Thunderbird about:config Modifications
Access The about:config Editor
In the following examples you will need to access Thunderbird's configuration page:
Linux: Edit --> Preferences --> Advanced --> General
Windows: Tools --> Options --> Advanced --> General
Apple: Thunderbird --> Preferences --> Advanced -->General
Click the 'Config Editor' button
On the 'Here be dragons!' page click the 'I'll be careful, I promise' button.
Altering The Config
To the right of 'Config name:' is the value to copy and paste in the 'about:config' 'Filter' bar.
To the right of 'Default:' is the original value.
To the right of 'Modified:' is the new value.
To modify a true/false config state double click on the Config name.
HOWTO: DISABLE:
Extension Install Delay (All Versions)
| Config name: | security.dialog_enable_delay |
| Default: | 500 |
| Modified: | 0 |
Double-click on the entry in the windows below the filter bard and change the 'Value' to 0 for disabling the delay or lower the value to decrease the wait time, the setting is in milliseconds.
Fetching Attachments In Chunks (All Versions)
If you have issues with corrupted attachments try altering the following.
| Config name: | mail.server.default.fetch_by_chunks |
| Default: | True |
| Modified: | False |
Blocklist Pings
| Config name: | extensions.blocklist.enabled |
| Default: | True |
| Modified: | False |
Found here.
Sending Mail In Background
When sending email a dialogue box appears that displays the progress, but it prevents the user from performing any other tasks until it finishes.
| Config name: | mailnews.sendInBackground |
| Default: | False |
| Modified: | True |
If you use the PrintingTools this option can be configured within the addon.
Downloads Window From Appearing
| Config name: | browser.download.manager.showWhenStarting |
| Default: | True |
| Modified: | False |
HOWTO: ENABLE:
Accept Google Calendar Invitations
This modification is dependant on the installation of the Provider for Google Calendar plugin.
| Config name: | calendar.google.enableEmailInvitations |
| Default: | false |
| Modified: | true |
Thanks to Google Groups.
Always Show Attachment Panel Expanded In Message Pane
| Config name: | mailnews.attachments.display.start_expanded |
| Default: | false |
| Modified: | true |
Middle Button (Scroll Wheel) Paste
Linux
| Config name: | middlemouse.paste |
| Default: | true |
| Modified: | false |
Windows
| Config name: | middlemouse.paste |
| Default: | false |
| Modified: | true |
HOWTO: FIX:
Excessive CPU Usage: 1
| Config name: | mail.db.idle_limit |
| Default: | 300000 |
| Modified: | 30000000 |
Thanks to Ian Chard for this fix which was originally found here.
Excessive CPU Usage: 2
| Config name: | mail.db.max_open |
| Default: | 30 |
| Modified: | 15 |
"15" is just an arbitrary figure, experiment with different figures and see what works for you.
Thanks to Mozillazine.
Failure Of MAC OS X Contacts (Address Book) Integration
This traces back to a value not being written to the configuration file after authentication Thunderbird in System Preferences | Security and Privacy |
| Config name: | ldap_2.servers.osx.description |
| Value: | Mac OS X Address Book |
Thanks to Metaparadigma, which while not the actual solution above pointed me in the correct direction.
This also works on Postbox
HOWTO: MODIFY:
Number Of To: Address Lines Shown In Compose Window
| Config name: | mail.compose.addresswidget.numRowsShownDefault |
| Default: | 3 |
| Modified: | 2 |
Links
http://maft.co.uk/musings/2012/how-to-icloud-notes-in-mozilla-thunderbird/
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Modify_Thunderbird_settings
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/config-editor
http://ccm.net/faq/10960-thunderbird-accessing-the-config-editor
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=2862137&sid=eb8696f936d85eda9c28aa20bf5db2ea
https://wiki.mozilla.org/Thunderbird:Start_Hacking
https://wiki.mozilla.org/Thunderbird:Backend_Hacking_Guide_For_Newbies
https://addons.thunderbird.net/en-us/thunderbird/addon/exquilla-exchange-web-services/
