Tutorial: Configuring an Email Account in Mozilla Thunderbird

This tutorial has been written by our Technical Support Officer Paul Traynor. Here are some useful instructions on configuring an email account in Mozilla Thunderbird.

After the installation of Thunderbird and it is opened up on screen, open the “View menu”, “Alt + V and arrow down to “Toolbars submenu”. Right arrow in here and make sure that:

* Menu Bar is “Checked”

* Filter Bar is “Unchecked”

* Status bar is “Checked”

Note: Use the “Enter key” to check these items. Otherwise use the left click of the mouse.

 

2. Go into the “View menu” and arrow down to “Layout”. Here make the following changes;

* Classic view is “Checked”

* Message pane “F8” is “Unchecked”

Note: Use the “Enter key” to check or uncheck these items. Otherwise use the left click of the mouse.

 

3. Go into the “View menu” and arrow down to “Sort by” and change the following:

* Sort descending is “Checked”

* Date is “Checked”

Note: This means that any newly received messages will be placed at the top of your emails list.

 

4. Go back into the “View menu” and arrow down to, “Message body as sub menu” and make the following change:

* Plain text is “Checked”

Note: This is a personal preference change. I just prefer plain text but the option is up to the individual.

Implementing the above changes in Thunderbird will give it a pretty clean view for a screen reader to operate in. You will only have four items to tab between as follows:

* Folder list

* Message list

* Tab indicator

* Search edit box

Note: Use your “Tab key” to move between the above objects.

When in the message list just use the “up or down arrows” to move between messages, press the “Enter key” to open a message.

Use the following keys to either forward or reply to a message:

* “Control + R” to reply to an individual mail

* “Control + Shift + R”, reply to all

*Forward a message, “Control + L”

When you have written up a new message or are replying or forwarding a message use keys, “Control + Enter key” to send off the message, you will now be placed back into the Inbox and your list of messages.

After reading a message use keys:

* “Control + W” to close out of that particular message and back to your mails list

*To close out of Thunderbird, Left alt + w

 

List of Thunderbird keyboard shortcuts:

 

1. Navigate Messages
F8 Toggle Message Pane
F6/Tab/Shift+Tab Switch focus between Folders Pane and Message List Pane
Arrow Down/Arrow Up Go one message down / one message up
Home/End Go to first message / go to last message
F/B Go to next / go to previous message
N/P Go to next / go to previous unread Message
[/] Go to previously viewed / go to next viewed Message
Ctrl+O/Enter Open message (in new window or tab)
Ctrl+W Close window or tab
Ctrl+T Redo close window or tab
Ctrl+A Select all messages
Ctrl+Shift+A Select all messages in Thread
Arrow Right/Arrow Left Expand / collapse collapsed Thread
*/ Expand all Threads / collapse all Threads

 

2. Compose and Edit Message
Ctrl+M New Message
Ctrl+R Reply to Message (sender only)
Ctrl+Shift+R Reply to all in Message
Ctrl+Shift+L Reply to list
Ctrl+L Forward Message
Ctrl+E Edit Message as new
Ctrl+Enter Send Message now
Ctrl+Shift+Enter Send Message later
Alt+Arrow Down Add additional recipient
Ctrl+[+]/- Increase / decrease text size of selection
Ctrl+C/Ctrl+X/Ctrl+V Copy / Cut / Paste
Ctrl+Shift+O Paste as quotation
Ctrl+Shift+V Paste without formatting
Ctrl+A Select all text in a message
Ctrl+S Save draft
Ctrl+Delete Delete current word
Ctrl+Backspace Delete previous word

 

3. Mark, Delete and Move Message
M Mark Message as read / unread
R Mark Message Thread as Read
Shift+C Mark all Messages als Read
C Mark as Read by date
J/Shift+J Mark as Junk / mark as not junk
S Add / remove Star
A Archive Message
Ctrl+Alt+M Move to previous folder
Delete Delete message
Shift+Delete Delete with bypassing trash
K Ignore or Unignore Thread
Shift+K Ignore or Unignore Subthread
W Watch Thread
1 … 9 Add / remove Tag 1 … 9
0 (zero) Remove all Tags from Message

 

4. Find Messages
Ctrl+F Find Messages with Quick Filter
Ctrl+Shift+F Find all Messages in Folder
Ctrl+f and ctrl+f again Find text in current Message
Ctrl+G/F3 Find text again next in Current Message
Ctrl+Shift+G/Shift+F3 Find text again previous in Current Message
Ctrl+K Move to Search Bar

 

5. Retrieve Messages
Ctrl+T/F5 Send and retrieve all messages
F5 Retrieve new messages for current account
Ctrl+Shift+T Retrieve new messages for all accounts
Esc Stop

 

6. Other Shortcuts
Ctrl+U View Message Source
Ctrl+S Save Message as File
Ctrl+P Print
Ctrl+Z Undo
Ctrl+Y Redo
F7 Caret browsing (select text with keyboard)
Ctrl+? Help
Ctrl+J Open ‘Saved Files’ Window
Ctrl++/- Increase / decrease text size (zoom)
Ctrl+ 0 (zero)Command + 0 (zero)Ctrl+0 Restore Text Size (reset zoom)
Ctrl+Shift+B Open Address Book
Ctrl+Q Exit

 

4. Find Messages
Ctrl+F Find Messages with Quick Filter
Ctrl+Shift+F Find all Messages in Folder
Ctrl+f and ctrl+f again Find text in current Message
Ctrl+G/F3 Find text again next in Current Message
Ctrl+Shift+G/Shift+F3 Find text again previous in Current Message
Ctrl+K Move to Search Bar

 

5. Retrieve Messages
Ctrl+T/F5 Send and retrieve all messages
F5 Retrieve new messages for current account
Ctrl+Shift+T Retrieve new messages for all accounts
Esc Stop

 

6. Other Shortcuts
Ctrl+U View Message Source
Ctrl+S Save Message as File
Ctrl+P Print
Ctrl+Z Undo
Ctrl+Y Redo
F7 Caret browsing (select text with keyboard)
Ctrl+? Help
Ctrl+J Open ‘Saved Files’ Window
Ctrl++/- Increase / decrease text size (zoom)
Ctrl+ 0 (zero)Command + 0 (zero)Ctrl+0 Restore Text Size (reset zoom)
Ctrl+Shift+B Open Address Book
Ctrl+Q Exit