Please post screenshots of your incoming server settings and the SMTP server settings. those would be the 'server settings' pane and the 'Outgoing servers (SMTP' server pane. Thank you.

No, I checked and rechecked my settings, but makes no difference. Just had my techie man in and he says that BT are slowly and surupticiously preventing email clients from connecting with BT, as they want you to access it direct online, He has had loads of people saying their conection will not work now. He tried also on each email client I have and confirmed all settings correct and he said that the only thing left is the BT end, in which case there is nothing I can do about it! So that seems to be that, as there is no other route open. Contrary to what BT told me, they are not happy long term to allow outlook to connect.

Ok, since you do not wish assistance, please mark this thread resolved. Thank you.

I have decided to restart this query, as I just tried to load Thunderbird on my wife's laptop and it connected straight away, with exactly the same detail I used on my laptop and with same configuration and settings.

Something is wrong here and no one can explain why, not even the techie guys. Please can someone have a sensible reason why my PC will not connect. Obviously it is not at the BT end, so it has to at my desktop.

Do a test with Windows running in safe mode.

Done safe mode, no difference. Further ideas please..

Just to clarify, does your laptop connect through wifi? Note that in this case 'safe mode with networking' requires that the network adapter be manually enabled, unlike when the connection is wired via the ethernet adapter.

Sorry, I am a little confused. My laptop is wifi, however that conects Thunderbird to BT mail OK. My desktop is wired, but will not connect email clients. Not sure why I have to manually enable the N/adaptor on my laptop when it connects OK. On my desktop all are enabled. Pls clarify as I am no expert on deeper IT matters.

If problem is with laptop using wifi: If you are connecting laptop to router/hub via wifi then you will need to change the laptop to use ethernet cable - aka wired and then you can test restarting computer using 'Safe Mode with Networking' (not just Safe Mode).

If problem is with desktop using ethernet cable: If desktop connects to router/hub using an ethernet cable - aka wired then you can test restarting computer using 'Safe Mode with Networking' (not just Safe Mode).

As issue seems to be with desktop: Exit Thunderbird Access Firewall - note this may be the computer default Firewall or you may have an AntiVirus product controlling the Firewall. The Thunderbird program must be set up as an allowed program otherwise it might get blocked by Firewall.

As example - I use Norton 360 Anti-Virus and it also controls the Firewall. please see images below showing how I set up to allow Thunderbird program that means the thunderbird.exe file.

Please confirm the Firewall has the Thunderbird program set up as allowed.

The problem is with the desktop. The laptop is fine. I have tried safe mode with networking on desktop, but still will not allow connection. I have Malwarebytes with Thunderbird and Mailbird allowed and I have allowed them within defender, but still no connection. The problem first started with Mailbird and I wonder if in some way that is blocking other connections, although seems highly unlikely to me. I am awaiting a reply from Mailbird first to enable me to export my contacts, thereafter I will delete Mailbird and all it's files and reboot to see if that helps. A long shot I admit, but otherwise I am running out of ideas, as I have tried everything else. A bit of a puzzler.. Must be something simple though and that is why I will delete Mailbird shortly, as the programme or one it's files may be corrupt. Any port in a storm!

BTW - I use BT. I have a pop account running in one version of Thunderbird and an Imap account running in a beta version. I have no issues with either of them.

I would not pay too much attention to the what the 'Techie' says about BT. But I will say that generally any BT Techie will know a limited amount when it comes to using third party email clients as they are all taught to resolve issues with webmail accounts.

Once you have confirmed your Firewall which may be controlled by malwarebytes has Thunderbird program set up as allowed program

You need to be certain about the password you are using when accessing BT account and also the BT Email - they are not the same thing. Note: I used to have a password set up to access my BT account details etc and a different password set up to access BT Emails via webmail. However, for some unknown reason I discovered a problem after I had updated the BT account password. Suddenly my access to BT server to get emails failed - I did not expect this. Then I discovered only the new password for BT account would access my BT Email webmail, so obviously Thunderbird could not access it either. Basically, I discovered that I needed both my BT Account and my BT Email webmail access to use identical password, then I reset the stored password in Thunderbird for the BT account. Once everything was using same password my access issue was resolved. So, please check to see if you are having the same problem.

Do this: Set both the BT Account and the BT Email webmail access to use same identical password. Then in Thunderbird edit the stored password for BT account for both incoming and smtp so it is the same password.

Confirm password is now set up as indicated above.

We need to be certain about your BT settings - Post the following because I want to see what Thunderbird says you have set up:

• Help > TRoubleshooting Information
• Scroll down to 'Mail and News Accounts' section
• Either Copy everything in that area and paste the info into this forum question
• OR upload an image file showing what it says.

Network Connection Check: Desktop is using wired/ethernet cable to router/hub, but is it actually using your BT network or are you somehow connected to a neighbours unprotected network?

I had an elderly neighbour who could not get access to emails, so I checked his network connection only to discover he was not actually using his network via his hub. He was using his neighbours and he did not set it up that way. Somehow, when computer booted up, it had just searched for available network and got the wrong one. So this really does happen.

Please double check: Bottom right of monitor screen you should see a monitor icon showing the internet access. Hover mouse pointer over it and it should show a small pop up telling you what you are connected to or click on icon to get a full pop up showing all detected networks in the area. Your BT hub will have it's own reference usually on the back and the network connection info should match your hub reference.

Confirm you are certain the Network you are connected to is your Hub and it's not the wifi connection.

I believe malwarebytes antivirus does offer VPN. Servers tend to expect your computer IP address and therefore they are not happy when it comes to VPN's as it uses a different IP or even changes IP which means the server does not think you really are you. It thinks you maybe a hacker and so server will block access.

Please check to see if the VPN is enabled. If it is enabled: Please disable it - switch it off. Then restart Thunderbird and see if you get a connection.

I have my own connection, not shared. I have the same password for my BT A/C and my email. Used to have different ones, but BT seemed to have changed that. I have put the password manually into the Thunderbird connections. As regards the settings on Thunderbird, there is nothing under mail and news accounts. Herewith scrnj shot but nothing undermail and news, as cannot connect, so no real use. As I say, hopefully tomorrow I can delete MB and then review after clean up.

VPN not enabled.

I see what you mean - nothing in the Mail and News Accounts According to Thunderbird you do not have any mail accounts Looks like Thunderbird has no knowledge about the mail accounts, so it cannot connect to something it thinks does not exist. You may have got it set up to use the wrong profile or data not stored in correct location.

What have you got in this area:

Help > Troubleshooting Information Under 'Application Basics' - near the bottom - Profiles - click on 'about:profile' It should open in a new tab. Make sure window is big enough to see everything Post an image showing what you see.

I deleted Mailbird, but no change as I thought. Herewith Scrnsht - not sure it will help. Tried my other email addresses, but they won't connect either. If I can't sort it out this time, I will just forget about email client software and just go direct to webmail - life is too short!

When you downloaded Thunderbird did you get it from this link: https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/all/

Or did you get it from the Microsoft app store or anywhere else? I need to ask this because Microsoft app store is a pain as they store things in a different location and recently it's been noticed that the data stating where profile should be does not necessarilly mean it is actually in that location.

In Thunderbird In Folder Pane on the left side: Do you see the mail account name folders and their folders? Does everything look normal - with the exception of not downloading etc.

I downloaded straight off Thunderbird.net so not US. In any event I downloaded the same onto my wife's laptop and that worked OK.

In any event, I have now given up on this, as have better things to do like watching paint dry!! I shall just forget clients and go to webmail direct on my desktop. If I want to use Thunderbird I will use my wife's laptop. Thanks for your help and suggestions. It seems to be just one of those mysteries one cannot fathom.

Onwards and upwards!