# Setting up your email in Thunderbird

> Add your Ruachost hosting email to Mozilla Thunderbird on Windows, Mac or Linux with secure IMAP and SMTP settings.

Source: https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/email/webmail/setting-up-email-in-thunderbird/

**Thunderbird** is a free email app for Windows, Mac and Linux. These steps add the email account that comes with your Ruachost hosting using **IMAP**, so your messages stay in sync with webmail and your phone.

> **Note:**
Using **Ruachost Business Email**? Its server settings are different. See [Access parameters](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/email/business-email/access-parameters/).

## Before you start

You need your **full email address**, its **password**, and your mail server: `mail.yourdomain.com`. If your domain doesn't point to Ruachost yet, use the server hostname from your welcome email. See [Email settings for apps and devices](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/email/guides/cpanel-email-settings/).

## Add the account

1. Open Thunderbird. If this is your first account, the setup screen opens. Otherwise, click the **≡** menu → **New Account → Existing Email**.
2. Enter **your name**, **email address** and **password**, and tick **Remember password**.
3. Click **Configure manually**.
4. **Incoming server:**
   - **Protocol:** IMAP
   - **Hostname:** `mail.yourdomain.com`
   - **Port:** `993`
   - **Connection security:** SSL/TLS
   - **Authentication method:** Normal password
   - **Username:** your full email address
5. **Outgoing server:**
   - **Hostname:** `mail.yourdomain.com`
   - **Port:** `465`
   - **Connection security:** SSL/TLS
   - **Authentication method:** Normal password
   - **Username:** your full email address
6. Click **Re-test**, then **Done**.

## Keep Sent messages on the server

Thunderbird saves sent messages to the server's **Sent** folder by default. To check:

1. Click **≡ → Account Settings**, and choose **Copies & Folders** under your account.
2. Under **When sending messages, automatically**, make sure **Place a copy in** is ticked and set to **"Sent" Folder on** your email account (not **Local Folders**).

## Troubleshooting

- **"Add Security Exception" or certificate warning:** don't accept it. Change the hostname to the server hostname from your welcome email (also in cPanel under **Email Accounts → Connect Devices**).
- **"Login to server failed":** check the username is the **full** email address and the password works in webmail.
- **Still not working:** see [Can't log in to your email](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/email/guides/cant-log-in-to-your-email/).

> **Tip:**
Thunderbird is also a handy way to copy old messages from another provider into your Ruachost mailbox. See [Moving your email to Ruachost](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/email/webmail/how-do-i-migrate-my-emails-from-my-previous-webmail/).

## Related articles

- [Email settings for apps and devices](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/email/guides/cpanel-email-settings/)
- [Setting up your email in Outlook](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/email/webmail/setting-up-webmail-with-outlook/)