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Could not download emails to my PC, needed to replace password, now I have no password for this account

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 16 views
  • Last reply by AgnesRM

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For my joint account with my wife for ... @gmail.com we have been unable to download emails to our PC. The password for that account was no longer recognized. Got instructions from sfhowes at your support site (see below).

"Check that the incoming server is pop.gmail.com or imap.gmail.com, and check that the outgoing is smtp.gmail.com. Set the authentication method to OAuth2 for both servers. Accept cookies in TB Preferences/Privacy & Security, and in the same section remove passwords from Saved Passwords. Then, restart TB and enter the current, working account (not app) password in the OAuth window to allow TB access. "

Instructions came through via my email address: ... @centurylink.net As a result of these steps the password that was in the system for our joint email address has been deleted.

Without a password I can not follow any of your instructions to restore normal activity for the ... @gmail.com account. There are hundreds of emails on the website for this account but we cannot save any to our PC.

I keep getting messages from you about signing in to this account which requires a temporary security code to do so. We receive the code on my wife's cell phone but after it is entered we are asked again for a password which is what is missing in the first place,... OR your system simply tells me that I should get another temporary security code. It's just a big circle that gets me no where.

I need to talk to someone in person. My phone number is ... ... ... ... ... p.s. let me know if you need any other form of identification


edited sensitive information in this thread from public and search/spam bots view on this community forum. nobody here or at Mozilla does one on one support.

For my joint account with my wife for ... @gmail.com we have been unable to download emails to our PC. The password for that account was no longer recognized. Got instructions from sfhowes at your support site (see below). "Check that the incoming server is pop.gmail.com or imap.gmail.com, and check that the outgoing is smtp.gmail.com. Set the authentication method to OAuth2 for both servers. Accept cookies in TB Preferences/Privacy & Security, and in the same section remove passwords from Saved Passwords. Then, restart TB and enter the current, working account (not app) password in the OAuth window to allow TB access. " Instructions came through via my email address: ... @centurylink.net As a result of these steps the password that was in the system for our joint email address has been deleted. Without a password I can not follow any of your instructions to restore normal activity for the ... @gmail.com account. There are hundreds of emails on the website for this account but we cannot save any to our PC. I keep getting messages from you about signing in to this account which requires a temporary security code to do so. We receive the code on my wife's cell phone but after it is entered we are asked again for a password which is what is missing in the first place,... OR your system simply tells me that I should get another temporary security code. It's just a big circle that gets me no where. I need to talk to someone in person. My phone number is ... ... ... ... ... p.s. let me know if you need any other form of identification edited sensitive information in this thread from public and search/spam bots view on this community forum. nobody here or at Mozilla does one on one support.

Modified by James

All Replies (2)

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This is not a Thunderbird problem, but an OAUTH2 setup issue for gmail. Your difficulty is not uncommon. I suggest you review this website for assistance: https://www.supertechcrew.com/thunderbird-oauth2-gmail/ Good luck.

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Hi There is a crucial step in sfhowes' instructions - Accept cookies in TB Preferences/Privacy & Security. Are you sure you did turn on the Cookies setting in THunderbird? Please check again. If you do not do that, you will get a loop of repeated requests, because Thunderbird is unable to save the security code once you enter it.