Configure Thunderbird to never send (or even try to send) HTML emails

Where can I tell Thunderbird always to send emails as plain-text, and never as HTML-formatted messages? I hate HTML-based email, and always do everything possible to send my emails as plain text.

Thunderbird is always pestering me with questions like "This recipient cannot receive HTML..." or "In order to sign this email, it needs to be converted to plain text..."

Is there a way I can simply say to Thunderbird "Look, old chap, it's all plain text, so don't bother me any more, ever, again"?

Brent.Longborough

Posted 2009-09-06T11:41:16.560

Reputation: 629

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Thunderbird_:_Tips_:_Disable_HTML_in_Incoming_Mail describes many options beside Uncheck Tools -> Account Settings -> Composition & Addressing -> Compose messages in HTML format – n611x007 – 2014-11-22T20:26:13.243

Answers

One way to accomplish this is to turn off "Compose messages in HTML format", which is under your account settings, in "Composition and Addressing". This will also get rid of the HTML editor, which can be useful even for plain-text messages. (e.g., it nicely formats lists)

The other way which preserves the HTML editing features, but auto-converts to plain text, is Preferences -> Composition -> Send Options -> Text Format, select "Convert the message to plain text" instead of "Ask me what to do".

derobert

Posted 2009-09-06T11:41:16.560

Reputation: 3 366

I also hate HTML email and use plain text, but once in a while I really need some formatting. Is there any way to use plain text mode, but write the occasional email using the HTML editor? Right now, I have to make the change app-wide, and then change it back. – Joshua Frank – 2013-01-24T00:33:41.410

@JoshuaFrank I don't think there is. I personally almost always send plain text mail, but use the HTML editor anyway. When I want to do plain-text formatting tricks, I just select 'Preformat' instead of 'Body Text' from the style menu in the editor. – derobert – 2013-01-24T16:32:36.070

@derobert: I'd probably do it that way, but I find the HTML editor almost unusable. It constantly changes things, and today I added a table and it made it the last thing in the document with NO WAY TO MOVE THE CURSOR AFTER IT. I could only edit the last cell, and there was simply no way to move the cursor below the bottom of the table. I gave up and went back to plain text. – Joshua Frank – 2013-01-24T18:45:33.453

@JoshuaFrank yeah, tables can be an issue in it. But just don't use them, then, it's not like you have them in the plain text editor... – derobert – 2013-01-24T19:09:34.907

The equivalent of "Preferences" is menu Tools/Options for the Windows version of Thunderbird. – Peter Mortensen – 2010-01-20T21:39:33.793

Tools > Account Settings > Composition & Addressing > Untick "Compose messages in HTML format".

Etienne Dechamps

Posted 2009-09-06T11:41:16.560

Reputation: 1 662

1Sorry you're not the "Chosen Answer" -- it's just a little more extensive -- but thank you for you help. – Brent.Longborough – 2009-09-06T14:31:11.863

The following Information is current for version 17 of Thunderbird, taken from the official FAQ, and answers the question. I post this to update the information provided by the answers from '09.

Specify that messages should be composed in HTML format (for the selected account)

Menu location: ToolsEdit | Account Settings | <account name> | Composition & Addressing

The answer given by derobert is wrong as of (at least) version 17, as there are only options regarding how to format HTML messages at that location.

Philipp Matthias Schäfer

Posted 2009-09-06T11:41:16.560

Reputation: 141

Thank you. On the settings tab you mention, the first checkbox is "Compose messages in HTML format". In my case, it is unchecked, and this seems to work as I want it to. – Brent.Longborough – 2012-11-28T11:06:14.753