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10 Fixes: Thunderbird Stopped Receiving Emails Automatically

By Admin

Updated: April 8, 2026 ~ 7 Minutes Reading

Table of Contents

Many users have reported the issue that Thunderbird stopped receiving emails, especially after an update (version 78). Here we have listed important checks to identify the root cause of why Thunderbird is not getting emails and troubleshooting steps to resolve those.

Mozilla Thunderbird is an email client that syncs messages from an IMAP or POP server to your computer at a set frequency limit. It does not display emails immediately after the message is received.

Note: You do not get any error message saying Thunderbird is not receiving emails, but even if you refresh or click on the Get Message button in Thunderbird, it fails to load a new email.

Root Causes: Why Thunderbird Not Receiving Emails?

Whether on a Mac OS or Windows device, there can be a reason why your Thunderbird stopped receiving emails suddenly, such as:

  • Incorrect email configuration
  • Lost internet connection
  • Blocked incoming by firewall, VPN, proxy, or antivirus
  • Exceeded server storage quota
  • Unknown filters enabled
  • The email server is down today
  • No disk space on your computer

Important Checks Before Fixing Thunderbird Stopped Receiving Emails Issue

Before trying out any advanced troubleshooting steps to fix Thunderbird inbox not updating issues. Here are some generic checks you must keep in mind:

  • Verify if you are connected to a stable internet connection – you can also switch between WiFi and mobile hotspot.
  • Use websites like Downdetector or other official sources to check for any server-side issues.
  • Check whether the messages are landing in Spam or another folder – Unmark the email from Spam.
  • You do not have any active quick or advanced filters hiding new mail.
  • If your IMAP storage quota (email storage space associated with an account) is full, Thunderbird stops receiving emails.

Note: If the issue is server-side or due to Thunderbird inbox full, the emails sent to your configured Thunderbird email account will bounce back and can not be retrieved.

Read More: How to Recover Deleted Thunderbird Emails?

If you are still encountering the Thunderbird not showing new emails issue. Here are some general troubleshooting tips you can try.

Is your Thunderbird Not Sending Emails? Learn to fix it today.

Fix 1: Fetch New Email Using the Get Message Button

If Thunderbird is not receiving emails automatically, you can force refresh your Thunderbird.

  1. Open Thunderbird on your Mac or Windows.
  2. Right-click on the Get Message button.
  3. Restart Thunderbird to sync new emails.

If you cannot see the Thunderbird Get Message button:

  1. Click on the Folder Pane Option (…)
  2. Check the “Get Message” option.
  3. Fetch new emails.

Fix 2: Restart Thunderbird in Troubleshoot Mode

Using multiple add-ons interferes with how Thunderbird receives new emails and interferes with program files.

  1. Open Mozilla Thunderbird.
  2. Go to Menu >> Help >> Troubleshooting Mode.
  3. Restart Thunderbird.

If your Thunderbird stopped receiving emails, it is now fixed. You can disable or delete unnecessary add-ons.

Fix 3: Decrease the Check for New Message Frequency

There can be a long delay in syncing, making you believe Thunderbird is not getting emails. This can be due to an extremely high sync timing set as the default. Here are the steps to fix the issue:

  1. Go to Menu >> Account Settings.
  2. Open Server Settings.
  3. Set Check for new messages to “2 Minutes”.
  4. Restart Thunderbird.

Fix 4: Weaken Spam Filter

Verify if Thunderbird incoming messages are not landing in the Spam folder. If so, you reduce the intensity of Thunderbird spam filters. Thunderbird has adaptive filters, so if you unmark it from Spam, it is enough.

  1. Select the new mail.
  2. Right-Click >> Move To Inbox.

However, ensure you have enabled adaptive spam controls for this account.

  1. Go to Menu >> Account Settings.
  2. Open Spam Settings.
  3. Enable adaptive spam controls.

Fix 5: Verify if Filter Forwarding is Enabled

Due to the filter setup in Thunderbird, users often forward emails to another account without your notice.

  1. Go to Menu >> Tools.
  2. Click on Message Filters.
  3. Select IMAP account.
  4. Delete Forward filters.
  5. Restart Thunderbird.

Also, verify if Thunderbird is not receiving all emails, but some emails check if you blocked a sender in Thunderbird.

Fix 6: Reconfigure Email Account if Thunderbird Not Getting Emails

Tip: Before deleting the email account from Thunderbird, re-add it. You can try just updating the Thunderbird password.

  1. Open Thunderbird.
  2. Go to Menu >> Account Settings.
  3. Select account.
  4. Click Delete.
  5. Confirm Remove.

Fix 7: Temporarily Disable Security

For Windows & Mac OS, Mozilla Thunderbird is an open-source third-party and open source email client for these environments. Thus, the built-in firewall, VPN, proxy, and antivirus software are the major causes of Thunderbird stopping the receipt of emails. You can temporarily disable them to resolve the issue.

Fix 8: Clear Out Space on Account and Computer

If Thunderbird stopped receiving emails due to the mailbox size exceeding the account limit. It will bounce back. To fix this, empty out some emails in the email account.

  • Deleted unnecessary emails.
  • Empty trash folder.

If you have verified via Webmail that your account is receiving new emails, but Thunderbird is not getting emails.

It is likely because Thunderbird mailboxes have been exceeded. Thunderbird stores your email locally on the profiles folder. If the partition where your profile folder is stored is already full, Thunderbird will fail to receive new emails.

To fix this:

  • Compact Thunderbird folders
  • Clear Thunderbird Cache
  • Delete unnecessary files

Note: Before deleting any important emails, always back up your Thunderbird profile to avoid data loss.

Fix 9: Repair Index or MSF

Often Thunderbird receives new emails, but they are not displayed in the Inbox due to corrupted weather files or index files.

  1. Right-click the IMAP account.
  2. Choose Properties.
  3. Click Repair Folder.
  4. Press OK.

Rebuild the Thunderbird index globally if the issue persists.

Avoid Data Loss When Thunderbird Stopped Receiving Emails?

Do you continue to face such issues in Thunderbird? Use Thunderbird Migrator to bulk migrate Thunderbird mailboxes to Outlook, Gmail, Yahoo, or other email clients or services without data loss. This advanced tool uses model authentication, thus guaranteeing complete data safety with the integrity of preservation of attachments, email folder hierarchy, and much more. A free demo version of the tool is also available.

FAQs: Thunderbird Not Receiving Emails

Q1: How to refresh Thunderbird?

To refresh Mozilla Thunderbird to load new messages, you can either restart Thunderbird or click on the Get Message button (cloud download icon) on the top left.

Q2: How do I know if Thunderbird is not syncing?

Users have reported that the Thunderbird Get Message button is not working, or that the last message received was from a couple of days ago. It is likely that there is some issue with Thunderbird receiving emails. You can test this by sending a test email.

Q3: Why is Thunderbird not receiving some emails but others?

You likely have blockers, the sender, or the server, or you have some quick filters active. Also, if the storage quota of one account is exceeded while the other account still has space left, you will still receive emails in the other accounts.

Q4: How to fix Thunderbird from suddenly stopping getting emails?

In such cases, you are suggested to reconfigure your email account in Thunderbird. The issue occurs due to the security or the password being changed on the server’s end.