Thunderbird Not Downloading Emails? Fix It Easily (2025 Guide)

Jackson Strong | September 20th, 2025 | Mozilla Thunderbird

Are you facing a problem where Thunderbird is not downloading new messages or suddenly stops syncing emails? Don’t worry — you’re not alone. Many Thunderbird users encounter this issue at some point. The problem can happen for many reasons — from incorrect account settings to low storage space or a corrupted profile.

Emails are an essential part of our daily communication, and when Thunderbird stops downloading messages, it can interrupt work, delay updates, and cause frustration. The good news is that this issue can be fixed easily by following a few simple steps.

In this blog, we’ll explain why Thunderbird is not downloading emails and provide step-by-step methods to fix it — whether you use POP or IMAP.

Why is Thunderbird not Downloading Emails?

Thunderbird is a reliable and widely used email client, but sometimes it can stop downloading new messages. This issue can occur suddenly and affect both personal and work accounts.

Here are some of the most common reasons why Thunderbird does not download new messages:

  • Incorrect Account Settings: Misconfigured IMAP or POP settings may prevent message synchronization.
  • Insufficient Disk Space: If your computer or mail storage is full, Thunderbird cannot save new messages.
  • Connectivity Issues: A Slow or unstable internet connection may interrupt the download process.
  • Outdated Thunderbird Version: Old versions may have bugs or compatibility issues with mail servers.
  • Corrupted Thunderbird Profile: A damaged profile can block Thunderbird from fetching or displaying new emails.

How to Fix Thunderbird Not Downloading New Messages?

Let’s go step-by-step through some effective methods to fix this issue. Start from the basic ones and move on to advanced solutions if needed.

Method 1. Check Your Internet and Mail Server

Before changing settings, make sure your connection and mail server are working fine.

  1. Try opening your webmail (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook) in a browser.
  2. If new emails appear there, the problem is within Thunderbird.
  3. If not, wait for the mail server to work properly before troubleshooting Thunderbird.

Method 2. Verify Thunderbird Account Settings

If Thunderbird is not downloading messages, double-check your account settings.

Step 1. Open Thunderbird > Tools > Account Settings.

Step 2. Select your email account and click Server Settings.

Step 3. Ensure that your incoming server type, hostname, and port numbers are correct:

  • IMAP: Port 993 (SSL/TLS)
  • POP3: Port 995 (SSL/TLS)

Step 4. Confirm your username, password, and authentication method are correct.

Step 5. Restart Thunderbird after saving changes.

Step 6. Incorrect configurations are one of the most common causes of this issue.

Method 3. Fix Thunderbird Not Downloading Emails (POP3 Users)

If your account is set up with POP3 and Thunderbird stops downloading messages, a corrupted database file may be the reason.

Follow these steps to fix it:

  1. Close Thunderbird completely.
  2. Open the Thunderbird Profile folder on your computer.
  3. Find and delete the file named global-messages-db.sqlite.
  4. Restart Thunderbird — it will recreate the file and re-index your messages.
  5. This process helps Thunderbird re-sync and download all your POP3 emails again.

Note: The re-indexing process may take time depending on the mailbox size.

Method 4. Fix Thunderbird Not Downloading Emails (IMAP Users)

If your account uses IMAP, Thunderbird might not be syncing all folders locally. You can fix it by forcing synchronization:

  1. Open Thunderbird and go to Tools > Account Settings.
  2. Choose Synchronization & Storage from the left panel.
  3. Tick the box Keep messages for this account on this computer.
  4. Click Advanced, select the folders you want to sync, and press OK.
  5. Restart Thunderbird to download all your IMAP messages.

Method 5. Reinstall Thunderbird

If none of the above fixes work, your Thunderbird installation might be corrupted.

  1. Backup your profile folder first.
  2. Uninstall Thunderbird from your system.
  3. Download the latest version from the official Mozilla Thunderbird website.
  4. Reinstall it and re-add your account credentials.
  5. This can resolve underlying issues related to installation or corrupted files.

When Nothing Works – Try an Alternate Solution

If you’ve tried every fix and Thunderbird still does not download new messages, it may be time to consider another email platform. For example, Outlook provides better synchronization and advanced features. You can export Thunderbird to PST by using a suitable converter tool such as Advik Thunderbird Converter. — but only if switching clients is necessary for your workflow.

Conclusion

When Thunderbird stops downloading messages, it can interrupt your work and cause unnecessary stress. In most cases, the issue comes from incorrect settings, low storage, or a corrupted profile. By checking your configurations, rebuilding indexes, or reinstalling the app, you can easily fix it. However, if the problem keeps returning, switching to a more stable email client might be worth considering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why is Thunderbird not downloading new messages?

Ans. This may happen due to wrong settings, poor internet connection, low storage, or a corrupted profile.

Q2. How do I force Thunderbird to download emails?

Ans. Click Get Messages, check your connection, and enable message synchronization from account settings.

Q3. Will reinstalling Thunderbird delete my emails?

Ans. No, if you back up your profile folder before uninstalling, your emails remain safe.

Q4. What if Thunderbird still doesn’t download messages after all fixes?

Ans. In that case, your profile might be severely damaged, or your server may have issues. Recreating your account or switching to another email client could help.