Mozilla Foundation announced a significant shift in its Thunderbird email client distribution strategy, designating the Desktop Release version as the default download option starting March 2025. This change departs from the current Extended Support Release (ESR) default setting.
The transition will commence with the launch of Thunderbird version 136.0 in March, placing the Release version at the forefront of the client's download page. Mozilla plans to implement additional measures to promote Release version adoption, including potential in-app notifications for existing ESR users.
The organization highlights several benefits of this strategic shift. Users will experience more frequent feature updates, transitioning from annual ESR updates to monthly improvements through the Release version. Mozilla developers emphasize that the Desktop Release channel will provide a smoother update experience for users.
Mozilla introduced the Thunderbird Desktop Release Channel to its download options in October 2024. Current statistics reveal that the release version has attracted fewer than 30,000 active users, representing less than 0.3 percent of Thunderbird's substantial user base of approximately 10.8 million active installations.
The transition will commence with the launch of Thunderbird version 136.0 in March, placing the Release version at the forefront of the client's download page. Mozilla plans to implement additional measures to promote Release version adoption, including potential in-app notifications for existing ESR users.
The organization highlights several benefits of this strategic shift. Users will experience more frequent feature updates, transitioning from annual ESR updates to monthly improvements through the Release version. Mozilla developers emphasize that the Desktop Release channel will provide a smoother update experience for users.
Mozilla introduced the Thunderbird Desktop Release Channel to its download options in October 2024. Current statistics reveal that the release version has attracted fewer than 30,000 active users, representing less than 0.3 percent of Thunderbird's substantial user base of approximately 10.8 million active installations.
