Add Rice Gmail to Thunderbird on Mac
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Add Rice Gmail to Thunderbird on Mac
The following instructions are for faculty and staff who have had their email accounts migrated to Gmail. Rice IT recommends using the Google Chrome browser and Gmail apps on your mobile devices to access your email. However, you can access emails from your Rice Gmail account through Thunderbird by using the instructions in this article.
Duo Authentication
Rice's two-factor authentication system, Duo, is required to access your Rice Gmail account on your computer. Before continuing with the rest of the instructions, make sure that you have enrolled in Duo. Learn more about Duo enrollment.
Install Thunderbird on Windows or Mac
Visit this website to learn how to install Thunderbird on your Mac computer
Add the Rice Gmail Account to Thunderbird on Mac
- Navigate to thunderbird.net/en-US/download/.
- Choose the selections shown in the screenshot below. Select Download.

- Open the Downloads folder. Double-click the .dmg file.

- Click and drag the Thunderbird icon to the blue applications folder.
- Open the Finder application.

- Select Applications. Find Thunderbird in the right-side viewing pane.
Launch the app: Double-click the app to launch.
Create a shortcut: Right-click the app and choose Make alias to create a shortcut and drag it to the desktop.
Keep in dock: Double-click to open the app. Right-click the app from the dock (horizontal row of apps at the bottom of the screen) and select Keep in dock.
- Input the following selections on the Set Up Your Existing Email Address screen to configure Rice University Gmail on the Thunderbird client.
Email: netid@mail.apps.rice.edu (use your netID)
IMAP Server: imap.google.com Port: 993
SMTP Server: smtp.google.com Port: 465

- Select Ok to allow contacts to sync. Select the Continue button on the next prompt and then select Done.
- Input your NetID in the next prompt. Select Next.

- Input your NetID credentials again. Select Login and approve the login attempt from Duo Mobile.

- Select Allow.

The emails should begin to appear in your Thunderbird inbox.
Need Technical Support?
Contact the TS&S Service Desk
Service Desk
The TS&S Service Desk is your central contact for IT support and troubleshooting, and our goal is to provide you with an excellent service experience!
We offer both in-person and remote support services, and all requests are associated with a support ticket.
- Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (excluding university holidays
- Web Form: TS&S Service Request
- Phone: 713.348.HELP (4357)
- Email: help@rice.edu
- Request Portal (NetID login required)
*After-hours support available for urgent issues, please call.