Start Your Reply on Top in Mozilla Thunderbird

Make sure your reply doesn't get buried at the bottom of the message

What to Know

  • Go to Menu > Account Settings > Composition & Addressing and select start my reply above the quote next to When quoting.
  • Alternatively, select Start my reply below the quote or select the quote if you want all text to be highlighted.

Tired of Thunderbird putting your replies at the bottom of email messages? This article explains how to start your replies above quoted text in Mozilla Thunderbird for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Start Your Reply on Top in Mozilla Thunderbird

To make Mozilla Thunderbird position the cursor on top, above quoted text, when you reply:

  1. Select the Menu icon in the upper-right corner and choose Account Settings.

    Account Settings in Mozilla Thunderbird menu
  2. Select Composition & Addressing in the left sidebar.

    Composition & Addressing in Thunderbird Account Settings
  3. Make sure Automatically quote the original message when replying is checked, then select start my reply above the quote next to When quoting.

    Automatically quote the original message when replying is checked and start my reply above the quote in Thunderbird Account Settings

Alternate Mozilla Thunderbird Reply Options

Mozilla Thunderbird automatically places the cursor above quoted text when you start a reply. Instead of moving the cursor every time, you can change where the cursor appears by default:

  • Start my reply below the quote: Mozilla Thunderbird quotes and indents the text of the message to which you reply. The first line of the reply introduces the quoted text, and the text cursor is placed below the quoted message for you to start typing, above your signature (if you set up a Thunderbird signature).
  • Select the quote: Mozilla Thunderbird quotes the original message in your reply. The first line introduces the original text as a quotation, and your signature is inserted below the quoted text, after some space for your reply. All text (not just the quoted text) is highlighted.
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