Zentraler Informatikdienst

Setting up an IMAP e-mail account in Android – Gmail, Thunderbird

For:  students    employees

This user guide will help you set up an e-mail account in the Gmail or Thunderbird apps if you manage your e-mails with IMAP.

You will then be able to send and receive e-mails on your Android device using your University of Vienna e-mail address.

Notes

  • Depending on your Android version, the setup may differ slightly from the user guide.
  • If you receive an error message when configuring the SMTP server, please use an alternative e-mail app.

Setting up Gmail

  1. Settings – Accounts – Add account – Personal (IMAP) – enter e-mail address, u:account password
  2. Incoming server: u:account UserID, imap.univie.ac.at
  3. Outgoing server: u:account UserID, mail.univie.ac.at
  4. Configure additional settings

Detailed user guide

1. Adding account

  1. Open Settings ⚙ on your Android device.
  2. Search for Accounts and select the appropriate entry (such as Manage accounts, Passwords, passkeys and accounts or similar).
  3. Select Add account.
  4. Select the Personal (IMAP) option.
  5. Enter your e-mail address of the University of Vienna:
    Students: astudentIDnumber@unet.univie.ac.at (example: a12345678@unet.univie.ac.at)
    Employees: firstname.lastname@univie.ac.at(example: jamie.doe@univie.ac.at)
    Guests: UserID@univie.ac.at(example: doejamie99@univie.ac.at)
  6. Tap Next.
  7. Enter your u:account password. Tap Next.

2. Adding incoming server

Enter the following data:

  • Username: the UserID of your u:account (example: doejamie99)
  • Password: the corresponding password
  • Server: imap.univie.ac.at

Tap Next.

3. Adding outgoing server

Enter the following data:

  • Username: the UserID of your u:account (example: doejamie99)
  • Password: the corresponding password
  • SMTP server: mail.univie.ac.at 

Tap Next.

4. Configuring additional settings

In the following windows, you can configure additional settings:

  • set the synchronisation frequency at which Gmail automatically retrieves new e-mails from the server
  • assign an account name and specify the display name for sent messages under Your name

Confirm each step by tapping Next.

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Setting up Thunderbird

  1. Install Thunderbird – open Thunderbird – Start
  2. Add an e-mail account now –  enter e-mail address, u:account password – Configuration found – Edit configuration
  3. Incoming server: add u:account UserID
  4. Outgoing server: add u:account UserID
  5. Configuring additional settings

1. Downloading and installing Thunderbird

Download the Thunderbird app from the Google Play Store and install it.
How to download and install an app? To the basic user guide Installing smartphone or tablet app

2. Opening Thunderbird

  1. Swipe up on your home screen to open the app overview.
  2. Launch the app by tapping the Thunderbird icon.
  3. Tap Start.

3. Adding account

  1. Select Add an e-mail account now.
  2. Enter your e-mail address of the University of Vienna:
    Students: aStudentIDnumber@unet.univie.ac.at (example: a12345678@unet.univie.ac.at)
    Employees: firstname.lastname@univie.ac.at (example: jamie.doe@univie.ac.at)
    Guests: UserID@univie.ac.at (example: doejamie99@univie.ac.at)
  3. Tap Next.
  4. Enter your u:account password.


Tap the Configuration found field to expand it. Select Edit configuration.

4. Editing incoming server

  1. Enter the u:account UserID of your u:account (e.g. doejamie99) under Username. Thunderbird will fill in the remaining settings automatically.
  2. Tap Next.

5. Editing outgoing server

  1. Enter the u:account UserID of your u:account (e.g. doejamie99) under Username. Thunderbird will fill in the remaining settings automatically.
  2. Tap Next.

6. Configuring additional settings

In the following windows, you can configure additional settings:

  • select special folders for drafts, sent e-mails, spam, etc.
  • enter a display name (mandatory) and an e-mail signature
  • set the synchronisation interval at which Thunderbird automatically retrieves new e-mails from the server
  • allow access to contacts and activate notifications

Confirm each step with Next or Skip.

Your e-mail account is now set up.

7. Disabling thread view

Thunderbird automatically displays your e-mails in thread view. This means that e-mails with the same subject are grouped together.

If you want to deactivate this view, proceed as follows:

  1. Tap the menu icon ☰ in the top left corner.
  2. Tap the settings icon ⚙ in the bottom left corner.
  3. Select General settings – Display.
  4. Deactivate Threaded view.

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