Thunderbird Mail is a free, open-source e-mail client that can be used on your desktop computer and mobile devices like iPhone or Android. The mail client software was initially developed by the Mozilla Foundation but is now maintained by the Thunderbird community for the community.
In the following tutorial, you will learn how to install Thunderbird Mail on AlmaLinux 9 workstation desktop using one of two methods of installation: DNF or Flatpak package manager.
Update AlmaLinux 9
The first step is to make sure your system is up-to-date to avoid issues during the installation and for good practice. This is done by opening your terminal and using the following command.
sudo dnf upgrade --refreshInstall Thunderbird Mail – DNF Method
By default, Thunderbird Mail is available on AlmaLinux 9 appstream and is often up-to-date as Flatpak. Use the following command to install the mail application on your system.
sudo dnf install thunderbird -yAlternatively, for users that prefer using Flatpak applications, the following method may be more preferred.
Install Thundermail Mail – Flatpak Method
The second option is to use the Flatpak package manager that most often is natively installed on your AlmaLinux workstation. The benefit of Flatpaks is that they can often be ahead, sometimes far ahead, of AlmaLinux 9 appstream, depending on the release cycle/updates of the software and the Flatpak package maintainer.
First, re-install the Flatpak manager; this can be skipped if you already have it installed.
sudo dnf install flatpak -yFor users re-installing Flatpak for the first time, it is often recommended to reboot your system. Failure to do this can occur with odd issues arising, such as paths not being generated for icons.
rebootSKIP THE REBOOT IF FLATPAK IS INSTALLED.
Next, you need to enable Flatpack using the following command in your terminal:
sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepoNow install the mail client software using the following flatpak command.
flatpak install flathub org.mozilla.ThunderbirdIf the above command does not work and you receive the “error: Unable to load summary from remote flathub: Can’t fetch summary from disabled remote ‘flathub’‘ use the following command.
flatpak remote-modify --enable flathubThis will fix the issue.
How to Launch Thunderbird Mail
Now that you have the application installed, launching can be done in a few ways.
For users with their terminal open, you can launch the application immediately using the following command.
thunderbirdAlternatively, Flatpak users will need to launch using the command below from a terminal instance.
flatpak run org.mozilla.ThunderbirdHowever, this is not practical, and you would use the following path on your desktop.
Activities > Show Applications > Thunderbird Mail.
The first time you open Thunderbird, you will automatically notice that you are taken to sign in to your e-mail account. Optionally, you can click the configure manually for specific settings if the automatic option does not work.
Once open, you will arrive at the default mail client screen. You can configure Thunderbird by adding your e-mail accounts, syncing calendars, etc.
How to Update/Upgrade Thunderbird Mail
Depending on the method of installation used, the following commands can be used to update.
DNF Update Method
sudo dnf update --refreshFlatpak Update Method
flatpak updateHow to Remove (Uninstall) Thunderbird Mail
Use one of the following commands to suit the original installation method for users who no longer require the application.
DNF Remove Method
sudo dnf autoremove thunderbird -yFlatpak Remove Method
flatpak uninstall --delete-data org.mozilla.ThunderbirdNext, run the following command for any leftover clean-up.
flatpak remove --unusedComments and Conclusion
Thunderbird is a popular community mail client and has some features that make it more secure than other e-mail clients. Thunderbird is an open-source app run by the community and is no longer supported and upgraded by Mozilla. If you’re looking for a secure and continuously improved e-mail client, download Mailbird.
