Emails not downloading from the server
I am running Thunderbird 45.4.0. I have a POP3 account configured which until yesterday worked just fine, but today it is not downloading any emails from the server. I have logged in to my webmail (it's hosted by google) and can see the emails there, but cannot dowload them with Thunderbird. I can send emails from the account from Thunderbird still, so I'm not sure what could be wrong. I have checked the settings against the google recommended ones, tried uninstalling Thunderbird and reinstalling an older version and then back to the current one, removed the accounts and then restored my profile and nothing has worked.
All Replies (7)
Restart the operating system in safe mode with Networking. This loads only the very basics needed to start your computer while enabling an Internet connection. Click on your operating system for instructions on how to start in safe mode: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, OSX
- If safe mode for the operating system fixes the issue, there's other software in your computer that's causing problems. Possibilities include but not limited to: AV scanning, virus/malware, background downloads such as program updates.
Sorry, I forgot to mention that I had already tried restarting in safe mode and it didn't help.
There is a difference between Thunderbird Safe Mode and computer booting up in Safe mode with Networking.
Please confirm that you booted up computer in Safe Mode with Networking.
At first I tried just starting Thunderbird in Safe Mode. I have now tried starting Windows 10 in safe mode with networking, and Thunderbird started downloading emails, but it started downloading every single email that is in the web server, from the oldest, so that is hundreds of thousands of emails. I had stop that process as it would have taken days to complete. I then restarted my computer in standard mode again and Thunderbird is not downloading emails (but still sending). I have tried disabling our antivirus (ESET) but that hasn't helped, and there are no udpates happening at the moment...
As Thunderbird works ok in Safe Mode with networking, there is another program on your computer effecting Thunderbird and the most likely culprit is the Anti-Virus. There is no point disabling the anti-virus because then the default one takes over and you are left in the same situation. You only it is switched off properly by booting up computer in Safe mode.
You need to stop the anti-virus from scanning Thunderbird folders on startup and also stop scanning incoming and outgoing mail.
Info on Windows 10 default Anti-virus Defender:
I've turned the firewall off. Windows Defender is Off.
I've added two exceptions to ESET, following the instructions above, to exclude the whole Thunderbird folder and the folder where my Thunderbird profile is stored.
Emails still not downloading.
I've also tried pausing ESET's protection, making sure Windows Defender was still off, and that didn't work either...
I've turned the firewall off. Windows Defender is Off.
I've added two exceptions to ESET, following the instructions above, to exclude the whole Thunderbird folder and the folder where my Thunderbird profile is stored.
Emails still not downloading.
I've also tried pausing ESET's protection, making sure Windows Defender was still off, and that didn't work either...