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Cannot send messages in Icelandic. Icelandic chars show as ?? How to fix?

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Thunderbird has managed Icelandic (for me) for decades. Even after upgrade to Windows 10, it was OK. I just change the Windows keyboard to Icelandic, and all is fine.

Then a Thunderbird update came along a few months ago. Now all Icelandic characters display as ?? at the receiving end. My phone (using yahoo) works correctly (characters are sent OK), but receives the ?? when I read a message from my computer sent with Thunderbird.

I have downloaded an Icelandic dictionary, but this made no difference. I do not want a spell checker anyway, I want my messages to be readable by the recipient.

Other apps on the computer seem OK. Messages sent on Facebook are OK. Word and other MS applications are OK. It is just Thunderbird that does not work.

Any ideas anyone? Thanks, Heimir

Thunderbird has managed Icelandic (for me) for decades. Even after upgrade to Windows 10, it was OK. I just change the Windows keyboard to Icelandic, and all is fine. Then a Thunderbird update came along a few months ago. Now all Icelandic characters display as ?? at the receiving end. My phone (using yahoo) works correctly (characters are sent OK), but receives the ?? when I read a message from my computer sent with Thunderbird. I have downloaded an Icelandic dictionary, but this made no difference. I do not want a spell checker anyway, I want my messages to be readable by the recipient. Other apps on the computer seem OK. Messages sent on Facebook are OK. Word and other MS applications are OK. It is just Thunderbird that does not work. Any ideas anyone? Thanks, Heimir

Chosen solution

HeimirHauksson said

Oops, in Tools, I do not see the Options choice. Fell at the first hurdle. I am using Thunderbird 60.7.2 (32-bit). Can we try again, please?

Well, let's see - maybe this aplies to you :

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1159162

And same here :

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1227442

Can you find it now  ?

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (5)

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Hello HeimirHauksson,

Would you try this please :
Go to the Configuration Editor (Tools, Options, Advanced, General, Config Editor).
Scroll down to mail.strictly_mime Click on it and change it from "false" to true.
That should do the trick …..

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/config-editor

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Oops, in Tools, I do not see the Options choice. Fell at the first hurdle. I am using Thunderbird 60.7.2 (32-bit). Can we try again, please?

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Chosen Solution

HeimirHauksson said

Oops, in Tools, I do not see the Options choice. Fell at the first hurdle. I am using Thunderbird 60.7.2 (32-bit). Can we try again, please?

Well, let's see - maybe this aplies to you :

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1159162

And same here :

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1227442

Can you find it now  ?

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If you click the 3-bar app icon in the upper right corner, Options is not under Tools, but it is under Options. If you press Alt to show the Menu Bar, Options is under the Tools menu.

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Thanks all. Thunderbird does now send Icelandic characters correctly.