Configuring Thunderbird 2 using IMAP
for Macintosh
These directions are for Thunderbird 2. We recommend upgrading to the latest Thunderbird 3 version to keep up with security patches.
Summary: Thunderbird is a popular and free email program that is supported for use at UCI with OIT MailBox Services.
IMAP stores your email on the server. This allows you to read your email from different computers. Thunderbird allows you to download your messages for offline viewing when you do not have a connection to the Internet. If you check email from more than one computer, including Webmail, we recommend using IMAP.
Creating an account in Thunderbird 2
- Launch Thunderbird
- From the File menu, select New > Account... (See Figure 1)
Figure 1 - In the New Account Setup window, select Email account and click the Continue button. (See Figure 2)
Figure 2 - In the Identity window, type your full name in the Your Name field.
- Type your UCI email address in the Email Address field and click the Continue button. (See Figure 3)
Figure 3 - In the Server Information window, select IMAP for the type of incoming server.
- Type imap.uci.edu in the Incoming Server field.
- Type smtp.uci.edu in the Outgoing Server field and click the Continue button. (See Figure 4)
Figure 4 - Type your UCInetID in the Incoming and Outgoing User Name Fields and click the Continue button. (See Figure 5)
Figure 5 - Type a descriptive name in the Account Name field. This can be anything you choose. (Figure 6). Click the Continue button.
Figure 6 - Verify your settings and click the Done button. (See Figure 7)
Figure 7
- When you click Done, Thunderbird will reopen the Account Settings window.
- Click on Server Settings and select SSL under Security Settings. (See Figure 8)
Figure 8
- Click on Outgoing Server (SMTP) and select smtp.uci.edu and click on the Edit button. (See Figure 9)
Figure 9
- In the Settings window, type 587 in the Port field. (See Figure 10)
- Check the Use name and password box under Security and Authentication.
- Click TLS under Use secure connection and click OK.
NOTE: In Thunderbird 3, please select STARTTLS instead of TLS
Figure 10 - Back in the Settings window, select Offline & Disk Space from the menu on the left. (See Figure 11)
- Check the box next to Make the messages in my Inbox available when I'm working offline.
- Check the box next to When I create new folders, select them for offline use.
- Click the Select folders for offline use button.
Figure 11 - Check off the folders you would like to use offline and click OK. (See Figure 12)
Figure 12 - Click OK to close the Settings window.
You are now ready to use your email. To check mail, click the Get Mail icon at the top of the screen. When prompted, enter your Email password and press Enter.
- View the Thunderbird Basics Tutorial
If you have any problems, please call the OIT Help Desk at 949-824-2222, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
