Thunderbird times out when trying to send or receive email which is apparently caused by Avast. Near bottom of page at https://wiki.mozilla.org/Thunderbird:Testing:Antivirus_Related_Performance_Issues#Avast_Blocks_Sending_and_Receiving under 'Avast Blocks Sending and Receiving" Jeff Hines posted stopping and restarting Avast fixed his time out problem and states it is a ssl cache problem in Avast. I tried turning off Avast Shields Control, and I can send and receive email with no Thunderbird time outs. However, the time outs recur when Avast Shields Control are restarted. Is there a way to fix this problem caused by Avast?
You shouldn’t need to stop avast completely, stopping the Mail Shield should suffice.
Thunderbird 78.7.0 is my default email and no issues there with avast free.
On to the time out problem:
Not entirely sure if this could help https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/Troubleshoot-invalid-email-certificate/ but your not getting that error.
What Avast and Thunderbird Version are you using ?
Was it previously working ?
Are you using a VPN.
Avast version 20.10.2442 (Build 20.10.5824.626), Thunderbird version 78.7.0, and I’m not using VPN. It has been working with no problems for several years, but problems began after December 25, 2020.
I’m at a bit of a loss as to why this might be happening, whilst there are very minor differences in the Avast version (build number) you are using and mine, I can’t see that being the cause.
Try just disabling the Mail Shield and see if that allows it to go through.
If it does, you could try an Avast Repair from the AvastUI > Menu > Settings > General > Troubleshooting - APP Repair - reboot after the repair.
It works fine with no time outs when Mail Shield is disabled, Should the repair be done with Mail Shield enabled or disabled?
The test was to confirm it is linked to the Mail Shield, you should enable it and run the Repair. What I’m thinking there might be a problem with file corruption, etc. and the Repair might repair that.
I have been having such problems with Thunderbird and Avast since mid 2020. I try it with every new version of Avast and Thunderbird with no luck. I’ve gone though complete reinstallations of Avast without resolution.
All my Thunderbird accounts use POP3. I have about 14 accounts and often want to check them all. But when I check all accounts in Thunderbird, even when there are no emails at all, it can take nearly two minutes to complete and usually ends up with timeouts on some accounts.
Turning off the Avast mail shield allows the check to take just a few seconds. I have tried various settings in both Avast and Thunderbird in hopes of alleviating the issue, but to no avail. So now I just leave the shield off. It’s become useless to me.
I suspect the Jeff Hines statement referenced in my initial post that it is a ssl cache problem in Avast is correct. If that is the case, the problem can not be resolved unless Avast fixes that in an update or comes up with a way to change it in the current version.
The App Repair just completed, and there are no more time outs in Thunderbird with Mail Shield enabled! Maybe there was no Avast ssl cache problem, or running App Repair fixed the problem if it existed.
Thanks for the confirmation, good to hear.
Today the Thunderbird time outs for sending and receiving email returned. It’s strange the App Repair seemed to fix the time out problem only temporarily. Could it be an Avast ssl cache problem after all? I guess I’ll revert to running Avast with Mail Shield disabled unless a better solution becomes available.
I don’t know if this would be considered a better solution or not, but you could try a clean reinstall.
Clean Reinstall:
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- Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, avastclear.exe https://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility and save it to your HDD. Make a note of the steps required or print the page.
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- Download the latest Avast off-line installation file for your Avast Program (see https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=243196.0) and save to your HDD.
Follow the instructions in the link in 1.
Before doing that I would suggest saving your current settings AvastUI Menu > General > Troubleshooting - Backup Settings.
Whilst the email shield isn’t absolutely essential especially for savvy users, who aren’t going to fall for scams or go clicking links in possibly suspect/unknown/unexpected emails. But it is another string to your bow.
This was my experience too. You think it’s resolved but then the problems come back.
FYI, leaving the Mail Shield on, but in the geek:area turning off Mail Shield: Scan SSL connections will also make it work.
It really isn’t making it work, but avoiding the problem/conflict and giving a false sense of security. Thinking your email is getting scanned, which it wouldn’t be if it is an SSL/TLS connection.
Yes, DavidR, I definitely made the wrong choice of words. Thunderbird is working, Avast mail scanning is not happening.
I suspect a clean install would have the same result as the App Repair, i,e, it’ll likely work a short while before going back to Thunderbird timing out. I’m not concerned about Mail Shiel being disabled because I don’t open attachments anyway unless they are ones I’m expecting from a trusted source.