Setting up Thunderbird

Complete guide to configuring your CodaMail account in Thunderbird for Linux

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📋 Before You Begin

Ensure that you've enabled IMAP/POP access in your CodaMail account settings before starting this setup process. This is required for external email clients to connect to your account.

Thunderbird Tip: CodaMail supports automatic configuration! Thunderbird will detect our server settings automatically, making setup quick and easy.

🚀 Step 1: Open Thunderbird Account Setup

  • Open Thunderbird on your Linux system
  • If it's your first time running Thunderbird, the setup wizard will start automatically
  • Otherwise, click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner
  • Navigate to Account Settings → Account Actions → Add Mail Account

📧 Step 2: Automatic Configuration (Recommended)

  • Enter your:
    • Your full name: As you want it to appear in messages
    • Email address: Your full CodaMail address (e.g., username@codamail.com)
    • Password: Your CodaMail account password
  • Click Continue
  • Thunderbird will automatically detect and configure the correct settings from our configuration server
  • Review the detected settings:
    • IMAP: mail.pnsh.com (Port 993, SSL/TLS)
    • SMTP: smtp.pnsh.com (Port 587, STARTTLS)
  • Click Done to complete the automatic setup

🔧 Step 3: Manual Configuration (If Needed)

If automatic configuration doesn't work, click Manual config and enter these settings:

Incoming Server (IMAP):

  • Protocol: IMAP
  • Server hostname: mail.pnsh.com
  • Port: 993
  • Connection security: SSL/TLS
  • Authentication method: Normal password
  • Username: Your account name only (without @codamail.com)

Outgoing Server (SMTP):

  • Server hostname: smtp.pnsh.com
  • Port: 587 (or 465 for SSL)
  • Connection security: STARTTLS (or SSL/TLS for port 465)
  • Authentication method: Normal password
  • Username: Your account name only (without @codamail.com)

✅ Step 4: Verify and Complete Setup

  • Click Re-test to verify the settings work correctly
  • If the test is successful, click Done
  • Thunderbird will now synchronize with your CodaMail account
  • Your folders and messages will begin downloading

⚙️ Advanced Settings & Optimization

Important Username Configuration:

CodaMail uses username-only authentication for enhanced security. If you experience login issues:

  • Go to Account Settings → Server Settings
  • Ensure the "User Name" field contains only your username (not your full email address)
  • Check the same setting under Outgoing Server (SMTP)

Recommended Thunderbird Settings:

  • Check for new messages: Every 10 minutes (adjustable in Server Settings)
  • Message Storage: Keep messages on server (IMAP default)
  • Offline Use: Enable "Keep messages for this account on this computer" for offline access
  • Junk Settings: Thunderbird's junk filter works alongside CodaMail's spam protection

📅 Calendar & Contacts Sync

Thunderbird also supports syncing your CodaMail calendars and contacts:

  • For Calendars: The Lightning calendar extension is built into modern Thunderbird versions
  • For Contacts: Install the CardBook add-on for CardDAV support
  • See our complete DAV setup guide for detailed instructions

🔧 Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during setup:

  • Authentication Failed: Verify your username is entered without @codamail.com
  • Connection Timeout: Check your firewall settings and ensure ports 993 and 587 are open
  • Certificate Warning: Accept the certificate if prompted (our certificates are valid and secure)
  • Folder Sync Issues: Right-click on your account and select "Subscribe" to manage folder subscriptions
  • Sending Failed: Verify SMTP authentication is enabled and using the correct username

Linux-Specific Tips:

  • Ensure Thunderbird is up to date: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade thunderbird (Debian/Ubuntu)
  • For Fedora/RHEL: sudo dnf update thunderbird
  • Check that required ports aren't blocked by SELinux or AppArmor
  • If using a proxy, configure it in Thunderbird's connection settings

📞 Need Help?

If you need additional assistance with Thunderbird setup or encounter any issues not covered in this guide, please contact our support team at helpdesk@codamail.com.

We're here to help ensure your email setup works perfectly with Thunderbird on Linux.