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.

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.

How to Use Your Inbox Without Internet Access

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

  • Select Tools > Account Settings from the menu.
  • Select the Synchronization & Storage category for the desired IMAP account. Check Keep messages for this account on this computer.
  • Click Advanced.
  • Check Download for the Inbox folder and any others you want available offline.
  • Click OK > OK.

Select Tools > Account Settings from the menu.

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

Click Advanced.

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

Click OK > OK.

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