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Configuring Thunderbird and SeaMonkey

Configuring an existing account to use SSL

  1. From the Thunderbird menu click on Tools > Account Settings. If you are using SeaMonkey, click on Edit > Mail & NewsGroups Account Settings.
  2. Click on Server Settings in the left column.
  3. On the right side, under Security Settings check the radio button next to SSL. Make sure the Port number above changes to 993.
  4. On the left side click on Outgoing Server (SMTP). On the right side make sure your SENDIT account is highlighted and click Edit.
  5. Change the port to 587 and under Security and Authentication check the radio button next to TLS and make sure Use name and password is checked.
  6. Click OK and then OK again.

Setting up a new account

  1. From the Thunderbird menu click on Tools > Account Settings. If you are using SeaMonkey, click Edit > Mail & NewsGroups Account Settings.
  2. Click on Add Account in the lower left side of the window.
  3. Select the Email Account radio button and click Next.
  4. Enter your name and complete e-mail address (e.g., john.doe@sendit.nodak.edu) in the appropriate fields and click Next.
  5. Select the IMAP radio button. Enter the following information in the appropriate fields:
    • Incoming Server: imap.sendit.nodak.edu
    • Outgoing Server: smtp.sendit.nodak.edu
  6. Click Next.
  7. Verify the information in the User Names window and click Next.
  8. The Account Name field will auto-filled. You can either stay with the default or change the display name to whatever you prefer. Click Next and then Finish.
  9. If the Account Settings window is not still open, open it again from Tools > Account Settings in Thunderbird, or Edit > Mail & NewsGroups Account Settings in SeaMonkey.
  10. In the left column, click Server Settings under the account you just created. On the right side in the Security Settings section, select SSL. Make sure the Port field above changes to 993.
  11. In the Server Settings section, change the drop down menu next to When I delete a message: to Mark it as deleted or Remove it immediately. Below that, choose Clean up (“Expunge”) Inbox on Exit and/or Empty Trash on Exit.
  12. In the left column, click Copies & Folders under the account you just created.
  13. On the right side, make sure Place a copy in: is checked.
  14. Click the radio button next to Sent Folder, Draft Folder and Templates Folder. Next to each of those options is a pull down menu. Select Local Folders from each pull down menu.
  15. In the left column, click Outgoing Server (SMTP). Select smtp.sendit.nodak.edu and click Edit.
  16. Make sure that the Port field is set to 587.
  17. Make sure the box next to Use name and password is checked and enter your username.
  18. Under Use secure connection select TLS.
  19. Click OK, and click OK again.
  20. In the main Thunderbird window, click Get Mail in the toolbar.
  21. Enter your password if prompted. If you want Thunderbird to remember your password, check the box next to Use Password Manager to remember this password. Click OK.

Last Updated On September 17, 2007