Desktop Roadmap

Active

• Exchange (EWS, GraphAPI)Finalize the work on the Exchange protocol in order to support all versions of Exchange and Microsoft 365, including calendar and address book support. Graph API support for email is finished, and calendar discovery and event sync have been implemented.
• Global DatabaseContinue the work on the new Panorama database, allowing users to start testing the new database, and handle a consistent data migration.
• Improve and extend existing add-ons APIsImprove the currently available APIs, focus on giving access to new sections and core features, as well as introducing new APIs for specific sections.
• Encryption and Security ImprovementsImprove the support and discovery of OpenPGP and S/MIME, improve email tracking protection, and harden phishing email prevention. These will continue all year as we respond to high priority vulnerabilities, upstream changes, AI-powered sec reports and regressions. Post-quantum encryption has also come a long way, see thePQC testing page. (Ongoing maintenance)
• Settings Interface ImprovementsClean up and reorganize the settings into more discoverable sections and improve its search. User survey will heavily influence the end result. We are aiming to have all the strings, content navigation, and a first round of UI refresh completed by the end of 2026.
• Calendar Dialogs UI/UXComplete the refresh of the calendar interface and user experience. Some protocols handling changes might be needed. This work will also land a major part of the compose window refresh.
• System Add-on Integration - Remote UpdatesBuilding on the system add-on integration shipped in 153, enable system add-ons to be updated remotely, outside of the regular release train.

Planned

• Conversation ViewDisplay related messages together as a single conversation. This work depends on the new Global Database (Panorama).
• JMAPAdd support for the JMAP protocol. This will be a priority in 2027 as Thundermail opens to the public and leverages JMAP.

Shipped

• OAuth2 EnhancementsOAuth became a significant initiative due to evolving provider authentication requirements (including PKCE adoption), browser-based authentication improvements, and the need to deliver a seamless Thundermail sign-in experience. Delivery began in 154.
  September 2026
• Thunderbird EnterpriseThunderbird Enterprise work was completed, including extending the add-ons Account API to accommodate Enterprise requirements.
  September 2026
• First Time User Experience: Account HubComplete Account Hub for all account creations, enable it for first time users.
  March 2026
• Unobtrusive SignaturesThis was part of the larger “Encryption and Security Improvements” initiative and has been completed to reduce confusion around OpenPGP signatures.
  March 2026
• Exchange Email SupportFull support of email operations and account creation.
  November 2025
• Native OS NotificationsAdd quick actions to reply, delete, mark messages as read/unread, and manage the notifications.
  July 2025
• Implement Glean TelemetryMove away from the old telemetry implementation and add the new Glean Telemetry.
  April 2025
• In-App NotificationsImplement a new notification system that allows the Thunderbird team to push important, time-sensitive information directly to a user's Thunderbird desktop client.
  May 2025
• First Time User ExperienceWe had to refocus on the email onboarding section of the Account Hub due to Exchange, Graph, and Thundermail release. User feedback & telemetry data points at a large percentage of manual config usage, and the new protocols come with very complex manual user flows. First introduction of a 1-click setup OAuth for Thundermail.
  June 2026
• System add-on integrationAllowing to ship ad-hoc features faster for objectives that supersede the release train. This will be in 153!
  June 2026