How do I set up Thunderbird to use POP3?

Remember that you can download Thunderbird free from the Mozilla site.

1. If you're just using Thunderbird for the first time, the following window will appear automatically. (If you've already set up another account on Thunderbird, you can get to this wizard, which will start with the next step, by going to Tools > Account Settings... and clicking the Add Account button.) If you've previously used Outlook Express or Mozilla Mail, you can choose to import all of your e-mail as well as the settings necessary for Thunderbird to check that e-mail account if you want. If you're not quite ready to take the dive and completely switch over to Thunderbird, or if you've never used either of these programs, then simply choose not to import anything. Click Next to proceed to the next screen.
   
   
   
2. We want to create a Pomona e-mail account, so select that option. Click Next.
   
   
   
3. Here, you should enter your name and the preferred version of your e-mail address. What you choose here as your e-mail address will appear as the "From" address in any e-mails you send. Click Next once you've filled in the text boxes.
   
   
   
4. You should fill in the text boxes on this screen so they match the image. Click Next to continue.
   
   
   
5. Here, you should enter the username you use to log in to your e-mail account. It should be your username in the form xyz0200x (ex: ces02005 for Cecil E. Sagehen). Click Next when done.
   
   
   
6. Now, Thunderbird wants you to pick a descriptive name for this e-mail account. It should be something so that, if Thunderbird needs to give you an error message about the account, you'll recognize the name. Generally something like Pomona E-mail will be just fine. Click Next once you've selected a name.
   
   
   
7. You should now see a screen like the one below that basically confirms the settings that you've chosen in the past few windows. Uncheck the Download Messages Now box. Once you've reviewed them, click Finish.
   
   
   
8. If you left the Download Messages Now box checked, you should recieve a request from Thunderbird for your password. Don't enter your password just yet. Click Cancel. We want to change one setting that isn't turned on by default.
   
9. Go to Security Settings and activate SSL. To do this click on Local Folders and then choose Account Settings. You will need to change it to SSL in two different places. For the first choose Server Settings and then select SSL under security settings.
   
   
   
10. For the second one choose Outgoing Server(SMTP), choose Pomona Email and click Edit. Select TLS under use secure connection and change the port to 465.
    
    
    
11. Now, when you are back in the inbox, click on the Get Mail button at the top. You will be prompted for your password again. Enter your password here. If you do not want Thunderbird to ask for your password every time you open it, then check the Use Password Manager to remember this password box. Click OK once you've entered your e-mail password.
    
    
    
    • If you checked the Use Password Manager... checkbox, you may get this scary-looking window. You can safely click OK. Jump to our walkthrough for setting a master password if you'd like to do that now.
      
      
      

At this point, you should be able to read and send e-mails through Thunderbird. Yay!

You might want to consider setting up the Pomona address book (LDAP). This will allow you to search the entire Pomona directory for someone's e-mail address (nifty, eh?).