Marianne Martinez
Thunderbird is a free and open-source email, calendaring, newsfeed, and chat client with over 20 million monthly users. While Thunderbird allows users to configure the layout of the Folder pane, message list pane, and message pane, some users have reported issues with resizing panes, particularly after an update. This issue may be caused by incompatible add-ons, a broken layout, or the message pane sliding under the pane with the list of message subjects. Users have suggested potential solutions, including launching in safe mode, resetting toolbars and controls, and changing the size of the entire window.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Issue | Can't resize Thunderbird panes |
| Possible causes | Incompatible add-on, broken layout, message pane "sliding under" subject pane |
| Suggested fixes | Disable add-ons one-by-one, launch in safe mode and reset toolbars and controls, change window size, change maximization status, change layout |
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What You'll Learn
Thunderbird pane takes up 3/4 of the screen
If your Thunderbird pane takes up 3/4 of the screen and you are unable to resize it, there are a few potential solutions you can try. Firstly, ensure that you are using the correct method to resize the pane. On a tablet, for example, you need to move the pointer over the pane border, then double-tap and drag to resize.
If the issue persists, try changing the maximization status of the main Thunderbird window and then attempt to resize the pane. This is because the pane may be snapping closed when it thinks the left border is too close to the right edge of the main window, causing Thunderbird to misinterpret the actual dimensions of the window.
Additionally, you can try editing the xulstore.json file. Close Thunderbird, then open the xulstore.json file in a text editor and search for "today-pane-panel". You can then modify the width settings to adjust the size of the pane. For example, changing all instances of 257 to 400 will increase the width of the Today pane to 400 pixels.
If none of these solutions work, the issue may be related to an incompatible add-on. Try disabling all add-ons and then enabling them one by one to identify if any of them are causing the problem. Alternatively, launch Thunderbird in safe mode and check the box for "Reset toolbars and controls" before restarting.
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Incompatible add-ons
If you are unable to resize Thunderbird panes, it could be due to incompatible add-ons. This is a common issue faced by Thunderbird users, and there are several methods to resolve it.
Firstly, you can try disabling all add-ons and then enabling them one by one to identify the problematic one. By doing this, you can isolate the add-on causing the issue and keep the others enabled.
Another method is to force extension compatibility. This can be achieved by changing the version of the parameter each time Thunderbird updates to a new version. You can also install the "Disable Add-on Compatibility Checks" extension, which automates this process and saves you from having to manually change the version each time.
Additionally, you can try restarting Thunderbird in safe mode and checking the "Reset toolbars and controls" box before restarting. This can help resolve issues caused by incompatible add-ons or a broken layout.
If you are using Firefox to download Thunderbird extensions, you may encounter confusion due to the shared ".xpi" file extension. In this case, right-click on the download link and choose "Save link as" to avoid installation issues.
Finally, if you are using an alpha or beta version of Thunderbird, you can override compatibility enforcement in the email client's configuration. You can do this by right-clicking in the configuration window, selecting "New > Boolean", and setting the Boolean value to "false" to prevent Thunderbird from checking for extension compatibility.
By following these methods, you can troubleshoot and resolve issues related to incompatible add-ons in Thunderbird, improving your experience with the email client.
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Thunderbird doesn't recognise finger pressing down on the border
Thunderbird is a free and open-source email, calendaring, newsfeed, and chat client with over 20 million active monthly users. While Thunderbird is a great platform, some users have reported issues with resizing panes.
On a tablet, users have reported that Thunderbird does not recognize finger taps, holds, or drags on the pane border. This issue is not unique to tablets, as some users have also reported that Thunderbird panes cannot be resized by grabbing the edge of the pane on Windows, macOS, or Linux.
There are a few potential solutions to this problem. One suggestion is to launch Thunderbird in safe mode and check the box "Reset toolbars and controls" before restarting. Another potential solution is to resize the main Thunderbird window or change the maximization status, as the pane may be snapping closed when it thinks the left border is too close to the right edge of the main window.
Additionally, some users have suggested that Thunderbird add an optional thumb at each pane edge with a tooltip that says "drag to move border" to make it more obvious how to resize panes. While this is not a current feature, it could be implemented in future updates to make the platform more user-friendly.
If you are still unable to resize Thunderbird panes, it may be due to an incompatible add-on. In this case, you can disable all add-ons and then enable them one by one to identify and disable the one causing the issue.
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Thunderbird pane has slid under the pane with the list of message subjects
If your Thunderbird pane has slid under the pane with the list of message subjects, you are not alone. This issue has been reported by several Thunderbird users.
One user reported that they were able to fix this issue by changing the size of the entire window, not just the message pane. They explained that when they resized the entire window, the line slid back down, becoming accessible again.
If this solution does not work for you, there are a few other potential fixes you can try. One suggestion is to launch Thunderbird in safe mode and then check the box "Reset toolbars and controls" before restarting. Alternatively, the issue could be caused by an incompatible add-on. To check this, you can disable all add-ons and then enable them one by one until you find the one causing the problem.
If you are using a tablet, the issue could be related to the touch screen or touchpad. In this case, you may need to use a virtual touchpad or a keyboard to control the mouse and attempt to resize the pane.
Finally, if none of the above solutions work, you may need to experiment with the maximization status of the main Thunderbird window before attempting to resize the pane.
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Unable to resize Thunderbird pane on a tablet
If you are unable to resize Thunderbird panes on a tablet, there are a few potential solutions. One user on the Thunderbird Support Forum reported that the bottom pane on Thunderbird 38.2.0 was too short vertically, and they were unable to resize it by tapping, holding, and dragging the top of the pane with their finger. It seemed that Thunderbird did not recognize that their finger was pressing down on the pane border.
To resolve this issue, one suggestion is to use the virtual touchpad instead of your finger. Move the pointer over the pane border, then double-tap and drag to resize. This can be achieved on the Windows 8.1 touch keyboard by using the virtual touchpad feature.
Another potential solution is to reset the font size in Thunderbird. Go to 'Menu Bar' > View > Font Size > 'Reset font size'. Alternatively, go to 'Menu app icon' > Font Size and click on the number 'px' between the + and - signs. If you have altered the pixel size in the config editor, use the far-right reset icon to set it back to the default of -1.0.
Additionally, it is worth checking if you have any incompatible add-ons enabled in Thunderbird. Disable all add-ons and then enable them one by one until you find the one causing the issue. If you suspect a broken layout, launch Thunderbird in safe mode, check the box 'Reset toolbars and controls', and then click 'Make changes and restart'.
Finally, one user reported that the Thunderbird developers increased the minimum height of the message pane to 200px, which some users found annoying. To change this, go to the following link and follow the instructions to adjust the minimum height to your preferred setting: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1423733. Some users have reported success in dropping the pixels down to 100px or changing the width of the Today pane to 400 pixels.
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Frequently asked questions
The problem could be that Thunderbird doesn't recognize your finger pressing down on the border of the pane. Try using the virtual touchpad instead and double-tap and drag the pane border to resize.
The message pane may have slid under the pane with the list of message subjects. Try resizing the entire Thunderbird window, not just the message pane, to make the divider movable again.
The issue could be due to an incompatible add-on. Try disabling all add-ons and then enabling them one by one to identify and disable the incompatible one. Alternatively, launch Thunderbird in safe mode, check the box 'Reset toolbars and controls', and click 'Make changes and restart'.
Thunderbird offers three layout options that you can choose from. Click on the menu button, open the View menu, then go to Layout and choose your preferred layout.
