Can't get thunderbird 38.6 to allow pop3 connection to gmail account
Perfectly functional pop3 gmail accounts stopped working. Error console had a message about "server certifications" having the same number. Talked to university OIT about the problem. He suggested I delete both accounts from Thunderbird and re-install them. Now Thunderbird will not allow me to re-install either account as a pop account. I can install as an IMAP account, but I would rather have pop. All settings match the TB FAQ for switching from IMAP to POP. All settings match gmail's recommended settings for using TB, EXCEPT that "Use Authentication" does not seem to be an option in TB.
Password and username for the account are correct; IMAP works fine and I can log into the account from my browser with no trouble.
Can anyone help me get my functional pop back?
All Replies (7)
Error console had a message about "server certifications" having the same number.
What is the exact error message? What number?
He suggested I delete both accounts from Thunderbird and re-install them.
That's not necessarily good advice, as it makes your existing mail inaccessible.
Now Thunderbird will not allow me to re-install either account as a pop account.
Care to mention what prevents you from re-installing the accounts?
Also see https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6010255?hl=en
Sorry -- don't remember the exact error number, and now they've all disappeared since I deleted the accounts.
As to deleting the accounts, hindsight is pretty much useless in this situation.
When I try to re-install, I get this error message in the advanced config page: "Thunderbird has failed to find the settings for your email account."
The error console says: Source file: resource:///modules/errUtils.js Error: an error occurred during a connection to pop.gmail.com:995. You have received an invalid certificate. Please contact the server adminstrator or email correspondent and give them the following information: Your certificate contains the same serial number as another certificate issued by the certificate authority. Please get a new certificate containing a unique serial number. (Error code: sec_error_reused_issuer_and_serial)
As to "Also see https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6010255?hl=en", I have already done that too, and it is set for allowing less secure apps. I had to change that setting when I first started using TB.
Error code: sec_error_reused_issuer_and_serial
How do you connect to the Internet? Is this a corporate network? Do you use a proxy? Is a proxy configured in Thunderbird? What security software do you run (anti-virus/firewall)? Did you scan your computer for malware? Can you access secure sites with your browser? If so, what is your browser?
How do you connect to the Internet?
At work I connect to the university wifi via eduroam. At home I use my cellphone as a hot spot and connect via wifi. The problem is the same on both networks.
Is this a corporate network? The cell phone is GCI. The university network could be considered corporate, I guess. In any case, the problem is the same on both.
Do you use a proxy? Is a proxy configured in Thunderbird?
Just smtp, ssl, which the google server specifies. I don't think I've ever set one up.
What security software do you run (anti-virus/firewall)? Did you scan your computer for malware?
AVAST Mac Security 2015. Web shield is inactive right now. The program is supposed to be actively scanning in real time, but I just ran a scan, which shows no infections.
Can you access secure sites with your browser? If so, what is your browser?
Yes, I can access secure sites. I use Firefox and Safari.
https://wiki.mozilla.org/Thunderbird:Testing:Antivirus_Related_Performance_Issues#AVAST is actually specific to TB 2016 and Windows, but with this clue I found https://www.avast.com/faq.php?article=AVKB72#idt_11, which solved my problem.
Thanks.