Is check for messages on startup clicked in the account settings > server settings

Yes, Matt, it is checked

Mel

Is Thunderbird set up as an allowed program in the Firewall ?

What Anti-Virus product are you using ?

Do you get a 'not responding' type of error message or a 'timeout' error or 'too many cached connections' error etc?

Do you use a phone or another computer to access same email account? If yes, please run this test : switch off phone and/or other computer first to force disconnections, wait a few moments and then restart Thunderbird. Does it now connect auto to check for emails?

What server settings are you using?

• Help > More Troubleshooting Information
• scroll to 'Mail and News Accounts' section
• Copy all the info and paste it into this forum question.

Thanks for the suggestions. The issues suddenly resolved. Charter said they WERE having email issues. Wish they had told me that sooner.

But one other question. I seem to have a much newer version of Thunderbird. After I changed my Charter/Spectrum password, I fully expected Thunderbird to mention a userid/password conflict and allow me to enter the new password. It did not. It went right through and got my emails. How can it do that? It did this on two computers?

Mel

Thunderbird presents the account information it has stored in your profile to the server. It presents the email address and the password using the server settings set up for that account. It is the Spectrum server which allows access. So, if Thunderbird still has out of date 'password' and server is still accepting it then that is a question you need to ask Spectrum.

But at this point we have no idea what server settings you are using. Maybe you are using secure settings , but maybe you are using insecure settings ? Are you using IMAP or POP ?

Charter / Spectrum server settings: IMAP

• Incoming Email Server: mobile.charter.net
• Port: 993
• Connection SEcurity: SSL/TLS
• Authentication Method: Normal Password
• User Name = full email address

SMTP

• Outgoing Email Server: mobile.charter.net
• Port:587
• Connection SEcurity: STARTTLS
• Authentication Method: Normal Password
• User Name = full email address

Check to see what passwords are stored in Thunderbird:

• Menu icon > Settings > Privacy & Security
• Under Passwords section
• click on 'Saved Passwords'
• clickon 'Show Passwords'

If you need to edit password - right click on each relevant line and select 'Edit Password' Completely clear contents and carefully retype password. click on Close and restart Thunderbird.

Toad:

Thanks for your suggestions. Charter/Spectrum kind of admits the problem was on their end and indeed it has been working well for about a week. I'll consider it solved if it stays good through the month.

But I did compare the settings with your specs. They agreed except for the outgoing security setting. They had SSL/TLS (same setting both ways). I'll change it if problem recurs?

Current pw is correct.

I changed pws frequently in recent months.Those changes are not there. Not sure what's up with that.

Mel