Mozilla Thunderbird overview

Overview

This article explains how to configure the Thunderbird mail client with a DreamHost email address.

Thunderbird is a free open-source mail client made by the organization that produced the Mozilla Firefox web browser.

Configuring Thunderbird

The following steps configure Thunderbird with a DreamHost email address.

1. Download and install Thunderbird.
2. On the top left, click the File menu and select New > Email Account...

   The Mail Account Setup page appears.

3. Enter the following settings:
   • Your full name: This name will display in the message 'From' details.
   • Email address: Enter the full email address for your user.
   • Password: Enter the email password. (The password is case-sensitive, so make sure you enter the password exactly as it was created.)
   • Remember password: Check this box so Thunderbird doesn't prompt you to enter the password in the future.
4. On the bottom left, click Configure manually. Incoming and outgoing server settings display.
5. INCOMING SERVER: Enter the following: 
   • Protocol: IMAP is recommended. See this article to choose between IMAP and POP.
   • Hostname: The hostname corresponds to the Protocol you chose.
     • If you chose IMAP, type in imap.dreamhost.com.
     • If you chose POP3, type in pop.dreamhost.com
   • Port: The port corresponds to the Protocol you chose.
     • If you chose IMAP, type in 993.
     • If you chose POP3, type in 995.
   • Connection security: SSL/TLS
   • Authentication method: Normal password
   • Username: The user's name.
6. OUTGOING SERVER: Enter the following: 
   • Hostname: This is always smtp.dreamhost.com.
   • Port: 587
   • Connection security: STARTTLS
   • Authentication method: Normal password
   • Username: The user's name.
7. Click the Re-test button. A success message displays.
8. Click the Done button.

Viewing message headers

Thunderbird refers to the message headers as the "source". These are helpful when troubleshooting email issues such as delivery or Spam. To view the full header details of a message:

1. Click the message to view its content.
2. On the top right corner of the message, click the More dropdown.
3. In the dropdown options, select View Source.

This opens a new window with the full header details of the message.

Troubleshooting

Some IMAP folders do not display

If you are not seeing a folder, you must manually subscribe to it.

1. In the left pane, right-click your email address.
2. From the pop-out menu, select Subscribe.

   The Subscribe window displays listing the default folders to which you are already subscribed.

3. Check the box for the folder you wish to subscribe to.
4. Click OK to save.

You can also do the following to make your IMAP folders appear in Thunderbird:

1. On the top left, click Thunderbird > Account Settings.
2. Under your email address, click the Server Settings option.
3. In this section, click the Advanced button.
4. Uncheck Show only subscribed folders.
5. Click OK.

   What if I still do not see the folder?

   In the left pane of Thunderbird's main window, click the triangle icon to the left of the email address. Collapse and un-collapse the account you edited.

   This makes Thunderbird re-read all of the folders on that account.

See also

DreamHost links

• Add an email address
• Email client configuration overview

Third-party links

• Thunderbird Support
• Mozilla Thunderbird Product Page