This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Accessing Thunderbird

  • 1 reply
  • 0 have this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

more options

I am getting a prompt saying that Thunderbird will set up my existing email account and it searches for my current configuration. It does and finds it and it fails to connect. I then click the enter the information manually and everything is correct and then it fails again saying..."failed to connect to server probably wrong configuration, user name or password" The problem is that all are correct! Please help.

I am getting a prompt saying that Thunderbird will set up my existing email account and it searches for my current configuration. It does and finds it and it fails to connect. I then click the enter the information manually and everything is correct and then it fails again saying..."failed to connect to server probably wrong configuration, user name or password" The problem is that all are correct! Please help.

All Replies (1)

more options

1. Is thunderbird working ok on other mail account or is this the first mail account?

  • Exit Thunderbird
  • Access Firewall
  • Set up Thunderbird program as an allowed program otherwise the firewall may block ports so Thunderbird cannot access server.

2. What server are you trying to connect to ? eg: gmail, yahoo, comcast, BT etc ? In Thunderbird have you set up to allow cookies ?

  • Settings > Privacy & Security
  • Select 'Accept cookies from sites'

Normally you use the same password you use to access webmail. Have you actually logged on to the webmail account to check the password is good? If no then please check the password is good and gets you access to webmail account.

If using Authentication Method : Oauth then you need to switch off 2 step verification and also make sure no other app id using the 'localhost' eg: Apache. If something is using localhost then switch it off until account is set up.

But some servers need other settings selected and some say you have to general a secure mail key or app generated password.

Xfinity requires you select a checkbox to allow thirdy party apps access to server: https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/third-party-email-access

I could be guessing all day long.... So please tell us what server you are trying to access ? What comes after the '@' in your email address?