Mozilla Thunderbird 156.0.1 for Windows

Thunderbird 156.0.1 is the free, open-source email client and personal information manager for Windows, developed today by MZLA Technologies Corporation under the Mozilla umbrella. It brings several mail accounts, an address book and a personal organiser into one desktop program, and you can download Thunderbird from thunderbird.net.

Specifications

What Thunderbird does

Thunderbird is a classic desktop email program. Instead of opening a separate website for each mailbox, you add your accounts once and read everything in one window, with your messages stored on the computer as well as on the server. Wikidata classes it not only as an email client but also as a newsreader, an address book, a personal organiser and an XMPP chat client, which reflects how much it has grown since 2003. The rendering engine is Gecko, the same technology behind Firefox, and the whole project is open source, so its code can be inspected by anyone. People choose it for control: it works with ordinary mail providers, does not tie you to one company's ecosystem and keeps your mail usable even when a webmail interface changes. There is also an official Android app, so the same client can accompany you on the phone.

Installation and first setup

1. Download the Windows installer from thunderbird.net.
2. Run it and choose the standard installation.
3. Enter your name, email address and password; for most providers the settings are found automatically.
4. If your provider asks for it, allow access in the browser window that opens.
5. Add further accounts from the account settings once the initial one works.

Source code is available in Mozilla's comm-central repository on GitHub.

Stable or ESR?

The regular release line receives new features frequently. The extended support release (ESR) changes less often and suits offices and anyone who prefers stability over novelty. Both lines receive security fixes.

Security tips

Keep automatic updates on, because email clients handle untrusted content every day. Do not open attachments you did not expect, check the real sender address before clicking links, and protect the Windows account that stores your mail with a password. Download Thunderbird only from its official website.

Pros and cons

• Pro: free and open source.
• Pro: many mail accounts in one program.
• Pro: available in dozens of languages.
• Con: setup takes more steps than webmail.
• Con: some provider features work only in their own apps.

Alternatives

Our listings include Microsoft Outlook and Mailbird, other desktop email clients for Windows. If you prefer the browser, Gmail and Yahoo Mail offer webmail directly from their providers.