Hello! One of our best productivity tools is our Email Tracking feature. Before we show you how to use this feature in Mailbird, let's look at some general facts about Email Tracking.
- The implementation of Email Tracking does not mean that your email can be tracked, but that you will now have the ability to track emails that you have sent.
- Email Tracking does not mean that Mailbird is insecure. Nothing but the opening time and who has opened the email is being tracked. No other information is shared or collected. This works the same way in all email clients, even if they do not have an email tracking feature that will let you track your sent emails.
- You can control being tracked by not displaying remote images. In Mailbird, remote images are disabled by default. More details about remote images are listed in our Knowledge Base article “Always Show Remote Images”.
- Finally, because we value your privacy, we made it so that Mailbird's Email Tracking feature only tracks two things:
- Who has opened the email.
- When was the email opened.
Mailbird does not show or collect the content of the email, the location of the user who opens it, etc. Should you have any concerns or questions, please do reach out to us and we will be happy to help answer them asap.
How to use Email Tracking
When composing an email, you will find the “Email Tracking” button next to the send button. See the image below.
Click the button to enable Email Tracking. Please note that Email Tracking can only be use 5 times for Personal license users, Business license users can use unlimited Email tracking. You can enable Email Tracking by default in Mailbird menu, located at the top left corner. Go to Settings > Composing and check the box to "Enable Email Tracking by Default"
Email Tracking Status and Notification
Once you send an email with Email Tracking enabled, there are four places where you can check the Email Tracking status: the email list, the preview window, Email Tracking Notification Center, and Email Tracking tray notification.
Email Tracking in email list.
To see the Email Tracking status in the email list, simply hover your mouse to it. The information here is a bit limited and is intended for users who just want to take a quick look at the Email Tracking status. You can see how many recipients have opened the email and how many that has not opened it.
Email Tracking in Preview Window
The icon on the email panel can be clicked to see more details as shown in the image above. This notification gives more complete information, like how many recipients does the email have, a list of their name, and a timestamp of when they actually opened the email.
Email Tracking Notification Center
There also Email Tracking Notifications located at the top right of your Mailbird. This shows a list of recent Email Tracking and if you click on one of them, it will display the email that is tracked. You can see this in action in the picture below.
Email Tracking Tray Notification
Finally, you can also get tray notifications for email tracking. You can see how it work on the screenshot below.
If you don't want to get this type of notifications you can turn it off by going to settings>general, then disable tray notification for Email Tracking. See the screenshot below for more info
Email Tracking Limitation
One limitation of email tracking notification is, if you send an email in Exchange to multiple email addresses, Mailbird will not be able to tell who has opened the email. In this case, the email tracking notifications will show an unknown instead of the name of the people that have open the email.
You can now enjoy the reliability and confidence of knowing that your important emails have been sent and received with Email Tracking in Mailbird. A couple of gentle reminders: Email Tracking will not work if the recipient of the email is blocking remote images. Mailbird only tracks who has opened an email and when an email has been opened. As usual, if you have any issues just email us at support@getmailbird.com
Comments
26 comments
So how do I block read receipts for incoming mail in Mailbird? This is a standard feature in every recent email client I've used... Also cannot believe you guys have implemented this "feature" in today's privacy-conscious world. Under recent European & US laws I'd have thought recipients would have to either opt in or agree to have their read tracked, otherwise this would be a breach.
Muchas gracias, lo quería de hace tiempo.
@Ian, as the article said
"You can control being tracked by not displaying remote images. In Mailbird, remote images are disabled by default. More details about remote images are listed in our Knowledge Base article"
So you do not have to do anything it's disabled by default in Mailbird. Also, this doesn't mean that your email can suddenly be tracked. Even before we implement this feature your email can be tracked by any other email client that has this feature. Now that we have released email tracking, you can do the tracking :).
Oh also, email tracking is legal under US law and GDPR, that also depends on what was collected though (https://mailtrack.io/hc/en-us/articles/360005927298-Is-email-tracking-legal-under-GDPR-), Mailbird only collect who and when the email is opened
@Ian, in fact your comment virtually reveals that "today's privacy-conscious world" you mentioned is not conscious at all. "Read-tracking" is already present for other clients and it is not even feature; every single person can do this on his/her own without a mail client's "feature". So as well, it doesn't depend on Mailbird's feature. That means your mails were already being tracked regardless of the mail client you are using and regardless if Mailbird had this feature or not. You can not simply control what other people are sending to you in their mails, can you?
I guess you are irritated by the word "tracking". As already told in the article, this is not a "tracking" actually. Not a single personal information is exposed. This is only "read-tracking" informing the other party that you opened the mail they sent. And as Leonardo stated, even that option is already disabled by default and you don't have to use it. Additionally, it is already pretty-much-strict GDPR complaint.
Yes, Pis Isler is correct this is actually a read receipt rather than tracking. But since tracking is more widely known and use that's what we decided to name it. Rest assured though no personal information or anything private will be tracked, collected, or shared.
I was using the new email receipts tracking all day yesterday just fine with no issues and happy with the performance, but now, ever since this morning, I seem to keep experiencing constant crashes with Mailbird Alpha that seems to occur spontaneously within 5 minutes of starting the program, and I think the problem is related to the new email tracking feature. Here are the log details I'm presented with during one of the crash notices I get every crash:
System.Threading.Tasks.TaskCanceledException: A task was canceled.
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task task)
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
at Mailbird.ReadReceipts.Client.ReadReceiptsClient.<Request>d__20`1.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task task)
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
at Mailbird.ReadReceipts.Client.ReadReceiptsClient.<GetOpenTrackingStatus>d__17.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task task)
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
at Mailbird.Business.ReadReceipts.ReadReceiptsStatusService.<GetServiceStatusUpdate>d__19.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task task)
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
at Mailbird.Business.ReadReceipts.ReadReceiptsStatusService.<ProcessStandardContacts>d__15.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task task)
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
at Mailbird.Business.ReadReceipts.ReadReceiptsStatusService.<TimerOnElapsed>d__13.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state, Boolean preserveSyncCtx)
at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state, Boolean preserveSyncCtx)
at System.Threading.QueueUserWorkItemCallback.System.Threading.IThreadPoolWorkItem.ExecuteWorkItem()
at System.Threading.ThreadPoolWorkQueue.Dispatch()
I don't have this feature. I using version 2.8.14.0
Was using it until yesterday, today, everytime I try to send a mail using the feature, I get an error message.
Hi everyone! So great to see all your comments here. One favor is to please contact support@getmailbird.com if you have any issues, questions, feedback etc. That way we can be sure all your important requests are handled through the same channel and by our dedicated team via support@getmailbird.com
You guys rock! Thanks for choosing Mailbird - and stay tuned as we continue to stay committed and dedicated to delivering the BEST email experience for you :D
I love this new feature...
Now add affiliates, so I can tell others about it! :)
Hi Anthony! This week we are launching a referral program for Mailbird through which you can share Mailbird with anyone you want :D
Keep an eye out for it on our social channels, in app notifications and email communications and updates :D
Thanks for choosing Mailbird Anthony!!
So let me get this straight. I pay you guys money to use your software, but you turn this great feature off (so I have to manually click it every time) because I didn't buy the professional version?
Is that what you call a professional and well made upgrading incentive?
Hi Robby
We do not turn the feature off, Email tracking is always limited for personal user. It's already clearly stated in the pricing page you can check it out in here https://www.getmailbird.com/pricing/. I can give you a good discount if you wanted to upgrade, just contact support@getmailbird.com and ask for my name.
So, could you tell me precisely what is the difference between limited use for personal users, and unlimited use for professional users?
Greg -
Limited = They make you manually choose to enable open tracking for each email. Then they turn off the feature completely after 10-30 emails sent.
Leonardo -
Unfortunately, this is not clearly communicated at all. I had to purchase the business version because of this limit, but nowhere in the purchase page does it actually say what "Limited" actually means.
Hi Greg
The limit might change in the future. That is why we do not mention specifically what that is.
I have a better idea, why not say what the limit is and add an asterisk that it's subject to change?
Your prices also might change in the future, however, you do mention them on your website.
Do you realize this is an asinine point?
Hi Robby, that's a good idea, I'll tell the team about it.
After 10 to 30 mails, it is impossible using this feature? Is it 10 to 30 mails per month, or for life?
I purchased the personal plan and expect to try this function, however, Mailbox won't be allowed to use it at all. Now I noticed it says "Limited" on the pricing plan without any explanations. Why not state that this feature is not supported for a personal plan if it can not be used at all? This is cheating on the customers!
so is it 5 emails per month or 5 emails ever?
I have Mailbird Personal of course
I bought Mailbird Personal because of the integration of mailtrack, there was nothing mentioned about it only working for a short time. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement.
Go fuck yourselves, you utter cunts. Unbelievable that you thought this is a decent feature to implement. Fuck you and your garbage-ass company, can't wait to see you go out of business. All the complete cretins thinking this is a good move have been added to my VC shitlist. Good luck finding funding for your next project.
Just wanted to let you know that I LOVE the new open-tracking notifications feature.
Also, since getting the business version (which is just slightly more expensive), open tracking works perfectly.
Regardless of any earlier issues I've had - this is still the best email software for Windows on the market.
Same here, I love this feature! :)
$59 a year is not just "slightly more expensive" I don't think I will be using mailbird much longer, I bought it for mail tracking which worked for about 2 weeks so now if I need to track an email I have to use gmail. This program loads new email very slowly, even if I repeatedly refresh it. So if I'm expecting a new email I use gmail rather than waiting for 5 or 10 minutes on mailbird.
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