retrieving forgotten password for email account
So... some time last year I changed my password for an important email account that I have, and grrr for some reason gmail's password retrieval for it isn't working. My only hope at this point is that Thunderbird is still logged in and sending and retrieving messages from the account.
When I check the Options>Security>Passwords>Saved Passwords, it lists one for that account that is around the date that I changed it, but it seems to be encrypted (it just displays a long string of characters).
Is there any way that I can retrieve the password for this account from Thunderbird?
Many thanks for any help/ideas.
Chosen solution
This forum has nothing to do with gmail.
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There is a 'Show Passwords' button.
Yes, thanks, when I "show passwords" the correct entry only shows the encrypted string, as I described above.
Sounds like an app specific password that gmail required for a while.
interesting... so you are saying that gmail required (or requires) an additional password for email clients? Either way, I do know that Thunderbird is still logging into the account so it must have the regular password stored in some way. My previous password (from before I changed it) is listed correctly in the saved passwords, and the encrypted one is the only one listed for that account anywhere near the date that I changed it.
Gmail explains how to use their system. https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185833?hl=en
Somewhere along the line gmail declared everyone except their own webmail page as Less Secure Apps. They implemented certain password requirements. Since then Thunderbird created OAuth2 for the Authentication type for gmail IMAP and SMTP servers. This old thread discusses how it works. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1086835
As for being encrypted, I do not think so. Gmail just generated an app specific password and their users had to enter that instead of their actual email password.
Oh okay, thank you so much, that explains it!!
However, tragically, I am thinking that this means that thunderbird doesn't have the current password for this account after all? Grrr I am so mad at gmail right now for not having a functional password retrieval tool.
Yes, I have tried the gmail password retrieval tool many times, as mentioned in my original post. I would not be posting here if it had worked. I definitely banked too much on it working, I never will again.
The password retrieval tool asks me for the last password I remember (which I give correctly), the month and year the account was created (which I give correctly) and then it asks for an email to send a verification code. I complete the verification process with the code it sends me, and then it just says that it can't verify that it is me. Same every time.
This is a really awful thing in my life right now! I am so discouraged and definitely do not ever want to use gmail again! I just really need to get access back to this account as it is the one that I use for work and work related messages. :(
It seems like this forum is the only support google offers? There is no one at all I can contact to take a look at this situation?
Chosen Solution
This forum has nothing to do with gmail.
Sorry, you are right, my apologies, and thanks for the help regarding thunderbird.