Configuring Thunderbird 1.5 (PC) for Exchange Email

The following instructions are designed for configuring Mozilla Thunderbird for Windows using the secure IMAP protocol for the University’s Exchange email server.

*IMPORTANT NOTE! You must contact the Help Desk to arrange for IMAPS to be turned on for your Exchange account. Otherwise, the following instructions will not be successful for you.

Assumptions

  • Your email is delivered to Exchange, the University's primary email server (@unr.edu).
  • Sample user name: John Q Public
  • Sample email/NetID username: jqpublic
  • Sample email address: jqpublic@unr.edu

Configuring Thunderbird

  1. Open Thunderbird 1.5.
    • On first use, the New Account Wizard activates.
    • Cancel out of the wizard.

  1. From the top menu bar, click Tools and click Account Settings to start the Wizard.

  1. Select Add Account from the bottom left side of that screen. This starts the account wizard.
  2. On the Account Wizard screen, choose "email account" and click Next.
  3. Fill out the two text boxes and click Next:
    • Your Name: Enter the name you want on outgoing emails (e.g., John Q Public).
    • Email Address: Enter your email address. Exchange email addresses end in @unr.edu. Example: jqpublic@unr.edu

  1. On the Server Information screen:
    • Select IMAP as the type of incoming server.
    • Incoming mail server (IMAP): imapssl.unr.edu
    • Outgoing mail server (SMTP):
      • If your computer is located on the University campus or you are connecting via a UNR PPP account, type smtp.unr.edu
      • If you are connecting through an outside Internet Service Provider (ISP), enter the SMTP server for that ISP.  Contact your ISP for instructions.
    • Click Next
  1. On the User Names screen:
    • Incoming User Name: Type your username (portion of email address to left of @). Example, jqpublic.
    • Outgoing User Name: Type your username (portion of email address left of @). Example, jqpublic. You may have to call your ISP for the login name if you're not on the UNR network.
    • Click Next.
  2. On the Account Name screen:
    • Account Name: Type a descriptive name for email account (e.g., UNR Exchange).
    • Click Next.
  3. Review your settings and click Finish.
  4. This configuration is NOT complete. Continue with these instructions.
  5. You may choose to make Mozilla Thunderbird your default mail application. If so, check the box and click Yes. If you are just experimenting, choose No.
  6. When a dialog box opens asking for an email password, click Cancel. First, complete the email configuration as follows.
  7. From the top menu bar, click Tools and then click Account Settings.

  1. On the Account Settings screen, select Server Settings from the menu on the left side of the screen.
      • To the right of the Server Name is a text field called Port.
        • Enter the following number: 993
      • In the "Use secure connection" section, select SSL.
      • Click OK.
  2. Thunderbird 1.5 for Windows is now configured properly for your Exchange email.