Thunderbird problems connecting to server

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I’m not sure if this is a problem with Thunderbird or with my server, but I figure I’ll get the best response here.

The first time every day I try to send an email, Thunderbird is unable to connect to the email server. Trying again immediately is successful 99% of the time, and there are no problems the rest of the day. On occasion it can take several tries, and on occasion there are other occurrences during the day (usually of the “try several times” variety).

This is merely a nuisance and while I never remember to be ready for it I do know enough to just press and try again to send (don’t have to move the cursor that way). Just wondering whether anyone else experiences or has experienced this, though. I don’t like not understandings why things don’t work the way they’re supposed to (I am, after all, an old QA guy!).

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I have run into this in the past but I’m not sure for the same reason. Check your account settings, particularly regarding the port and SSL settings your provider prefers. There are sometimes a preferred and an alternate way – both work but preferred works better.

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I have this issue sometimes when I return from hibernation. It’s because the network connection is not up when TB wants to connect.
Try connecting to something with your browser to ensure the network is up, then test TB.

cheers, Paul

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Thanks for the suggestions, guys. In this case I happen to be ahead of you, but that certainly isn’t always the case!

It’s typically only the very first connection of the day (yesterday happened to be one of the exceptions, with the first email and a subsequent one taking many attempts to make the SMTP connection). The reaction is nearly instantaneous, which is what suggests to me the problem is within Thunderbird since if it were at the server there would be several attempts before timing out.

Also, I always (or effectively always, anyway) am working on the Web before firing up email, so I don’t think that’s the problem, either. In fact, if I close Thunderbird for a while — still working on the Web — then reopen it, the first email I try to send will have this problem.

‘Tis a puzzlement, to quote some movie (but I can’t remember which one). Just a nuisance, as I said, but glad to know other people see it now and then, too!

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Thanks for the suggestions, guys. In this case I happen to be ahead of you, but that certainly isn’t always the case!

It’s typically only the very first connection of the day (yesterday happened to be one of the exceptions, with the first email and a subsequent one taking many attempts to make the SMTP connection). The reaction is nearly instantaneous, which is what suggests to me the problem is within Thunderbird since if it were at the server there would be several attempts before timing out.

Also, I always (or effectively always, anyway) am working on the Web before firing up email, so I don’t think that’s the problem, either. In fact, if I close Thunderbird for a while — still working on the Web — then reopen it, the first email I try to send will have this problem.

‘Tis a puzzlement, to quote some movie (but I can’t remember which one). Just a nuisance, as I said, but glad to know other people see it now and then, too!

– From the movie “The King and I”

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I’m not sure if this is a problem with Thunderbird or with my server, but I figure I’ll get the best response here.

The first time every day I try to send an email, Thunderbird is unable to connect to the email server. Trying again immediately is successful 99% of the time, and there are no problems the rest of the day. On occasion it can take several tries, and on occasion there are other occurrences during the day (usually of the “try several times” variety).

This is a problem for me as well. I am speaking of using Thunderbird 38.6.0 as my email client, set for POP type emails. I can no longer connect to my email server (functioning from my own domain.) in SMTP mode. The connection simply times out, sometimes with “an unknown reason” as the error, sometimes just “your connection has timed out.” I spent 1 hr. 20 min. online with my ISP’s customer support, and *they* couldn’t figure out why it was hanging either. If I go to a web-based client, all is well. Win 10 Mail works, but I am very leery of using that “service” – it seems rather wild and wooly.
I have used TBird for years as my email client and don’t want to give it up, but I may have to. There are several similar messages on Mozilla’s support website, so it isn’t just me (or you!)
Yes, retrying did work for a while, but that choice does not seem to work any longer for me. Also, I do not want to have to re-send an email several times before it “takes.”
Does *anyone* have an explanation for this mess?

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My ISP changed its SMTP port last December and sent an email to that effect. They failed to mention a change in Connection Security, so I only changed the port. Yesterday they helped me reset the SMTP settings to where they should be and noted that there was no User Name entered. The User Name refers to the pass word which allows authentication at their Server. With everything properly set, I can sent emails without any problems. I hope this helps someone.

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Here’s what has happened on my end:

After two days of TBird not connecting with my server,and hours of changing settings, using alternate ports, and more than 4 dozen email attempts: this morning, everything works!

All of a sudden, the server recognizes TBird’s send request – WITH THE ORIGINAL SETTINGS that used to work for me for years.

Web-based mail, and other mail apps worked, just TBrid timed out. That was what was so strange (and still is,) to me. I did not sacrifice a chicken to TBird, but that might have done the trick as well.

Happy, but still puzzled and confused.

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I use eM Client 6 to “sniff” out what works, that might be one fun way to find out the current working settings. eM Client is usually pretty good at making a working account.

"Take care of thy backups and thy restores shall take care of thee." Ben Franklin, revisted

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Thanks for the tip. I’ll try it out.

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A problem I’ve had in the past, is that my email program opens up before my internet connection is complete, and then the EMail program registers a “Server Not Found” error. I’ve even used delaying programs in the past to delay the EMail program till the internet connection is complete.

Sometimes computers can be too fast for their own good! Eh?

😎

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Just an update from my end. Between the time I started this thread and the last of the replies, the problem has completely disappeared. There may have been a Thunderbird update in that time, but I don’t remember (they’re so stealthy I often don’t notice when they happen).

Next up — fixing this sticky E key on my laptop!

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