Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Thunderbird is not allowing IMAP setup for att.net why work around

more options

trying to convert POP3 att.net mail to IMAP following the instructions but the "Wizard" only shows POP3 set up. I have done this conversion successfully on my 2 gmail.com accounts. I have gone so far as to delete the att.net accounts and then set up new accounts but it keeps setting up as POP3. How do I fix as I know att.net is IMAP capable.

trying to convert POP3 att.net mail to IMAP following the instructions but the "Wizard" only shows POP3 set up. I have done this conversion successfully on my 2 gmail.com accounts. I have gone so far as to delete the att.net accounts and then set up new accounts but it keeps setting up as POP3. How do I fix as I know att.net is IMAP capable.

Chosen solution

Those are the correct settings for POP accounts, but if you wish to use IMAP, click the v next to POP3 in the Incoming: box and select IMAP. I don't know why you get the error when the secure mail key is entered for the password, although sometimes antivirus programs interfere with secure email connections. If you have such a program, turn it off while you set up an account.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (8)

more options

After you enter your email & password starting from File/New/Existing Mail Account, click Continue and then Manual config. on the next screen. Select IMAP and enter the rest of the settings.

Or, go offline from File/Offline/Work Offline to bypass the wizard lookup.

https://www.att.com/esupport/article.html#!/email-support/KM1086159?gsi=lqzqLjk

Use a secure mail key in TB instead of the regular account password.

https://www.att.com/esupport/article.html#!/email-support/KM1240308?gsi=MOXN5fs

more options

I did the manual config and IMAP was not an option. Do the 2 links to att support have anything to do with this. if so what as I have read both and don't see a connection between the secure mail key and IMAP. Thank you for your reply. is it possible I don't have the most recent TB I'm on 52.9.1 (32-bit)

more options

See the attached picture for an example of the account setup screen after selecting Manual config. As you can see, IMAP or POP are available for the incoming server type. Incoming: imap.mail.att.net on port 993, SSL/TLS, authentication = normal password, User name = email address. Outgoing: smtp.mail.att.net on port 465, SSL/TLS, authentication = normal password, User name = email address. Use the secure mail key in the Password box.

The secure mail key is needed whether you use POP or IMAP access.

These settings should work on any version of TB.

more options

This is not what I am seeing but have to learn to do screen shots before I can show that I only get the pop3 part. I will also have to go into att.net to set up a secure mail key. Hopefully some time tomorrow all this will come together. Thanks so much for the help.

more options

Got the screen shots. As you can see I'm not getting what you are. I'm going to see if setting up the security key works although I'm not very trusting of what att.net is up to with this.

more options

Well this is a fine mess. After much difficulty set up the secure key however, as you can see from the screen prints I can't access this mail box at all now.

more options

Seçilmiş Həll

Those are the correct settings for POP accounts, but if you wish to use IMAP, click the v next to POP3 in the Incoming: box and select IMAP. I don't know why you get the error when the secure mail key is entered for the password, although sometimes antivirus programs interfere with secure email connections. If you have such a program, turn it off while you set up an account.

more options

Finally! It worked with one little tweek - after selecting the IMAP from the drop down (Which I completely missed) I still had to add the IMAP address manually as it did not auto fill when I selected IMAP. Thank you for your patients. Now I hopefully can get email synced to my laptop.