Set up Thunderbird

This page is targeted at

  • Thunderbird users

Get Thunderbird ready for KUMail by following the steps below.

If you already have other accounts in Thunderbird, be sure to add KUMail as a new, separate account to prevent trouble.

1. Download and install Thunderbird. See here for instructions.

Note: Be sure to install the latest version of Thunderbird (78.3.3 as of October 21, 2020) because older versions may not be compatible with Shibboleth. If you are using version 68.x or older, you cannot update to the latest version inside the application. You must directly download it from the official site and overwrite the old version.

If you already have Thunderbird installed on your device, go on to 2.

2.

① On the top right, click the menu icon.

② Hover over Option to expand the menu.

③ Click Account Settings.

3. On the bottom left, expand the Account Actions pulldown and click Add Mail Account.

4. Enter your information.

  • Your name: your name, as shown to others

  • Email address: your KUMail address

  • Password: (leave this blank)

Click Next.

5. When the message "Configuration found in Mozilla ISP Database" appears, click Done.

Here, some users have additional steps and others can skip it.

Depending the window you are viewing, go on to 6-a. or 6-b. If neither shows up, go on to 7.

6-a. If you are asked to choose which account you'll use to log in to Google as in the image, click on your KUMail account.

If it's not there, click Use another account and go on to 6-b.

Note: Don't choose any account other than your KUMail account.

6-b. If you are asked to enter your email address (***@kyoto-u.ac.jp), type it in and click Next.

Note: Don't enter other addresses you own.

If you are asked to choose an account type, click Google Workspace account.

7. Sign in with your SPS-ID and password.

After you click Login, you'll be asked to authenticate with a second factor. For more on this multi-factor authentication, see Multi-Factor Authentication User's Guide.

8. Click ALLOW.

You might be asked to sign in or grant Thunderbird access to your Google account even after you start using KUMail on Thunderbird. In that case, which is rare to occur, just do the same thing as the steps 7 and 8 again.

Thunderbird is now ready for KUMail.

Note:

  • When you set up for the first time, it may take some time for Thunderbird to retrieve your messages. Don't close the window until it's over.

  • If you want to change your sender address (From address), you must add it to the web version of Gmail in advance.

  • We recommend that you sort your emails in Gmail (Webmail), not in Thunderbird.

  • See here for more information about Thunderbird and KUMail (Gmail).