Nextcloud Talk in Thunderbird (NC Connector)

The NC Connector for Thunderbird add-on lets you add a Nextcloud Talk meeting link to a calendar invitation directly from Thunderbird — no Teams or Zoom needed. It also offers secure file sharing and centrally managed email signatures; this page focuses on the Talk meeting links.

This is separate from the CardDAV/CalDAV synchronization described on SW: Synchronizing with Thunderbird.

1. Install the add-on

  1. In Thunderbird, open Add-ons and Themes → Extensions and search the add-on store for "talk" or "NC Connector".
  2. Open NC Connector for Thunderbird and click Add to Thunderbird.

  1. After installing, open Extensions, find NC Connector for Thunderbird and click the wrench (settings) icon to configure it.

2. Connect to SURF Works

NC Connector signs in with an app password, not your normal password.

  1. In SURF Works, go to Personal settings → Security → Create new app password, enter a name (for example "thunderbird") and copy the generated login username and password (shown only once).


  2. In the NC Connector General tab, enter:
    1. Nextcloud URL — your SURF Works address (e.g. https://surf.works.surf.nl/)
    2. Authentication — Manual, then the Username and App password from step 1 (or use Login with Nextcloud to fetch it automatically).
    3. Click Test connection to confirm it works.


Tip: You can reuse the same app password you created for calendar synchronization — there is no need to create a separate one per add-on.

3. Insert a Talk link into a meeting

  1. Create a new event in the Thunderbird calendar and click Insert Talk link in the toolbar.



  2. Set the room options (name, room type, and optionally a password, lobby or moderator), then click Create Talk Room.



  3. The Talk link is added to the event's Location and description. Send the invitation as usual.



By default this creates a public Talk room. With the standard settings the room has no password and Show in search is enabled. Be aware of the consequences:

  • Anyone with the link can join — including people without a SURF Works account, as a guest in the browser. The link is the only barrier.
  • The room is discoverable — with Show in search enabled, other SURF Works users can find the room in Talk's search, not only via the link.
  • The room keeps existing after the meeting — the same link stays valid, so share it deliberately.

For sensitive meetings: set a password, keep the lobby enabled, and turn Show in search off in the room dialog before creating the room.

What participants need

Nothing. Talk runs in any modern browser. Participants do not need a SURF Works account or any add-on to join via the Talk link.

  • No labels