How to Configure Google on Thunderbird

You can configure Thunderbird to access Google Gmail through POP3 or IMAP.

Google Gmail began as web-based email, but can now be accessed with POP3 or IMAP from a desktop email client like Mozilla Thunderbird or Outlook. POP3 lets you download your Gmail Inbox and synch it with Thunderbird. If you configure Thunderbird for IMAP, you can download and synch all of your Gmail folders. Thunderbird will automatically configure your Gmail IMAP or POP3 connection when you add the account. Both POP3 and IMAP access use Google's SMTP server for outgoing mail.

Instructions

1. Open a browser and log into your Gmail account. Click the "Gear" icon and click "Mail Settings." Click "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" and click the radio button next to "Enable POP For All Mail" and "Enable IMAP." Click "Save Changes."

2. Open Mozilla Thunderbird. Click "Tools," then "Account Settings."

3. Click "Account Actions," then "Add Mail Account." Enter your name in the "You Name" text box. Enter the Gmail email account address in the "Email Address" text box. For example, enter "[e-mail]." Enter the password associated with the account. Click "Continue."

4. Click the "IMAP (Remote Folders) radio button to configure Thunderbird for a Gmail IMAP account. Click the "POP3 (Keep Mail On Your Computer)" radio button to create a Gmail POP3 connection. Click "Create Account." Click "OK."

Tips & Warnings

• IMAP always leaves your email on the Gmail server and downloads a copy to Thunderbird. To keep POP3 email on the server, right click the account in the "All Folders" pane and select "Settings." Click "Server Settings" and check "Leave Messages On Server" and "Until I Delete Them." Click "OK."

References

• Google Gmail; Getting Started; January 2011
• Google Gmail; Thunderbird 3.0; January 2011
• North Carolina State University; Configuring Thunderbird 3 to Connect to Gmail; June 2011

Resources

• Google: Gmail