In case your Thunderbird attachments are not opening – be it PDF, JPG, DOCX, or any other format it can be because of altered settings, antivirus software suspecting the file, legacy PDF reader on Mac or Windows, or, in the worst case scenario, a corrupted profile.
Here we have laid out the exact steps you need to follow to open an email attachment in Thunderbird properly, and the troubleshooting steps to solve the issue of being unable to open attachments in Thunderbird.
How to Open Attachments in Thunderbird?
Often, image attachments in formats like JPG, PNG, JPEG, etc., are already open (preview only) inside an email message and can be viewed directly in Thunderbird.
If they are not opened by default, or you are dealing with multiple attachments like PDF, DOCX, or other formats like HTML, etc. Here are the steps to follow to view attachments in Thunderbird:
- Go to the Attachment Pane in Mozilla Thunderbird – at the bottom of the email message.
- Right-click and choose Open to view the attachment in Thunderbird without saving.
Troubleshoot Thunderbird Attachments Not Opening on Windows & Mac
Thunderbird doesn’t open attachment files directly; it saves the attached document inside a temp file in your profile and opens it via the system’s helper application, or you preview it in Thunderbird. If any component fails in this mechanism, you won’t be able to view the attachment.
Here we have discussed 7 tries and tested fixes if you are unable to open attachments in Thunderbird.
Fix 1: Save & Open in Desktop
Here are the quick fixes not to miss out.
- Right-click on the Attachment in Thunder
- Choose Save As
- Open the email attachment from Finder or File Explorer.
If the manual approach fails. Try Thunderbird Converter Tool for free to export Thunderbird attachments on Mac & Windows, even if the manual approach fails in the original format with complete integrity. Demo Version is limited to 25 email exports per folder.
Fix 2: Modify Attachment Settings in Thunderbird
- Open Thunderbird on your computer.
- Click on Menu >> Settings
- Open the General Tab
- Scroll to the Files & Attachments section
- From the Actions dropdown select a reliable application to open that file format.
Note: If you are using an old file viewer, try updating to a newer version and setting then as default. Or check for updates in Windows or MacOS if available to fix the Thunderbird attachments not opening issue.
Fix 3: Restart Thunderbird in Safe Mode
Some add-ons and additional/non-essential settings in Thunderbird can interfere with how Thunderbird processes and opens PDF, JPEG, or other attachments.
- Right-click on the Menu
- Choose Troubleshooting
- Then Restart Thunderbird, and now try to open attachments.
Fix 4: Temporarily Disable Antivirus
Some antivirus tools block attachments.
- Disable antivirus temporarily
- Try opening an attachment
- Re-enable after testing
Fix 5: Repair Thunderbird Folders
Outdated MSF files can cause issues when opening Thunderbird attachments.
- Right-click on the Mailbox (Inbox, Draft, Sent, etc.) from which you are not able to open attachments.
- Click on Properties >> Repair Folder and press Ok.
Read More: How to Rebuild Thunderbird Indexes?
Fix 6: Clear Cache if Thunderbird Attachments Not Opening
Caches often hold outdated data that may cause corruption, and attachments can also interfere with viewing the architecture of Thunderbird.
Learn: How to Clear Cache in Thunderbird?
Fix 7: Repair Thunderbird Profile if the issue is due to profile corruption.
In case all the manual fixes fail to resolve the Thunderbird attachment problem. You may need to update and reinstall Thunderbird, then restore a Thunderbird backup to prevent data loss.
Common Queries: Thunderbird Attachments Not Opening
Q1: Where to see attachments in Thunderbird?
Email attachments are found in the Attachment Pane at the bottom of the email message.
Q2: Why won’t Thunderbird open a PDF attachment?
Due to reasons like antivirus blocking, or in case an outdated PDF reader is set as the default, or Thunderbird attachment settings are mismatched, you may have a problem viewing PDF attachments.
Q3: How to open Thunderbird attachments without saving?
Go to Menu, then Settings, and then under the General tab, choose Files and Attachments. Under the PDF option, select Preview in Thunderbird from the actions dropdown.
Need More Help? Get in Touch with our Thunderbird Experts using the Live Chat option available 24*7.