How to Fix Hyperlinks Not Working in Thunderbird? – Here’s the Fix
If you’re clicking on hyperlinks in your Thunderbird emails and nothing happens, you’re not alone. Many Thunderbird users have encountered this issue, and there are a few common reasons behind it. In this post, we’ll walk you through what might be causing the problem and how you can fix it.
Typically, when you click a hyperlink in an email, your system’s default web browser should open and take you to the linked page. However, users across various forums have reported that Thunderbird fails to open links as expected. So, what’s going wrong?
Some Common Users Queries – Thunderbird Not Opening URLs from Emails
“Just set up a new Win10 Pro PC. Using the most recent Firefox browser and TB release. Clicking on a link in an incoming email does nothing. Right-clicking ‘Open link in browser’ does nothing. I am able to ‘copy link location’ on the right-click menu and paste it into the browser.”
“After updating to Thunderbird Version 78.7.1, when I click on a URL in a received message, Thunderbird opens my default browser, Firefox, but nothing happens. I have tried everything suggested here, and that did not help.”
“A user reported that whenever they click on hyperlinks embedded in emails within Thunderbird, nothing happens. The links simply don’t open their default web browser. However, the hyperlinks work correctly in other email clients and web browsers. The user also mentioned that this issue started after a recent Thunderbird update. They are unsure how to fix this and want a reliable solution without losing their email data.”
These user experiences highlight a range of scenarios where Thunderbird users have faced issues with hyperlinks not opening correctly. The causes vary from browser settings, operating system configurations, Thunderbird settings, to issues with email formatting. If you’re encountering similar problems, reviewing these discussions might provide insights into potential solutions.
Common Reasons Why Hyperlinks Don’t Work in Thunderbird:
- No default web browser is set on your operating system
- Improper settings for hyperlink actions in Thunderbird preferences
- Conflicts caused by certain add-ons or extensions
Before we dive into the fixes, there’s one important thing to know about how Thunderbird handles hyperlinks while composing messages:
When you’re writing or editing an email, Thunderbird displays URLs as plain text instead of clickable links. This behavior is intentional; text links are easier to edit without accidentally launching a webpage. If Thunderbird made them clickable right away, clicking the link would open your browser instead of letting you change the text.
But don’t worry, this is only while composing or editing. As soon as you save the draft or send the email, Thunderbird automatically converts plain-text URLs into clickable hyperlinks.
So, if you’re noticing non-clickable links in a new message or draft, that’s expected behavior. If links aren’t working when you receive an email or view a sent one, then the issue likely lies in the system or app settings.
In the next section, we’ll cover the step-by-step solutions to help you get hyperlinks working in Thunderbird again.
How to Fix Hyperlinks Not Opening in Thunderbird Emails? – Troubleshooting
If you are unable to open hyperlinks in Thunderbird messages (aside from when you’re composing an email), there are several potential fixes you can try. Let’s walk through the most effective solutions:
Confirm Your System’s Default Web Browser
Thunderbird uses your operating system’s default browser to open links. Sometimes, this default setting gets reset or forgotten by the system, which leads to hyperlinks not working in Thunderbird.
What to do:
Go to your system’s settings and reselect your preferred browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, or Edge) as the default.
After setting the default browser, restart Thunderbird and try clicking the link again.
Review HTTP Content Type Settings in Thunderbird
Thunderbird allows you to define actions for opening attachments or web content. If the HTTP/HTTPS action settings are misconfigured, Thunderbird might not know how to open hyperlinks.
Steps:
- Open Thunderbird and go to:
Preferences → Content → File Types - Find “HTTP” or “HTTPS” in the list. If listed, you can:
- Delete the entry
- Or ensure the correct browser is selected for the action
Check Modified Preferences
Sometimes Thunderbird’s hidden internal settings (preferences) are unintentionally changed—possibly due to an extension or system tweak—causing link issues.
To fix it:
- Go to Help → Troubleshooting Information
- Scroll to Important Modified Preferences
- Look for protocol-handler.external-default
- If it’s set to false, it’s blocking links from opening
- To reset:
- Go to Menu → Tools → Options → Advanced → General → Config Editor
- Search for: network.protocol-handler.external
- Right-click and choose Reset
Disable Problematic Add-ons
Certain Thunderbird add-ons may conflict with hyperlink functionality. To test this:
Try Safe Mode:
- Start Thunderbird while holding down the Shift key
- Or go to: Help → Restart with Add-ons Disabled → Click Restart
If links open in Safe Mode, one of your extensions is causing the problem.
Next Steps:
- Disable your add-ons one at a time
- Restart Thunderbird each time until the faulty one is found
- Once identified, keep it disabled or uninstall it
Final Words
If none of the above solutions resolve the issue with hyperlinks not working in Thunderbird, you might consider reinstalling the application. But don’t forget to back up your Thunderbird profile before uninstalling it.
Still facing issues? You might want to switch to a different email client like Microsoft Outlook or Office 365. However, migration isn’t straightforward due to different file formats. That’s where CubexSoft MBOX Converter can help. It converts Thunderbird MBOX files into PST format for Outlook or lets you export directly MBOX files to Office 365.
You can try out the free demo version to preview its features and decide if it’s the right fit for your migration needs.
Case Studies & FAQs: Thunderbird Hyperlink Issues
#1: Hyperlinks Not Working in Thunderbird Messages
User Query:
“I’m unable to open any hyperlinks from emails in Thunderbird. Clicking them does nothing. I’ve tried restarting Thunderbird and my computer, but the problem persists. What can I do?”
Solution:
- Checked that the default web browser was properly set in Windows/macOS.
- Opened Thunderbird’s Config Editor and reset network.protocol-handler.external preferences.
- Cleared incorrect HTTP/HTTPS content type actions in Thunderbird.
- Disabled add-ons by launching Thunderbird in Safe Mode; found one add-on blocking links.
- Removed the problematic add-on; links started opening normally.
- Recommended backing up Thunderbird profile and reinstalling Thunderbird if issues remained.
#2: Migrating Thunderbird MBOX Files to Outlook Using CubexSoft MBOX Export
User Query:
“I want to switch from Thunderbird to Outlook but I have tons of emails saved in MBOX format. How can I export these emails to Outlook PST without losing any data?”
Solution:
- Recommended CubexSoft MBOX to PST Converter tool for hassle-free migration.
- User installed the tool on Windows/Mac.
- Added Thunderbird MBOX files using “Add Files” or “Add Folder” option.
- Chose PST as the output format.
- Converted MBOX files to PST without data loss or formatting issues.
- Imported the generated PST into Outlook seamlessly.
- Tool preserved folder hierarchy, attachments, and metadata perfectly.
#3. Can CubexSoft export Thunderbird emails to cloud services like Gmail or Office 365?
A: Yes, it supports direct export to Gmail, Office 365, and other webmail platforms using IMAP protocol.
Read More – Hyperlinks Not Working in Outlook