NSIT: Documentation - Email

Documentation - Email - Windows

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Secure IMAP for Thunderbird for Windows

NSIT requires that all access to common University servers use secure authentication methods. The following article explains how to configure Thunderbird to securely access common NSIT email servers using the IMAP protocol.

Please note that we are unable to support email clients configured in this manner; the recommended and supported solution for accessing your NSIT email account is Mozilla Thunderbird, as configured by the NSIT Connectivity Package. You can pick up the Connectivity Package free of charge from the ID & Privileges Office or the NSIT Solution Center.

Configuration Instructions

To connect with NSIT email servers, we recommend Thunderbird version 2.0 or higher. These instructions were written with Thunderbird 2.0 in mind. They assume that you have just installed Thunderbird and have not configured anything yet. To get started, open Thunderbird.

Thunderbird will first ask if you wish to import anything. Click the "Don't import anything" radio button, then click Next.
Next it will bring you to the New Account Setup. Click Next.
Thunderbird will ask you for your name and your email address.
For "Your Name" put your full name.
For "Email Address" put your @uchicago.edu email address.
Click Next.
Thunderbird will then ask you for your mail server information.
Click on the IMAP radio button.
For "Incoming Server" put imap.uchicago.edu
For "Outgoing Server" put authsmtp.uchicago.edu
Click Next.
Thunderbird will then ask you for your username.
Put your CNetID for both the Incoming and Outgoing User Name.
Click Next.
Thunderbird will then ask you to name this account. We suggest just taking whatever Thunderbird gives you.
Click Next.
Thunderbird will summarize the information the wizard has gathered. If the information is correct, click Finish.
Thunderbird will try to check your email. However, it will give an error because there are changes that still need to be made to secure your connection. After you get the time out error message, go to Tools → Account Settings...
This will bring up the account settings. Click on Server Settings.
Click on the box next to "Use secure connection (SSL)". This should change the port to 993
In the left sidebar, click on "Outgoing Server (SMTP)". There should be one entry in this menu for "authsmtp.uchicago.edu." Click on it, then press the "Edit" button. You should see a configuration window. Make sure your settings match the following, though you can feel free to choose any description you like!
Click OK, then OK again to close the Account Settings window.