This topic

Thunderbird BT email settings

wairds — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 14:28:31 GMT

When setting up Thunderbird email client (POP/SMTP) using the recommended BT email server settings I receive the following message “Unable to login at server. Probably wrong configuration, username or password.”

However if I set Connection security on the Incoming POP server to “None”. All is well.

Can somebody please advise.

Thank you.

Re: Thunderbird BT email settings

imjolly — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:11:53 GMT

these are BT mail server settings

https://www.bt.com/help/email/manage-email-account/manual-settings/what-are-the-settings-for-outgoing-and-incoming-bt-email-servers

Re: Thunderbird BT email settings

wairds — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:23:36 GMT

Thank you for responding.

These are the settings I am using which are the same as the BT recommended settings:

POP3 settings

Incoming Mail Server: mail.btinternet.com

Port: 995

SSL Encryption: SSL/TLS

Username: email address xxxxxxxx@btinternet.com

Password: btinternet password

SMTP settings

Outgoing Mail Server: mail.btinternet.com

Port: 465

SSL Encryption: SSL/TLS

Authentication: btinternet password

Username: email address xxxxxxxx@btinternet.com

Password: your btinternet password

Yet I am receiving an error using the recommended POP settings. SMTP seems ok.

Re: Thunderbird BT email settings

imjolly — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:30:30 GMT

an reason not to use IMAP instead of POP?

Re: Thunderbird BT email settings

wairds — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:34:35 GMT

I think the preference was POP but I have just tried IMAP and receive the same message as with POP.

Re: Thunderbird BT email settings

licquorice — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:47:34 GMT

It is your preference whether to use POP3 or IMAP. With IMAP all devices are synced and mail held on server, with POP3 mail is downloaded to your device.

Make sure you have set authentication as Normal Password.

Re: Thunderbird BT email settings

wairds — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 16:14:44 GMT

Thank you. I have all those settings but am still receiving the same message. I am baffled.

Why should it be ok when I set Connection security on the Incoming POP server to “None”?

Re: Thunderbird BT email settings

TimCurtis — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 16:32:13 GMT

@wairds

I have exactly the settings as you using POP3.

It also works if I use None for security rather than SSL/TLS.

I assume you aren't encrypting the password.

I've had a look at my account settings within BT Mail and there's nothing odd in there.

What version of Thunderbird are you using and has this been a recent or long term problem?

Edit:

Just seen there were a number of security fixes applied yesterday so if you've updated since then maybe that's the issue.

Re: Thunderbird BT email settings

gg30340 — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 16:44:00 GMT

I notice that you previously had problems trying to set up your email account in Outlook.

https://community.bt.com/t5/General-email-queries/Setting-up-a-BT-email-account-in-New-Outlook-Windows-11/m-p/2421622#M118684

Since July 2022 BT no longer supply an email account to new BT Broadband customers.

Have you been a BT Broadband customer prior to that date and do you have a BTMail account on your BT Broadband account prior to that date.

If you do have a BTMail account does it send and receive when you use a web browser (webmail).

Have you checked what your email account "type" is when you go to your MyBT > Your Products > Email, Manage? It should be "Standard" or if you pay for your email it should show "Premium".

Re: Thunderbird BT email settings

wairds — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 16:49:08 GMT

Thanks for getting back to me,

Today is my first encounter with Thunderbird and consequently I only downloaded it this afternoon so am assuming it is the latest version. I am setting it up for an acquaintance and thought it would be quite straightforward!

I am entering the password in plain text.

I have also posed the same question on the Mozilla forum but have so far received no responses.

In wading through Thunderbird I notice there are connection settings. I don’t know if I have to adjust those?

Re: Thunderbird BT email settings

wairds — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 17:20:18 GMT

Thanks for your response. I am setting this up for an acquaintance and am not sure of the background.

All I know is that he purchased a new laptop with Windows 11 on it and since then he has had issues trying to install and use an email client. First New Outlook and now Thunderbird. Prior to the new laptop, as far as I am aware, he had no issue when using Outlook on an old laptop.

I don’t believe BT is his Broadband provider but he obviously has a BT email account.

I am unclear what issue this may cause and whatever they maybe does it mean he can’t use an email client with a BT email address?

Re: Thunderbird BT email settings

gg30340 — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 17:26:03 GMT

If neither a BT Broadband customer or paying for his BTMail email through a BT Premium email account his email account will have been downgraded to a BTMail Basic account which can not be used with an email client

See link

https://www.bt.com/help/email/bt-email-products

Re: Thunderbird BT email settings

wairds — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 17:30:25 GMT

Thanks.

I will check with him, but I am sure he had Outlook running with this BT email address on an old laptop?

Re: Thunderbird BT email settings

gg30340 — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 17:36:12 GMT

@wairds wrote:

Thanks.

I will check with him, but I am sure he had Outlook running with this BT email address on an old laptop?

It might well have been because the system had not thrown him off when he stopped being a BT Broadband customer but the system will have checked when he tried to set up the email account again and "computer says no". It would not allow it to register.

That is assuming he does not have a BT Premium email account.

Re: Thunderbird BT email settings

wairds — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:39:05 GMT

My thanks to all who responded.

As my friend also had a gmail account, I set that up with no issue on Thunderbird. I then put automatic forwarding on his BT email account so he receives all his emails in one repository. Not ideal, but he is happy with the solution.

Thanks again.

Re: Thunderbird BT email settings

gg30340 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:45:15 GMT

Be aware that forwarding on a BTMail Basic account can be stopped by BT at anytime without warning.