Have three details ready
You need the complete email address, its mailbox password and the assigned UKC server hostname from the hosting welcome email, for example ukc12.uk.
Recommended settings
Use secure IMAP and SMTP
IMAP keeps messages and folders synchronised between Thunderbird, webmail and your other devices.
- Username
- Your complete email address
- Password
- Your mailbox or webmail password
- Incoming protocol
- IMAP
- Incoming server
- Your assigned UKC server, for example ukc12.uk
- Incoming port
- 993
- Incoming security
- SSL / TLS
- Outgoing server
- Your assigned UKC server, for example ukc12.uk
- Outgoing port
- 465
- Outgoing security
- SSL / TLS
- Authentication
- Normal password
If Thunderbird cannot use SMTP port 465, use port 587 with STARTTLS instead.
Thunderbird setup
Add the mailbox
- Open Thunderbird's menu, choose Account Settings, then Account Actions and Add Mail Account.
- Enter your name, complete UKC email address and mailbox password, then select Continue.
- If Thunderbird does not find the correct settings, select Manual Configuration.
- Choose IMAP and enter the secure incoming and outgoing settings shown above.
- Select Re-test. When both servers pass, select Done.
Test both directions
Send a message from Thunderbird to another address, then reply to it. A successful send and reply confirms both outgoing SMTP and incoming IMAP are working.
Optional alternative
Using POP instead of IMAP
Use POP only when you intentionally want one device to download mail instead of keeping every device synchronised. Use your assigned UKC hostname on secure POP port 995 with SSL / TLS. SMTP settings remain unchanged.
Troubleshooting
If Thunderbird cannot connect
- Use the assigned hostname, such as ukc12.uk, for both servers so it matches the mail certificate.
- Use the complete email address as both incoming and outgoing username.
- Set outgoing authentication to Normal password; SMTP cannot send without authentication.
- Try SMTP port 587 with STARTTLS if the connection blocks port 465.
- Sign in to Roundcube to confirm that the email address and mailbox password are correct.
Still unable to connect?
Tell the Helpdesk whether sending, receiving or both fail and include Thunderbird's exact error message. Never send your mailbox password in a ticket.
Contact the Helpdesk