Thunderbird Ubuntu Install

Flatpak Method

Download the Flatpack file.

flatpak install /path/to/file

Repository Method

This method will only work and keep Thunderbird up to date on these versions of Ubuntu:-

• 12.04 LTS
• 14.04 LTS
• 15.04

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/thunderbird-next
sudo aptitude update
sudo aptitude install thunderbird

Manual Method

This guide is primarily for Ubuntu users and shows how to install the latest version of Thunderbird when it is not available through the Synaptic Package manager.

Uninstall Previous Version

sudo apt-get remove -y thunderbird*

Install Latest Version

Notes - https://download-installer.cdn.mozilla.net/pub/thunderbird/releases/latest/README.txt

Download the latest version...

wget -O thunderbird_latest_linux64.tar.bz2 'https://download.mozilla.org/?product=thunderbird-latest&os=linux64&lang=en-GB'

Unpack in to the directory...

sudo tar -xjvf /path/to/thunderbird_latest_linux64.tar.bz2 -C /opt/ && sudo ln -sf /opt/thunderbird/thunderbird /usr/bin/thunderbird

To create a menu entry, open a terminal and run the command:

sudo nano /usr/share/applications/thunderbird.desktop

Add the following text:

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8

Name=Thunderbird
Comment=Send and receive mail with Thunderbird
GenericName=Mail Client
Exec=/opt/thunderbird/thunderbird %u
Terminal=false
X-MultipleArgs=false
Type=Application
Icon=/opt/thunderbird/chrome/icons/default/default256.png
Categories=Application;Network;Email;
MimeType=x-scheme-handler/mailto;application/x-xpinstall;
StartupNotify=true
Actions=Compose;Contacts

[Desktop Action Compose]
Name=Compose New Message
Exec=thunderbird -compose
OnlyShowIn=Messaging Menu;Unity; 

[Desktop Action Contacts]
Name=Contacts
Exec=thunderbird -addressbook
OnlyShowIn=Messaging Menu;Unity;

Save and close.

Thunderbird can be found under Applications → Internet → Thunderbird.

You will need to add the icon for the start menu.

sudo su - root
cd /opt/thunderbird/chrome/icons/default
cp default256.png /usr/share/pixmaps

Update Latest Version

cd /tmp/ && sudo wget -O thunderbird_latest_linux64.tar.bz2 'https://download.mozilla.org/?product=thunderbird-latest&os=linux64&lang=en-GB' && sudo rm -rfv /opt/thunderbird && sudo tar -xjvf thunderbird_latest_linux64.tar.bz2 -C /opt/ && cd