Summary: Are your in-message hyperlinks in Thunderbird not opening when you click on them? There are several reasons that may lead to such an issue. Read this post to find out the reasons behind this issue and the solutions to resolve it.
![[Fixed]: Hyperlinks in Messages are not Working in Thunderbird](https://www.stellarinfo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/free-download-1.png)
Contents
Usually, the default web browser on the system opens and displays the link when a user click on the hyperlink in a message. However, several Thunderbird users have reported on different forums that the hyperlinks in messages are not working in Thunderbird. There might be several reasons why hyperlinks are not working in Thunderbird.
The common reasons for links not working correctly in Thunderbird are:
- Operating system?s default browser is unspecified
- Incorrect ?Action? set for hyperlinks in ?Settings?
- Interference due to installed add-ons
Below we?ll be discussing the solutions to resolve the issue. But before moving ahead, you should know that Thunderbird intentionally keeps the URL as text and makes them non-clickable when composing an email. The reason behind this is that text is easier to edit than a hyperlink. You can click on the text link and start editing, whereas with a clickable link, you cannot do the same as clicking on it launches the associated webpage.
However, remember that once you save your email as a draft or send it, Thunderbird automatically converts the text link into a clickable one. In short, the unclickable link will only occur if you create a new email or edit a draft.
Solutions to Resolve the Hyperlinks not Working in Messages Issue in Thunderbird
If you?re facing trouble with opening the hyperlinks in Thunderbird messages, except when composing a new email, follow the solutions mentioned below.
1. Check Operating System?s Default Browser Settings
Whenever you click a hyperlink in a message, a default browser window is launched by the operating system. Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and other browsers follow this setting by default when you launch them and ask you to set them as your default browser. However, for reasons unknown, this setting gets formatted and your computer forgets which is the default browser.
In such a case, all you need to do is reset your default browser. If you?re using Firefox, set Firefox as your default browser and then restart Thunderbird. To set Microsoft Edge your default web browser, and then restart Thunderbird. For Chrome, follow these instructions and then restart Thunderbird.
2. Check the HTTP Content Type
In Thunderbird, you can specify an action that occurs when you click on attachments and inline contents. However, if this action type is set incorrectly, your links will fail to open correctly.
To review this setting, click ? Preferences ? Content ? File Types. When you find HTTP and/or HTTPS in the Content Type column, either delete the action or ensure that the specified action is set correctly.
3. Check for Incorrect Preference
Sometimes, a hidden preference gets modified, leading to the issue of hyperlinks not working in Thunderbird. Such settings can get altered when a new add-on is installed or for any other reason.
To check this, open the ‘Troubleshooting Information from the Help’ menu and then click ‘Important modified Preferences.’ Once you get there, look for ‘protocol-handler.external-default’. If its value is ‘False,’ then the hidden settings have been altered, and you need to reverse it. To do this, visit ?Config Editor? (?Menu? ? Tools ? Options ? Advanced ? General ? Config Editor).
Type ?network.protocol-handler.external? to open the Settings option. Now right-click on it and select ?Reset?.
4. Disable Add-Ons Or Extensions
Sometimes, some specific add-ons might cause conflict with Thunderbird?s settings that deal with links. To verify this, open Thunderbird in Safe Mode by holding the ?Shift? key. Or launch it normally and then go to ?Help? ? ?Restart with Add-ons Disabled? ? and click ?Restart.? If the links work in Safe Mode, it means one of the add-ons are causing the issue.
Unfortunately, there?s no simple way to determine which add-on is the source of the problem. So, you?ll have to disable the add-ons one-by-one manually and restart Thunderbird to check which add-on is causing the issue. When found, disable the problem-causing add-on permanently.
Conclusion
If the hyperlinks in messages not working in Thunderbird, you can resolve the issue by following the methods mentioned in this post. However, if the problem persists, you can reinstall the Thunderbird application. But don?t forget to back up your profile before uninstalling it.
If the issue still persists, you can consider migrating from Thunderbird to an email client, like MS Outlook or Office 365. However, the migration process is complicated as both email clients work with different file formats. This is where Stellar Converter for MBOX comes into the picture. The software can help you convert your Thunderbird MBOX data into PST, which you can easily import into Outlook. You may also export the mail items from the MBOX file directly to Office 365. You can download the demo version of the software for free to evaluate its functionality.
