| Thunderbird 3 is a free email client. It is fast, small | | | | Go to Tools → Account Settings... |
| and synchronizes very well with Gmail using the | | | | Select your existing email account. |
| Easy-Email solution. | | | | Click Server Settings. |
| This article explains how to set up a Thunderbird | | | | Check Leave messages on server. |
| IMAP account so you can synchronize with Gmail, and | | | | Change the number of days to 1 (or more). |
| in doing so manage all your email from one window, | | | | Click OK. |
| whether webmail addresses or email addresses with | | | | 2. Create a new IMAP account in Thunderbird 3 to |
| a mailbox. For the purposes of this article we assume | | | | access Gmail |
| that your existing account in Thunderbird is a POP | | | | Gmail has already been setup to pick up your email |
| account. | | | | for you. This step tells Thunderbird 3 to synchronize |
| Thunderbird 3 works on Windows, Mac OS and Linux | | | | with Gmail so you can download copies of your |
| and is translated into many different languages. | | | | emails. |
| Note! The names of some menus vary on different | | | | In Thunderbird click Tools → Account |
| operating systems: | | | | Settings... |
| In Windows the menus are tools account | | | | Then click Account Actions → Add Mail |
| settings and tools options | | | | Account... |
| In Linux they are Edit account settings and edit | | | | Enter your name and gmail address (the gmail |
| preferences | | | | address you wish to use for synchronization) and the |
| In Mac they are Tools Account settings and | | | | gmail password |
| Thunderbird preferences. | | | | Check Remember Password |
| In this article I'll refer to the Windows menus but | | | | Click Continue. |
| refer to the menus above if you are using Linux or | | | | Thunderbird 3 automatically finds the correct |
| Mac. | | | | settings for your email account. |
| This assumes that you have already set up a Gmail | | | | Click Create Account. |
| account to pick up mail from your mailbox and | | | | 3. Repeat step 2 on any other computers and your |
| enabled IMAP. | | | | email will be synchronized on them all. |
| Important! Backup your emails before you start! This | | | | Your folders and email are now synchronized with |
| is standard practice but you'd be surprised how many | | | | Gmail. Here's how this will affect your email life on a |
| people skip this important step when doing anything | | | | day to day basis: |
| with their email accounts. | | | | Your email is synchronized on Gmail and Thunderbird |
| 1. Modify existing POP accounts in Thunderbird to | | | | so you can use any of your own computers to |
| leave new emails in the mailbox for long enough for | | | | access your email, or any other computer! |
| Gmail to pick up a copy too. | | | | Send an email from your desktop and it's in the sent |
| Note! These changes do not affect the way you | | | | mail folder in Gmail; read an email in Gmail and it's |
| currently manage your email. It means you will have a | | | | marked as read on your laptop. Everything you do on |
| POP account downloading your email and an IMAP | | | | one computer will be reflected on your other |
| account synchronizing with Gmail so you will have | | | | computers. |
| two copies of your email active until you choose to | | | | Note: We showed how to set up the Thunderbird |
| switch off one account. | | | | IMAP account alongside your old POP account so you |
| Gmail automatically checks your mailboxes for new | | | | can verify that all emails are coming through into the |
| mail once every hour. If a new email arrives in your | | | | IMAP account by comparing the emails in the two |
| mailbox and Thunderbird 3 downloads and removes | | | | accounts. Once you are comfortable that it has all |
| the email from the mailbox before Gmail gets to it | | | | worked you can switch off the POP account. |
| you will not see that email in Gmail and it will not be | | | | There are a few other settings that need to be |
| synchronized with your other email clients. | | | | changed to make this work seamlessly. |