Thunderbird for iPhone and iPad

[pjolt]

Tl;dr: I would love to see Thunderbird (Currently known as K-9 Mail) also being brought to Apple devices. 

The term privacy and open source have become well used and something of a reason for many to switch apps/services and even operating systems and devices. But in this day and age on Apple those options are lacking since many are stuck with Apple and having access to a well functioning and well designed e-mail app, with transparent/limited/no data collection from a trusted source is severely lacking since as a user you are basically stuck with the default Mail app, or Canary which seems to be what many recommends (i think because there simply is no better options currently) but in having used K-9 for several years on Android and now that i am currently on Apple i find myself lacking options.

But also with Canary moving to offering a more algorithmic and automated approach (it´s called Copilot and is pro/paid option) in handling of e-mail i think this will create a need for options. Personally even the look of the bottom toolbar is a annoyance since 1 icon is dedicated to the Copilot and no option to remove it. At least i cant find one. 

So i hope this idea generates some discussion and for others to chime in on this.

If this suggestion is already somewhere else, or if this should be posted elsewhere then please point me to that place so i can add my vote.

[rscaramelo]

Haven't seen much about the iOS development but I hope this is still in the works!

[Jason_Evangelho]

@rscarameloThis is still planned, but our current focus right now is Thunderbird for Android. In Q4 (this year) we’re hiring an iOS developer to lay the groundwork. This is because there isn’t currently a mail app in the iOS ecosystem that meets the criteria for us to partner with and build from (open source, up to date, etc). Therefore, there’s a lot to develop from scratch. We expect to have alpha code available in 2024 and we’ll keep everyone updated via future roadmaps, blog posts, and social media communications.

[thetasig]

First, in voting FOR this idea, would like to add that I do not carry currently email with me on my iPhone. This is simply because I use Thunderbird exclusively for my email on my laptop.  Having the same folders and access on my iPhone would be a major step forward for me. Tantamount to that awesome potential would be the desirability of selecting which email folders to place in the iOS version. I say this because I have several hundred folders that have been created over the last decade and the majority of them are "history" and no longer in present-day use. It would be really nice to be able to select which folders to keep in the iCloud (and this is important) and which folders to KEEP on the original OSX version. That is to say, I would ALWAYS want to keep ALL folders and data in the OSX version and some of those COULD be in the iCloud to be available to my iOS device. It sounds complicated, but simplifies using TB on an iOS device without risking losing any historical data. Example - I delete a folder on my iOS device that matches the OSX "master" TB. The OSX TB would keep that folder intact in OSX and would be removed from the iCloud.

An easier method is just to keep them in sync in the cloud - but that means I would have to pay some additional money to Apple to increase iCloud storage to hold the 60+ GB TB data I currently have only on my laptop. And this would mean all 910+ folders would be on my iPhone and might be difficult to navigate through them.

Of course, at least some of the TB folders and data would have to be in the "cloud" and this concerns me since there have been so many data breaches in all areas of the Internet including the "cloud" storage. So TB on an iOS device would have to have some additional security. 2FA would, I think, have to be part of the sign-in process to a TB iOS email account. I regularly use an Authenticator app ( from LastPass) to generate an authentication code for many sites and services. This is usually done with setting up the 2FA with a QR code. On an Apple iOS device the standard access (fingerprint, face ID, other) would also be used to gain access to the device itself. This places at least 2 layers of security ahead of using a TB iOS.

Best of luck with the TB iOS project - I do think it is definitely worth doing.

[user1239123123]

have not been privy to much information regarding the development of Thunderbird for iOS, thereby prompting my curiosity about its compatibility with both iPad and iPhone devices. Could anyone kindly shed light on the current status of this venture? Furthermore, does anyone anticipate a definitive timeframe for its eventual completion? I hold a keen interest in installing this application on my mother's iPad, hence my earnest inquiry.

On an unrelated note, I am intrigued by the notion of transmitting encrypted emails using PGP/S/MIME to a designated group of recipients. Could any esteemed members enlighten me on the feasibility and best practices for executing such a secure communication method?

Your timely insights and guidance on these matters would be greatly appreciated.

[m231218]

There’s still no monospace plaintext email client for iOS/iPadOS. Can’t wait for Thunderbird to deliver this ancient feature. Thank you to everyone involved. 

[Houseman9]

I currently use Spark but concerned it may fall into Russian hands since its an Ukraine product. I look forward to a Thunderbird mail app for IOS. I know one exists for the Mac but I am waiting.

[Tedmac]

Thunderbird on my iPad. Happy to pay for it. Get it up the sooner the better

[ESL]

Thunderbird on my iPad and iPhone would be awesome. I use Tbird exclusively on my Windows desktop.

[SBCDave]

I need this 🙂

[a_w_j]

Thunderbird for iOS - this is my dream!!!

[phi3nix]

I can’t wait. After so many years we would have proper client.

Also, an idea. I know that you guys need money for development. Please do something similar like Signal that I can donate from an app. Maybe give people who donated few more icons. I like the idea of buying coffee for my favourite app dev team. Also, spending 3-5$ is not difficult for my pocket 

[DeviDarkL]

I would pay for thunderbird on ipad as well! Please do so 😄

[panayiotis]

TBH a Thunderbird IOS version would be great

[myspace]

can't wait

[Anonymous]

Hello Community

am sending this stuff because users need Thunderbird app available for IOS / ANDROID etc not only for Desktop computers

Thunderbird is a good email application, better than Outlook without any doubt so why we do not have this app available for IOS - Android etc )

Many of users cannot understand why we can have this app available for Windows / Mac / Linux Desktops and not for IOS - Android etc when we have our mails being managed by this client ?

Please ( Thunderbird for IOS / ANDROID ) AS SOON AS POSSIBLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Appreciate