How to Sync iPad With Thunderbird

Sync multiple iOS devices to the same Google account.

Apple provides an integral function in its iTunes multimedia-management software for syncing your iPad with a variety of different desktop packages such as Microsoft Outlook and Internet Explorer. However, it does not support synchronization with Mozilla's Thunderbird email client. By using a free online Google account as an intermediary, you can sync your iPad's mail, calendar and contacts with Thunderbird, which has the added benefit of providing a wireless, automatic syncing process.

Instructions

IPad

1. Tap the "Settings" button on the iPad's home screen, followed by the "Mail, Contacts, Calendars" button. Tap the "Add Account" button and select "Microsoft Exchange" from the list of available online services.

2. Enter your Google account's username in the "Email" and "Username" fields. Enter your Google account's password in the "Password" field. Leave the "Domain" box empty and tap the "Next" button in the upper right corner.

3. Tap the "Cancel" button in the "Cannot Verify Server" dialog box that pops up. The iPad returns to the "Exchange" screen. This isn't a fault, but a necessary part of the setup process.

4. Type "m.google.com" into the "Server" field that has appeared and tap the "Next" button again. The iPad will successfully verify the server this time.

5. Slide the "Mail," "Contacts" and "Calendar" switches to "On" and tap the "Done" button. The iPad will sync with your online Google account.

Thunderbird

1. Click the "Tools" menu at the top of the Thunderbird window and select "Add-ons." The "Add-ons" tab opens.

2. Type "Provider" into the "Search All Add-ons" box in the upper right corner of the "Add-ons" tab and press the "Enter" key on your keyboard.

3. Click the "Install" button to the right of the "Provider for Google" entry in the search results. The add-on is downloaded and installed in Thunderbird.

4. Click the "Options" button to the right of "Provider" and enter your Google account username and password in the relevant boxes. Click the "Save" button and Thunderbird is synced to your Google account and to your iPad.

Tips & Warnings

• Synchronization takes place automatically whenever an iPad application is launched or when Thunderbird's Provider add-on detects changes within your Google account.

• You can also enter or edit data in your Google account from any computer, and the changes will be reflected on both the iPad and in Thunderbird.

References

• Google: Setting Up Google Sync With Your iOS Device

Resources

• Google Accounts: Create an Account