documentation.federated.computer/content/en/docs/client_applications/Windows/thunderbird/_index.md

---
title: "Thunderbird"
linkTitle: "Thunderbird"
date: 2023-05-30
weight: 2
description: >
  Thunderbird is the *best* self-sovereign client for email, calendar, contacts on all the desktop platforms. No big company is spying on your data. While there *are* other clients your can use, we *strongly* recommend Thunrderbird.
resources:
- src: "**.{png,jpg}"
---

{{% pageinfo %}}
This documentation is for users and administrators, not those wanting to install.
{{% /pageinfo %}}

Thunderbird isn't clunky anymore. Lots of investment is going into this great email, calendar, contacts, and more desktop client.

You can download Thunderbird from their [website](https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/download/).

The steps for configuring Thunderbird are practically the same for the major desktop platforms. Use the standard installation options and allow Thunderbird to be your default mail application.

You'll be asked to enter your Federated Core email address. Thunderbird *should* auto-configure your settings, but if you need to manually set them up, here is the needed information:

**IMAP**

Server: mail.domain.com (where "domain.com" is your domain name. Example: mail.federated.com.)
Port: 993
Security: SSL/TLS

**SMTP**

Server: mail.domain.com (where "domain.com" is your domain name. Example: mail.federated.com.)
Port: 465
Security: SSL/TLS

Click "Finish" and you're ready to send/receive email.

**Contacts**

In order to connect Thunderbird to the addresses kept in your Nextcloud application, select the small address book icon in the upper right of Thunderbird to select the "Address Book" mode.

{{< imgproc contacts Resize "35x31" >}}
{{< /imgproc >}}

Then select the drop down to the right and select "Add CardDAV Address Book".

{{< imgproc dropdown Resize "227x111" >}}
{{< /imgproc >}}

The put in your username (email) for your Federated Core into the "New CardDAV Address Book" dialog box.

{{< imgproc information Resize "553x250" >}}
{{< /imgproc >}}

You need to get the link for the "Location" line. This can be found in Nextcloud. Open a browser, enter the nextcloud.domain.com address for your Federated Core where "domain.com" is your particular domain name, navigate to the Contacts application, and then Contacts Settings in the lower left of the window. You'll see a window like this:

{{< imgproc link Resize "929x692" >}}
{{< /imgproc >}}

You click on the three dots in the "Address books" section to see a drop down menu. Select "Copy link". That is the link address we need for the "Location" in the prior dialog box in Thunderbird. You can switch back to Thunderbird and paste the link into the "Location" section of the dialog box then click "Continue".

Now Thunderbird will ask you to authenticate to your Nextcloud application.

{{< imgproc authentication Resize "518x208" >}}
{{< /imgproc >}}

Enter your username (email address for Federated Core) and password. Click "OK" and you should have your Address Book from Nextcloud now connected to Thunderbird.

**Calendars**

These instructions work for any Calendar in your Nextcloud application. You can have Calendars for yourself/personal, decks, task lists, etc.

We will be adding a CalDAV calendar to Thunderbird. First switch to the Calendar mode in Thunderbird by clicking the calendar icon along the right side of the Thunderbird application.

{{< imgproc calendar Resize "33x35" >}}
{{< /imgproc >}}

You then click the "+" symbol so that we can add/subscribe to a calendar from Nextcloud.

{{< imgproc addcal Resize "324x68" >}}
{{< /imgproc >}}

We choose from the next dialog box to subscribe to a "On the Network" calendar and click "Next".

{{< imgproc network Resize "495x404" >}}
{{< /imgproc >}}

Now we put in our username (email address).

{{< imgproc create Resize "496x402" >}}
{{< /imgproc >}}

In order to find the "Location" we need to switch to our Nextcloud application and navigate to the "Calendar" app.

{{< imgproc nc-calendar Resize "478x59" >}}
{{< /imgproc >}}

You select the calendar you want to subscribe to by clicking on the "edit" function. Another dialogue box is presented:

{{< imgproc privatelink Resize "593x323" >}}
{{< /imgproc >}}

Click on the "Copy private link" buttton to copy the desired "Location" to the clipboard. Now we can go back to Thunderbird and paste the link into the "Location" box and click "Find Calendars".

When Thunderbird finds the calendar, it will ask us for our password for Nextcloud.

{{< imgproc password Resize "609x186" >}}
{{< /imgproc >}}

Enter your password and then click "OK". Now we are asked to subscribe to the calendar.

{{< imgproc subscribe Resize "495x402" >}}
{{< /imgproc >}}

Leave the "Calendar Type" as "CalDAV" and click "Subscribe". Your calendar is now available in Thunderbird.