Configuring Thunderbird for Google Mail

Once you have converted your account to use Google mail, in addition to the Google web mail interface, your e-mail can also be accessed by Thunderbird.

Before configuring Thunderbird, IMAP access must be enabled.  This can be done by logging into your Google Apps account and clicking on the gear icon in the top-right corner of the page.  Select the "Mail Settings" option and on the configuration page that appears, find the tab titled "Forwarding and POP/IMAP".  Make sure that the button for "Enable IMAP" is selected and then click "Save Changes" at the bottom of the page.

The second Google option that you should change is found by clicking the other icon (the one to the right of the mail toolbar, not the one at the top-right of the window), "Settings", and going to the "Labels" tab.  Remove the checkbox labeled "Show in IMAP" for only the "All Mail" folder.  All the other folders that you want to appear should be checked.  Be sure to click "Save" when you are done.

Once IMAP is enabled for your BSOE gmail account, you will want to configure Thunderbird with the following values:

Account Name: username@soe.ucsc.edu
E-Mail Address: username@soe.ucsc.edu
Incoming Server Type: IMAP
Incoming User Name: username@soe.ucsc.edu
Incoming Server Name: imap.gmail.com
Connection Security: SSL/TLS (Port 993)
Authentication method: BSOE Password
Outgoing User Name: username@soe.ucsc.edu
Outgoing Server Name (SMTP): smtp.gmail.com
Connection Security: STARTTLS (Port 587)
Authentication method: BSOE Password

In Thunderbird the steps to entering settings would go something like this:

First create a new account in Thunderbird by clicking on the create account link on the main Thunderbird view.

Thunderbird Configuration Step 1

 

After selecting "create a new account" newer versions of Thunderbird will pop up something asking about a new email address by Hover.com, select "Skip this and use my existing email"

Thunderbird Configuration Step 2

 Next the basic account information popup box will display. Fill out the fields as described and uncheck Remember password, then click "Continue".

Thunderbird Configuration Step 3

Thunderbird will try and prepopulate the settings incorrectly. Fill out the correct settings like so

 Thunderbird Configuration Step 4

Then click "Re-test". Once Thunderbird finishes the test click "Done"

The new google account has been added to Thunderbird.

How to Turn Off 5 Threads

If you are using Thunderbird to access your Google mail, making this chane may help prevent you from hitting your daily transfer quota.

  1. Go to Tools -> Account Settings -> Server Settings -> Advanced
  2. Under "Maximum number of server connections to cache" fill in 1.