ProtonMail Thunderbird Configuration Steps (through ProtonMail Bridge)

ProtonMail Thunderbird Configuration

The best way to access your ProtonMail emails is through the ProtonMail Bridge. It is a popular app from ProtonMail, which runs on your computer in the background. When you send and receive emails, the app would seamlessly encrypt and decrypt all your emails (that you send and receive) enter and leave your system. The best thing about the ProtonMail Bridge app is that it allows for full integration of your ProtonMail account. It further supports SMTP and IMAP, hence can be setup on popular mail clients such as Apple Mail, Mozilla Thunderbird, and Microsoft Outlook. In this guide, we will bring you the ProtonMail Thunderbird configuration steps.

Before you add your ProtonMail account to Thunderbird and start using ProtonMail, make sure you have got the Bridge app on your computer.

How to Download and Install ProtonMail Bridge to Use ProtonMail?

Click on this link to install the ProtonMail IMAP/ SMTP Bridge to use an encrypted email account with Thunderbird.

Note: The ProtonMail Bridge application is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac.

Check the following steps to install the app –

  1. Download the Bridge Application: Click on the download option on the Bridge installation page (for Windows, Linux, and Mac).
  2. Add ProtonMail Account to the Bridge: Once the application is downloaded and installed, add your ProtonMail account to the app.To do that you need to –
  • Open the Bridge app, click on the “Add Account” button, and log in using the credentials (username and password).
  • Click “Next”. (This will log in to your ProtonMail account)
  • Your account will be displayed in the Bridge app.
  1. Configure Thunderbird to Use the Bridge: We will elaborate on this section below.

ProtonMail Thunderbird Configuration Steps (Complete Guide)

After you have installed the Bridge app, you will need to open it using the username and password. There, you will see your ProtonMail account. We advise you to have your Thunderbird mail client on the same screen, too. On one side, it is the Bridge app and on the other, it is your Thunderbird. Let’s go through the steps below to understand how to configure your ProtonMail account in Thunderbird.

  • On the Bridge app, select your account to expand it.
  • Now, select “Mailbox configuration”. This will bring a plethora of options in a new popup window including the IMAP and SMTP details.
  • IMAP Settings –
  • Hostname: 127.0.0.1
  • Port: 1143
  • Username: [email protected] (This is your ProtonMail email account)
  • Password: This is your ProtonMail email account password
  • SMTP Settings –
  • Hostname: 127.0.0.1
  • Port: 1025
  • Username: [email protected] (This is your ProtonMail email account)
  • Password: This is your ProtonMail email account password
  • Now, open Thunderbird on the other side of the screen and go to “Tools” from the menu.
  • From the drop-down menu, you need to select “Account Settings”.
  • A new popup window will display. Here, you need to click on the “Account Actions” option at the bottom. This will bring you options to choose from. Select “Add Mail Account”.
  • Here, you need to fill in all the information you require from the Bridge app such as username and password.
  • Click on the “Manual Config” button at the bottom of the popup.
  • Here, it will prompt you to enter the IMAP and SMTP details. (SSL as NONE)
  • Now, press the “Re-Test” button and the “Done”.
  • You will now be prompted to confirm the security exception for your device.
  • Click “Done”.
  • That’s it! Your account will start to load in Thunderbird.

Need help? Contact ProtonMail Customer Technical Support!

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