Mozilla Thunderbird’s major annual version 102 has been released and is now available for download. It’s not just a version bump, but a huge release in terms of features, look, and improvements. It also causes some pain for users as Thunderbird 102 is not available as an automatic update for the Thunderbird 91.11 client. It may take weeks for new verison to be rolled out, fret not, here is how you can upgrade your Thunderbird smoothly to 102 from 91.
In case you don’t know, Mozilla Thunderbird is a free and open-source email client available for Windows, Mac, and Linux OS platforms with PGP encryption support. Recently, it received a new Account Setup Wizard with CALDAV support and encryption.
Mozilla claims the email client is currently being used by more than 20 Million monthly active users.
Thunderbird 102
Features
Thunderbird 102 has been released with the high requested features on June 28, 2022. It contains the following changes:
- New icons and color folders
- Redesigned Message Header
- New Spaces Toolbar
- New Address Book allows keeping track of contacts with Timezone tracking and relationship management.
- Refreshed Import/Export Wizard
System Requirements:
- Mac: macOS10.12 or later
- Windows: Windows 7 or later
- Linux:GTk+ 3.14 or higher.
Why is Thunderbird 102 not available as an automatic Update?
Thunderbird 102 is a major update. Thunderbird team wants to gather feedback and then rollout update gradually to users.
Users running Thunderbird 91 will continue to receive updates for the same.
Meanwhile, if you can’t wait to use Thunderbird 102 as automatic updating is not being offered right now in the email client, follow the below steps, it’s easier than you thought.
How to upgrade to Thunderbird 102 from 91
- Visit the Thunderbird homepage in the browser address bar
- Click on the Free download button
- Run the installer, when the Thunderbird setup wizard opens, click Next and keep Standard selected and then click Upgrade on the next step,
To sum it up, you don’t need to make any changes when you accept default options in Thunderbird 102 installer.
Your data, settings, and profile will be preserved when you install it in the same location. After that, the new Thunderbird will open automatically.
Update: You can now Update Thunderbird to 102 on Windows and Mac.
For that, click on Menu > Help > About Thunderbird.
Do note you’ve to update to 91.12.0 and then you can able to version 102 by checking for updates in the About dialog.
Final words:
Looking to try Thunderbird 102, but the automatic update is not offered in Thunderbird 91 email client, here is how you can smoothly update Thunderbird from 91 to 102.
Have you installed and used the new Thunderbird? Did you like it? Let us know in the comments below.
More on Thunderbird:
Thunderbird 78.0 Major Update is now available for download
Thunderbird 60: You can’t add Google Search as a Search Engine
