Thunderbird email client freeze/slow/hang

[Lakef]

Since about one month back, I have problems with Thunderbird freezing for about ten seconds when I navigate in the email message lists/catalogues. It happens when I go from one folder to another, not always but quite frequently. The system monitor show that one processor is 100% during around 10 seconds before it goes down. When the CPU load goes down, then I can open the wanted email folder. It is quite annoying and make things, that normally are quite quick, time consuming and burdensome. I guess that the problem has arisen since some Linux Mint update or Thunderbird update.

All email accounts are POP. There are four accounts. The accounts have the following sizes: 1,6 GB, 1,5 GB, 340 MB, and 16 MB. The sizes are the total of files in the folder of the account, for example Inbox, Inbox.msf, Sent, Sent.msf, etc.

inxi -Fz

Code: Select all

$ inxi -Fz
System:   Kernel: 4.15.0-24-generic x86_64 (64 bit) Desktop: Cinnamon 3.6.6
           Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine:   System: Gigabyte product: X170-Extreme ECC v: Default string
           Mobo: Gigabyte model: X170-Extreme ECC v: x.x Bios: American Megatrends v: F21e date: 01/11/2018
CPU:       Quad core Intel Xeon E3-1245 v5 (-HT-MCP-) cache: 8192 KB 
           clock speeds: max: 3900 MHz 1: 800 MHz 2: 800 MHz 3: 800 MHz 4: 800 MHz 5: 800 MHz 6: 800 MHz
           7: 800 MHz 8: 800 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel Device 191d
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 3840x2160@60.00hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics P530 (Skylake GT2) GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 17.0.7
Audio:     Card Intel Sunrise Point-H HD Audio driver: snd_hda_intel Sound: ALSA v: k4.15.0-24-generic
Network:   Card-1: Intel Ethernet Connection (2) I219-LM driver: e1000e
           IF: enp0s31f6 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2400 Gigabit Ethernet Controller driver: alx
           IF: enp6s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 8001.6GB (21.0% used) ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 model: N/A size: 240.1GB
           ID-2: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD80EFZX size: 8001.6GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 58G used: 14G (25%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1
           ID-2: /home size: 147G used: 94G (68%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3
           ID-3: swap-1 size: 17.06GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/nvme0n1p5
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 29.8C mobo: 27.8C
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 248 Uptime: 8:08 Memory: 1847.3/15925.5MB Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.2.35 

[Lakef]

Nobody has any idea about the cause? If I at least knew if the problem is in the application Thunderbird, the desktop Cinnamon or the operative system Linux Mint; I could change the faulty element to something that works.

Thunderbird constantly uses a lot of CPU power. Thunderbird uses around 8% (6-11%) of total CPU power. I have eight CPU kernels and around every 10 seconds one kernel goes up to 80-100%. The kernel that Thunderbird uses changes constantly. Something strange is going on with Thunderbird.

[Lakef]

I think the problem is gone now. I guess some update made the problem disappear. The system is now as follows:

System: Host: HPD17 Kernel: 4.15.0-24-generic x86_64 (64 bit)
Desktop: Cinnamon 3.6.6
Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia

Thunderbird: version 60.5.1

[deepakdeshp]

Good to know it's solved.

[Lakef]

Yes, it is a big relief to have the freezing gone. But I guess there still is some issue with Thunderbird, because it utilizes constantly around 6% of total CPU power (50% of one CPU-kernel). Gosh, I wonder what Thunderbird is working on constantly. Hopefully something very interesting worth wasting CPU power 24 hours daily.

[Lakef]

Thunderbird has been very annoying because when I write messages, the letters I write do not turn up directly, as for a overloaded system. Also, when erase letters, it takes a while before they disappear. This behaviour is very stressful when I need to write a message quickly.

I have 8 CPU kernels. About every 10 second one CPU kernel goes up to 100%. Thunderbird consumes around 8-10 % total CPU power, although I do not use it actively.

Now, there is an update that I will install. I pray things will improve.

From: thunderbird (1:60.5.1+build2-0ubuntu0.16.04.1) xenial
To: thunderbird (1:60.6.1+build2-0ubuntu0.16.04.1) xenial;

[Lakef]

I performed the update. One CPU still went to 100% around every 10 seconds. I then closed Thunderbird and reopened it. Then the problem was gone according to the "System Monitor". All CPU are now at a load between 7-20%. I hope it will stay this way.

(Unfortunately, the update manager does not start automatically at computer start up. If I forget to start it manually, I do not get informed about new updates)

[deepakdeshp]

Fo e new updates there is an icon in the right bottom side of the screen. If you hover your mouse pointer over it , it indicates that there are updates available. Another indication os the icon will have i inside it when there are updates.

[Lakef]

About the update manager: For some reason the icon never appears automatically at startup as it should. I have found no setting for it to appear. It has been like this since I installed Linux Mint.

[alan2001]

I have problems with Thunderbird freezing for about ten seconds when I navigate in the email message lists/catalogues. It happens when I go from one folder to another, not always but quite frequently.

I know this is an old thread, but I thought it would be better to resurrect it rather than go over the whole thing again.

I've been having identical issues with Thunderbird for ages now. I'm on Mint 19.3 but this was an issue on previous versions too. I keep my system fully up to date but this problem persists. I'm now on Thunderbird version 68.7.0 (64-bit).

My total .thunderbird folder is only 2.2GB spread across 3 email accounts, so it's not like I've got a massive amount of emails stored.

Anybody else having this issue?

[Dipper_]

Hi there,

yes I do have this problem, very much. I am on Mint Tricia with TB version 68.7.0. It usually hangs when it is idle, I can then click in thunderbird to open a message, click again, again, and again, and after a minute it opens it. Happens at least five times every day, I have to reopen TB.

Inboxes don't respond, it tells me, and it seems to have problems reading some Imap messages in one inbox. Haven't really figured out why, but i just cannot believe that this is the reason for its failure, given that many people seem to have issues.

Its just so annoying - I used Thunderbird way back 12 years ago on Suse and Mac OS for a while and never had that problem, always liked it. I have now tried to uninstall all plugins, deactivate global search, activate hardware acceleration. I also deactivated the Mint included Firewall, no luck.

I have tried Evolution now instead, but actually, I very much prefer Thunderbird - if it just worked as it used to.

[alan2001]

You've just reminded me to check: I can confirm that I don't have any plug-ins or extensions installed on Thunderbird. I did have a theme enabled but I've switched it to the default dark one. That hasn't made any difference.

[Dipper_]

Does https://rainbow.chard.org/2013/02/19/th ... -high-cpu/ have any effect on your tb? Old link but still kinda useful.

Was very hopeful about it and I get better values as to CPU usage, but the hangers are still there and nastier than before.

[Dipper_]

Hm...I tried fiddling with the proxy settings. What do you have there?

[biolon]

Hi!

I had the same issue on my PC and LM 19.3 Tricia. I found a process called "caribou" that had with TB high processor usage in my task manager. That caribou is virtual keyboard - and that caused the problem. I switched it off in keyboard settings an the problem disappear. No high processor usage no hangs-up.

Hope that helps.