How to Access IMAP Inbox Offline in Mozilla Thunderbird

Work with your email without an internet connection

By
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Writer
  • University of Vienna
A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
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Updated on June 4, 2021

What to Know

  • Select Tools > Account Settings > Synchronization & Storage category for the desired IMAP account.
  • Check Keep messages for this account on this computer.
  • Click Advanced. Check Download for the Inbox and other folders you'd like to use offline.

Here's how to make your IMAP account inbox available offline in Mozilla Thunderbird so that you can read and write emails while offline. The instructions were tested in version 78 (the most recent as of June 2021) but should apply to earlier versions, too.

How to Use Your Inbox Without Internet Access

Using this method, all messages will automatically be downloaded to your computer.

  1. Select Tools > Account Settings from the menu.

    Thunderbird menu with Account Settings highlighted

  2. Select the Synchronization & Storage category for the desired IMAP account. Check Keep messages for this account on this computer.

    Thunderbird Message Synchronizing

  3. Click Advanced.

    Advanced highlighted in Message Synchronizing

  4. Check Download for the Inbox folder and any others you want available offline.

    Selecting offline folders in Thunderbird

  5. Click OK > OK.

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