you should see a green Download Now button. Clicking on that button will prompt you to download a XPI file.
2. To install that file in Thunderbird, open the Add-ons Manager.
3. Select the Extensions panel.
4. Click on the gear icon, and select Install Add-on from File.

Hi Chris: Thanks for responding. Try searching for "Teal by MaDonna", which I use in Firefox and used to use in TBird too, and you will wind up in Firefox looking at https://addons.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/addon/teal/ or https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/teal/?src=search both of which offer to install to Thunderbird but actually install in Firefox ... where I already have it thank you.

From the link you supplied, https://addons.thunderbird.net/ most of the themes I used to see just aren't there. You have to search for one you want, and you will wind up in Firefox, which, again, only installs in Firefox even if the button says "install in TBird". There is no button that says "download an .xpi file".

I have filed a bug, but I am not seeing much in the way of interest as yet. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1482780

Matt said

I have filed a bug, but I am not seeing much in the way of interest as yet. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1482780

Thanks, Matt - but that bug report is not the same issue as the one I just posted about, and it was a week ago.

Maximillium said

Try searching for "Teal by MaDonna", which I use in Firefox and used to use in TBird too, and you will wind up in Firefox looking at https://addons.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/addon/teal/ or https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/teal/?src=search both of which offer to install to Thunderbird but actually install in Firefox ... where I already have it thank you.

Ahh, okay. I did some investigating, and this issue is specific to lightweight themes. It's a known issue. To install a Thunderbird theme, use the following steps:

1. Go Tools > Add-ons to open the Add-ons manager.
2. Select the Themes panel.
3. Click on Choose from thousands of themes. That will open the add-ons site in a new Thunderbird tab.
4. If you select any theme there, you should see a grey Add button. Clicking on that button will install the theme.

Chris Ilias said

Maximillium said

Try searching for "Teal by MaDonna", which I use in Firefox and used to use in TBird too, and you will wind up in Firefox looking at https://addons.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/addon/teal/ or https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/teal/?src=search both of which offer to install to Thunderbird but actually install in Firefox ... where I already have it thank you.

Ahh, okay. I did some investigating, and this issue is specific to lightweight themes. It's a known issue. To install a Thunderbird theme, use the following steps:

1. Go Tools > Add-ons to open the Add-ons manager.
2. Select the Themes panel.
3. Click on Choose from thousands of themes. That will open the add-ons site in a new Thunderbird tab.
4. If you select any theme there, you should see a grey Add button. Clicking on that button will install the theme.

Hi Chris:

TB 52.9.1 seems not to have "Choose from thousands of themes".

I see: "Up & Coming" "Featured Themes" "More ways to customize" "See all complete themes" with most followed by "See all"

When I click "See all", the page that appears does indeed show "Download" buttons, but searching for "Teal" or "Teal by MaDonna" or "Madonna" result in "No results found".

So "All" in TBird is not the same as "All" in Firefox.

Arrgh....

I liked having both programs in matching schemes. Now ... barf.

In this case, I would recommend updating to Thunderbird 60!

1. Make a backup of your profile folder.
2. Go to getthunderbird.com and download the latest version of Thunderbird.
3. Run the installer. It should install over top your previous version. For more information about what's new in Thunderbird 60, check out the following article: New in Thunderbird 60

If you'd rather not update, you can try temporarily setting your home page to the add-on URL.

1. Go to Edit > Preferences > General.
2. Under Thunderbird Start Page, set the URL to https://addons.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/addon/teal/
3. Click Close.
4. Go to Go > Mail Start Page. The add-on page should load in the message pane.

Chris - you're amazing! Thank you so very much! I again have my "matching set" browser/email combo!

I've found a better solution, at least unless Thunderbird 60 is ever released for my platform.

Simply install Personas Plus version 1.83 instead of the latest version 2.02 (as of this writing). version 1.83 is the latest known version that works with Thunderbird < v60. It should be available from:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/personas-plus/versions

You will probably have to download it manually using Firefox (save the XPI file to your desktop - ignore the "incompatible with your version of Firefox" warning), then Install Add-on from File within Thunderbird.

And version 1.83 works flawlessly for me and my ancient platform.

The Beerslayer said

I've found a better solution, at least unless Thunderbird 60 is ever released for my platform. Simply install Personas Plus version 1.83 instead of the latest version 2.02 (as of this writing). version 1.83 is the latest known version that works with Thunderbird < v60. It should be available from: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/personas-plus/versions You will probably have to download it manually using Firefox (save the XPI file to your desktop - ignore the "incompatible with your version of Firefox" warning), then Install Add-on from File within Thunderbird. And version 1.83 works flawlessly for me and my ancient platform.

Hi "Beer".... I just installed v1.83, works for me too! Thank you!