Have Ideas to improve the Thunderbird Community?

[MozMike]

Do you have ideas on what might make a more welcoming, exciting and rewarding community experience for Thunderbird users & developers?  
We're gathering ideas on how to strengthen and improve the Thunderbird community. So, whether you are a long-time contributor or a curious newbie, we would love to hear your thoughts!  Share your suggestions below and help shape the future of our community! 

[Synchro]

I think this portal should have a different subforum for Thunderbird. It will help not to drown in dozens of ideas and suggestions for Firefox. (Desktop Firefox and Mobile Firefox should also be separated here, if you'd ask)

[wsm]

I think this portal should have a different subforum for Thunderbird.

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This is already being discussed, and will hopefully be achieved. Although the timing is unclear.

[beekerLUVR]

 

After a draft email is copied to the Inbox, now every Inbox message incorrectly indicates "This is a draft message". I understand this bug existed many years ago and was fixed. Well, it has returned! If there is a manual reset method to remove the "This is a draft message" from appearing on every incoming message, please repost!

[MozMike]

This post is more for Idea discussion, rather than technical support.

With that said...Right-click your inbox, -> Go To Properties -> Repair Folder (This may take a couple min to complete) -> then Restart Thunderbird.   

[wsm]

@beekerLUVR, 

Sorry you are having trouble.  The best place to post support questions or problems is https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/new/thunderbird where the bulk of people providing support can best help you.  

This discussion area of Connect is really designed for ad-hoc discussion, not so much for support. And this specific thread in discussion is about Community, not the Thunderbird code itself.

Hope that helps.

[antoniovr]

Allow to set as default the repply all in the mobile client

[antoniovr]

I see it is more related with community than to functionality...

Perhaps it would be nice to have a place to discuss functionality and check community interest on it

Before realising i had written the following:

Bring the functionality of mindr addon (follow up/snooze) and delayed send of emails to the mobile Thunderbird

[MozMike]

Both of your comments contain good suggestions.  We've noted them & we hear you. 

[rgfincher]

Yes.  I've been creating what I'd loosely call an "Outlook-Switcher's Starter Kit" to send to my email hosting customers.  It includes a Thunderbird mousepad (although a new version featuring all of the keyboard shortcuts would be good - for now it's a laminated cheat-sheet), a Thunderbird book off of Amazon (sadly not "Thunderbird for Dummies" as no-one wrote that yet), a branded USB-stick containing the Mac, PC and Linux installers etc...etc...   

The USB stick installer might seem a bit silly, but Outlook users have been getting a feeling of "impermanence" regarding that product - first there was no more perpetual licensing, then there was no more downloadable installer, Legacy Outlook due to disappear, and recently, Outlook users which MAGA doesn't like, losing access to their Office365 subscriptions.  So something which will not "disappear on you" may seem quite attractive to some.  

[MozMike]

"Not going anywhere" as a value proposition is certainly something I had not specifically considered, but I like the point you're making.  I would also be very curious to learn which Amzn book you like the best as a Thunderbird Guide. 

[rgfincher]

 This was one.  I think it's a translation into English, from German.  But good nonetheless.  But the second one I discovered was a bit better

[rgfincher]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DJWCMXWW?ref=fed_asin_title

[rgfincher]

I recently heard that October 2025 has already been set as the 'disappearing date' for Outlook Classic for macOS.  I'm sure that they really wanted to disappear Outlook Classic for Windows on the same date, but couldn't because of pushback from the IT Support community and others.  "Just switch to New Outlook" they say.   Er, no.

[Bradforth]

As a new new new person looking to dip my toes into the support community within moz, I am finding it really hard to navigate the multiple websites, community systems and support sections. Mainly to get information, guideance and to communicate to other support members. I wonder if there was a way to condense or centralise the multiple systems and websites to make it easier for people to get involved. 

[MozMike]

Hey @Bradforth, & 'welcome welcome welcome' to the Thunderbird community.   Your comment is something we [Community Team] are actively working on improving this year, in the 2nd half of 2025. 

[kelimuttu]

Hi Brad, 

Chiming here as the Community Manager on the Mozilla Support platform. Would you mind letting us know what multiple websites you regularly use to support your contribution for Moz? 

[jandavid]

Different user here, but exactly the same issue. There is a similar thread on reddit started by ThundaMike here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Thunderbird/comments/1m27zgu/help_shape_the_future_of_the_thunderbird_commu... 

I'm copying my reply to that thread here, just so others who aren't on reddit can chime in (I assume the Thunderbird Team will pull all of them together anyways). 

Here my (slightly modified) reddit post: 

There are too many different places where/how to connect and get help with Thunderbird, esp. too many Mozilla affiliated or maintained website, and I never know where to post a question, idea, support request, etc.

Just going to connect.mozilla.org first page you have to choose from one of three spaces "Ideas", "Discussions", or "Community". When you click on "Community," one of the first posts that is featured is How to Submit a Great Idea in Five Easy Steps, which, however, is nested under Mozilla Connect > Discussions > ...
That's all super confusing. 

My natural instinct for getting support would be to go support.mozilla.org where you can again "Ask the community" ... It looks like that's the space where most end users ask questions, as there's a lot of questions posted every day (many more than on connect) – true most of them are support questions – but why is it an entirely different space? Many people with questions, or who are running into trouble and need help, might have some things that could be improved.

There used to be the now closed https://forums.mozillazine.org/ which also had a kb.mozillazine.org which continues to be quite useful for getting some answers – and then there's bugzilla. 

So I guess, my five cents would be, try to come up with an integrated community experience: Why are there different forums for "Ideas", "Discussions", "Community" and "Support"?  Why not have one single community where posts could simply be tagged with "idea" "help "bug" "tips" "discussion" etc.?

[Agentvirtuel]

Hello

What do you mean when you say

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@jandavid wrote:

There used to be the now closed https://forums.mozillazine.org/ which also had a kb.mozillazine.org which continues to be quite useful for getting some answers

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The forum is not closed.

This parenthesis, precision.
For information purposes, on https://forums.mozillazine.org, success screen before loading website, that's https://anubis.techaro.lol, and, take a look at doc, by example, https://anubis.techaro.lol/docs/user/known-instances.
Anubis check also https://kb.mozillazine.org

[kelimuttu]

I can totally empathize with your confusion. Just to clarify, the official mandate for Connect and Mozilla Support is different:

• Mozilla Connect: Feedback platform where you request feature/ discuss upcoming feature release. (think about it as a pre-release platform)
• Mozilla Support (SUMO): Support platform where users can help each other through the Community Forums and Knowledge Base articles. (think about it as a post-release platform)

These are the two platforms Mozilla officially own. I know the difference is not always obvious to people. And frankly, it's not their fault. We should've made that clearer in the first place. 

There are also other places people can ask for help, such as: 

• Mozillazine: This platform has been around longer than Mozilla Support and in fact, lots (if not all) of SUMO's early content was originated from MozillaZine and for that, we've been really grateful. And as @Agentvirtuel noted below, the forum is still pretty much exists to this day, which is truly amazing since they've been around since 1998. 
• r/firefox: This subreddit is entirely maintained by volunteers. 
• Other local forums like https://www.camp-firefox.de/forum/ or https://forums.mozfr.org/ 

These forums are entirely driven by the community and we don't have direct control or oversight over them. But nevertheless, we're incredibly grateful for their existence. The fact that these spaces thrive independently is a strong signal that people care deeply about our products. 

That said, efforts been made so that we can have one source of truth for any kind of peer-support, so we've created this wikipage to track issues for each Firefox release. 

I know the Thunderbird team is planning to sync their release cadence with the Firefox team, so it's possible that we can also join forces on this effort. 

[rgfincher]

Another idea - what about "Seniors mode" where a lot of the more advanced features are not shown, the menus and fonts are larger and in stronger contrast, and there might be a way for a remote son/daughter/niece/nephew to assist with the setup, perhaps involving a profile file similar to Apple Business Manager etc.... eg signed XML file with specific attachment which thunderbird recognises as a settings file?

[budibanyuu]

I love the 'Seniors mode' idea! Making the interface simpler with larger fonts and high contrast would be a big help for older users. The remote assistance via a signed XML file, like in Apple Business Manager, is brilliant—especially for tech-challenged users.

[MozMike]

I took this idea and have been toying around with a proof of concept. 

[Philou75]

Bonjour, mon message ne répond pas tout à fait à votre question mais je voulais dire ceci : Je suis en train de me réapproprier le mail. 2 choses me semblent importantes : disposer de 2 lignes de présentation sous chaque mail sur la page d'accueil (dans les réglages, le choix de 2 lignes m'est donné, mais il ne s'applique pas!). Et par ailleurs, un moyen de singulariser les mails (il existe différents moyens : logo, initiales de l'expéditeur...) serait très utile. Je vous remercie. Philippe  

[Agentvirtuel]

Hello

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@Philou75 wrote:

le choix de 2 lignes m'est donné

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Is it about, implemented customizable row count for Cards View in 'Appearance' settings.

https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/thunderbird-128-redesigned-card-view-feedback/m-p/94910/h...
Since the release of Tunderbird 139

[MikeR206]

REMINDER PANEL -- Change Request

Please reverse the order of columns:

CURRENTLY:
[event description] followed by [date time]

PROPOSED:
[date time] followed by [event description]

WHY?

[date time] is fixed-length
[event description] is variable-length

The proposed order brings the two data fields closer together
and they are easier to scan in that chronological listing.

ALSO --
REMINDER PANEL does not always sort events in sequence, sometimes mixing "All Day" items in with "hour-minute" events. Restarting Thunderbird sometimes resorts events in correct contiguous sequence.

[Medraso1225]

I think building a more welcoming Thunderbird community could start with interactive events, like Q&A sessions or small collaborative projects for both beginners and experienced users. Sharing useful resources, similar to how https://consejosandroid.net/ offers helpful tips, could also make it easier for newcomers to get started. A friendly, supportive environment always encourages more participation.

[Papipio]

Bonjour,
Depuis des années, j'utilise intensément Thunderbird pour mes besoins personnels et pour les activités de mon association. Dans une association, je suis bénévole responsable de la formation et de l’assistance en informatique (PC, tablettes, smartphones), nous installons Thunderbird dans les PC des participants à nos activités.
Je m’accommodais des bugs de Thunderbird, j’en signalais, certains ont été corrigés, d’autres apparaissent ...
Mais aujourd’hui le vase déborde, la terre doit tourner à l’envers !!! Dans la version 128.11.1ESR (§), à mon goût, trop de bugs subsistent ou apparaissent.
(§) : dans mon PC, l’OS est Mageia Linux 9

Présentation du carnet d’adresses
• Les colonnes de la précédente version ont disparu --> moins de possibilités de recherches. Les N° de téléphones domicile et portable sont mélangés dans une même colonne !!! On ne peut plus chercher un contact en connaissant un N°.
• Le nombre de colonnes possible est limité.
• Le cadre d’affichage des détails d’un contact est inutilement grand et diminue le cadre d’affichage des contacts. Ce cadre masque le contact qu’on vient de choisir dans le bas de liste !
• Toutes les informations disponibles dans la précédente version du carnet d’adresses ne sont plus disponibles. Le carnet d’adresses de Thunderbird est mon seul carnet d’adresses pour tous mes contacts, je suis maintenant très embêté ...
Pour retrouver un carnet d’adresses qui fonctionne correctement, j’utilise le module CardBook.

Messages reçus
• Bug de l’affichage du nom pour un message reçu et pour la réponse : affiche le nom reçu avec l’adresse et non le nom connu dans le carnet d’adresses comme proposé dans les options.

Rédaction de messages
• Dans une réponse, une faute d’orthographe est souvent abusivement signalée dans la ligne de texte automatiquement ajoutée avant la citation du message auquel on répond.
• Dans la cellule Pour, la saisie du début d’une adresse, d’un prénom, d’un nom, ne fait pas apparaitre toutes les contacts possibles !!! --> galère pour saisir les adresses de destinataires.
• Editeur de texte HTML très aléatoire et « bugué » :

◦ Il est parfois impossible de créer une puce.
◦ Une puce point noir est suivie d’une puce cercle blanc (2 puces sur la même ligne).
◦ Dans un message, impossible de saisir correctement une adresse de messagerie : ajout automatique d’un espace plus une majuscule après un point !!!!
◦ Dans une nouvelle ligne, parfois police de caractères différente de celle définie par défaut : grise, plus petite, ...
◦ Changement intempestif de police en cours de rédaction.
◦ Passage intempestif en mode paragraphe → interlignes trop grands.
◦ La ligne avec 2 tirets ajoutée avant la signature est inutile ; si besoin on peut la mettre dans la signature.
◦ Un lien ajouté automatiquement à partir de Firefox (bouton Envoyer un lien …) dans un nouveau message à envoyer ne respecte pas la taille de police par défaut de Thunderbird.
◦ Les touches flèches horizontales ne déplacent pas le curseur dans le texte.
◦ En édition de message, la touche majuscule génère le texte Shift !!!
◦ En édition de message, la touche retour arrière génère le texte Backspace !!!
◦ En édition de message, la touche Ctrl génère le texte Ctrl !!!

Aucun autre logiciel permettant l’édition de texte n’a tous ces problèmes.

Je suis obligé de rependre le formatage de tous mes messages avant envoi, c’est insupportable !

Agenda
Report des alarmes très lent.

Je ne comprends pas qu’il puisse y avoir une telle régression dans Thunderbird. Il vaudrait mieux consacrer votre énergie à corriger les bugs signalés depuis longtemps plutôt que de faire des évolutions sans réel intérêt.
Ci-dessous, mes souhaits pour Thunderbird.

Souhaits
• Bouton de couleur de police actif en un seul clic : affecte immédiatement la dernière couleur sélectionnée. Il est parfaitement sans intérêt que le bouton de sélection de couleur affiche la couleur de la police du texte sélectionné !!!!
• Avoir en standard dans Thunderbird la fonction apportée par le module complémentaire SlideShow (aujourd’hui indisponible).
• Avoir en standard dans Thunderbird la fonction apportée par le module complémentaire Contact Tabs (aujourd’hui indisponible) : pouvoir créer complètement un contact avant de l’enregistrer dans le carnet d’adresses choisi.

Bien cordialement,
Pierre THOMAS

[RahimSoft]

I think there are several ways we can make the Thunderbird community more welcoming, exciting, and rewarding for both users and developers:

1. Onboarding & Mentorship
   Create beginner-friendly guides and “first contribution” paths so newcomers can quickly learn how to get involved.
   A mentorship or buddy system could pair new contributors with experienced community members.

2. Recognition & Rewards
   Highlight community contributions in a regular “Community Spotlight” (blog, newsletter, or social).
   Badges, certificates, or even small perks could acknowledge milestones like first patch, first add-on, or helping new users.

3. Events & Engagement
   Host community calls, hackathons, or “bug squash days” where contributors can collaborate in real-time.
   Encourage regional or online meetups to connect users and developers in smaller, friendly groups.

4. Open Communication Channels
   Strengthen forums, chat rooms, or Discord/Matrix spaces where users and developers can interact casually.
   Provide spaces for both technical and non-technical discussions so everyone feels included.

5. Learning & Growth Opportunities
   Offer tutorials, workshops, and webinars on topics like add-on development, UI design, or advanced Thunderbird features.
   Collaborate with universities or coding bootcamps to attract fresh contributors.

6. Inclusive Community Culture
   Make diversity and inclusion a core value with clear codes of conduct, active moderation, and welcoming language.
   Celebrate contributions of all types including code, documentation, translations, and community support.

7. Closer User–Developer Connection
   Run regular surveys and feedback sessions so users feel their voices shape Thunderbird’s roadmap.
   Developers sharing behind-the-scenes updates, design decisions, and “works in progress” can make users feel more connected to the project.

Overall, the goal should be to make the Thunderbird community not only about software, but about people, learning, collaborating, and having fun together.

[Agentvirtuel]

Hello

The first basic rule of safety: think first, then click, not the other way around.

To get an first opinion.
You can copy/paste the link to https://urlscan.io

By way of illustration.

[franklinn]

I think creating more beginner-friendly guides and discussion spaces would help new users feel welcome. Encouraging quick Q&A threads and highlighting community contributions could also make the Thunderbird community more engaging.

[nw]

For Mozilla Connect in general: more filtering options for search results would be helpful, such as filters for product (Firefox, Thunderbird, etc.) and platform (Linux, Windows, etc.). Topic tags would also be helpful, as would filters for category (UI, functionality, compatibility, development, customization, etc.). Edited to add more accessibility options would be great.

[mrsimon0007]

I’d love to see easier on-ramps for newcomers, casual monthly meetups, and more public recognition of contributors. Highlighting real user stories and connecting with related open-source projects would also make the Thunderbird community feel warmer and more exciting.

[Otoro]

I too find the different portals confusing
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/
https://connect.mozilla.org
And the other day I received an email about the Thunderbird AMA.
The invitation was pointing to yet another hub: https://community.mozilla.org/
Both for the community yet when getting on one of them nothing links to the other.
So I think we need one more hub to unite all hubs (joking).
But realistically I feel it should be easier to navigate from one place to another and explain how each is addressing a different audience.

(and, not trying to be too grumpy, I though AMA would be about discussing ideas with most kudos, but half of the time was spent on Thunderbird pro which is probably great although, in my opinion, users of Thunderbird are kind of "power" users compared to the average gmail user and because of that will probably want to continue to use their preferred imap email provider)

[Otoro]

And another thing that, in my opinion, could help:
It would be very useful to try to merge as often as possible similar ideas.
I know it takes a lot of effort to follow up on each idea but it feels to me that many ideas are getting lost because they look like abandoned. By merging them this will be bring more people together to discuss around an idea.

And if there are multiple ideas that look similar but aren't really: 
What about creating "meta-ideas" to cover a specific topic.
This would maybe allow people to focus on one thing.

All these ideas feel to me like thousand little boats with one single rowing in a different direction.
Maybe it could be something to have monthly conversation on specific topics and concentrate "ideas" and "kudos" around this. This would feel more like a rowing team involving the Thunderbird and the community.

[wsm]

Thanks for all the great ideas. 

Keep them coming.