Hmmm, text formatting is not very handy here... Same question, now correctly formatted

Since Hyperlinks in messages do not work is still not resolved I repost it here. I don't know why it was closed either, as still I was waiting for a solution...

The problem I have trouble opening https hyperlinks on my Windows 10 Home edition PC since the update of the local installed Thunderbird to version 68.x. Using local installed Thunderbird version 68.3.0 (32-bits)

• When I click on a https hyperlink in a e-mail or contact in Thunderbird I get no error message and the link does not launch in the browser. The same goes when I do a right-mouse-button-click on a https hyperlink and select 'Open in browser' in the then appearing menu. Nothing happens...
• When I click on a http hyperlink however it does launch in the browser with no problem.
• I can also copy and paste the https hyperlink from Thunderbird to my Firefox browser with no problem.

Using portable Thunderbird version 60.9.1 (32-bits) on the same PC

• If I use the portable Thunderbird v60 on the same PC it has no problem opening http or https hyperlinks.

Using local installed Thunderbird version 60.9.1 (32-bits) on my other PC

• On my old PC still running on Dutch Windows 7 Starter edition the local Thunderbird v60 doesn't have any problem opening http or https hyperlinks.

What I tested thus far

• I did al the checks from 'Hyperlinks in berichten werken niet' which is the Dutch version of 'Hyperlinks in Messages Not Working'.
• I switched the default browser from Firefox to Internet Explorer (tested), to Edge (tested) and back to Firefox (tested). All test with the same results; i.e. Thunderbird will open http hyperlinks in the then default browser and it will not open https hyperlinks.
• I restarted local installed Thunderbird in Safe Mode (with add-ons disabled). With no results; i.e. it will open only http and no https hyperlinks.
• I tested local installed Thunderbird with the virus-scanner in Windows off. With no results; it opens only http and no https hyperlinks in normal- nor in save mode. Note: Portable Thunderbird again has no problem.
• I did not delete my old profile, nor did I remove and reinstall Thunderbird because the portable Thunderbird on the same PC has no problem. See also the next point.
• I restarted my Windows 10 operating system (OS) in save mode with the following results:

1. Local installed Thunderbird version 68.3.0 (32-bits) in normal mode, the OS in save mode: The same (no) results; it opens only http and no https hyperlinks.
2. Local installed Thunderbird version 68.3.0 (32-bits) in save mode, the OS in save mode: The same (no) results; it opens only http and no https hyperlinks.
3. Portable Thunderbird version 60.9.1 (32-bits) in normal mode on the same PC, the OS still running in save mode: It has again no problem opening http or https hyperlinks.
4. Since it already worked in normal mode I did not try portable Thunderbird in save mode.

What came out of Hyperlinks in messages do not work thus far Q: So I understand the bug appears only in the Dutch and not the English version? Q: When it works in safe mode, we will be back to an app on your computer. Disable your anti virus interference. A: It does not work in safe mode (OS and Thunderbird) so it is still a problem (bug?) in the Dutch Thunderbird application version 68.3.0 (32-bits)

Notes

• All the software here mentioned is in the Dutch language and all of them are updated to the last versions, Thunderbird and Firefox by using the 'release-channel'.
• Somehow the Thunderbird version on my old Windows 7 PC and the portable version are both up-to-date but not asking for an update to version 68.x yet?
• Both PC's have the the same (F-Secure) virus-scanner installed.
• The Thunderbird portable edition I use can be found at: portableapps.com.

Since there is no difference running my PC in save mode or not and running Thunderbird in save mode (on my PC's OS in save mode) or not. This http versus https issue in Dutch Thunderbird version 68.x is still not solved.

Again; any new suggestions are welcome, thanks in advance! Charleshan

Create a new profile in your 68 setup, add an account, and see if https links open in the browser. If they do, this will indicate there's some unknown flaw in your original profile. Help/Troubleshooting Information, about:profiles, click Create a New Profile. Your original profile is unaffected.

sfhowes said

Help/Troubleshooting Information, about:profiles, click Create a New Profile.

Thanks sfhowes!

It took a while before I found out how to open 'about:profiles' in Thunderbird, but when I could and created a new test-profile the new profile opens http and https links from my test-e-mail without a problem! Conclusion; no bug, but a corrupted profile.

So how do I fix my (old) original profile? Or should I just create a new one?

And if I need to create a new profile, is there a way to backup my settings like display-settings, Rules and Labels.. Other than by making screenshots and typing them back into the new profile? I mean, I used the TEBE (Thunderbird Environment Backup Extension) add-on until it was discontinued years ago. That add-on could export Thunderbird's settings as java (.JS-files) so you could import them into another PC. I checked the Thunderbird Profile Manager explanation but there is no solution, only full-copy there... Is there a way to export my settings likewise from Thunderbird 68?

Thanks and happy holidays! Charleshan

I think it will be faster and more effective to transfer data from the old profile to a new one, instead of trying to repair the old one. Adding the accounts should be easy, and if they are IMAP, the mail on the server will be re-downloaded. POP mail or Local Folders can be easily copied, as well as address books, calendars and message filters:

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Thunderbird

Some settings, such as toolbar layout, will have to be recreated, but account settings are stored in prefs.js and cannot be transferred without possibly copying corrupted preferences.

Thanks sfhowes,

I thought the same and your KB link will help fixing my new profile.

Best wishes, Charleshan

Hi, I have the exact same issue in the English version. First encountered it before Christmas when I went hunting for the 64bit version of Thunderbird and downloaded vers 68.x. Heeding warning of the 64bit vers not being as well supported or publicly released I simply went back to 32bit vers 60.x. Hyperlinks immediately restarted.

I run Thunderbird on both my laptop (win 10 x64) and a netbook (win 10x86). Both self updated and now neither will respond to hyperlinks. Have tried all the fixes mentioned above (except the new profile) to no avail. Then used Revo uninstaller to remove all Mozilla programmes. Reloaded Firefox and set it to default. Loaded vers 60.x and hyperlinks worked perfectly. Overnight Thunderbird updated itself again and no hyperlinks.

Finally this morning I followed the instructions and set up and selected a second profile in vers 68.1. Still no active hyperlinks.

Hi William M.,

I'm not an expert in this area but I'll try. Did you restart your Windows 10 system in save mode with networking? Please make sure no virus-scanner is active during testing (it should be, running Windows in save mode).

Then test the following whilst running in Windows in it's save mode:

1. Thunderbird using your first and new second profile;
2. You might also try to run Thunderbird itself in 'normal' and 'save mode'.

In my case the answer/solution to my problem was somewhere in these points: Save mode, virus-scanner and profile. With my new created profile Thunderbird is still running fine now.

I hope this will help you to find your solution, good luck!

Hi Charleshan, Tried all that without success. For some reason I couldn't get safe mode with networking. Even though I selected it off the windows restart options and the little planet symbol showed, I couldn't find a way of connecting the wifi. (I don't have a hardware switch on the laptop and neither windows or the function key gave any success). Having said that I believe the browser should still open and then it would fail due to inability to communicate out of the computer? Tried both profiles and with Thunderbird in normal/safe mode. No luck. The hyperlinks are correct because if I right click inside Thunderbird and select "copy link location" and manually paste in the browser then the hyperlink connects correctly. If I toggle the "Network.protocol...." flags, a popup will show to ask me which browser and it always identifies the correct default browser, so it seems Thunderbird is correctly interpreting the correct browser, just don't get any action (or error messages) after that, just a dead nothing and I have to manually close the popup, but it remembers the action because the popup won't show a second time. One other oddity there was one occasion when Firefox opened a new window and showed your public profile details. Not sure how we got there and I couldn't replicate again. This was soon after one of the many restarts and both Chrome and Firefox had remembered the previously opened sites, but I couldn't recall trying to access your message other than from Thunderbird. Thanks for the help, just need to keep looking I'm afraid. Regards