Thunderbird Authenication Failure When Located Somewhere Other than my Home
I use Thunderbird on a Macbook Pro, OS 10.15.6, Safari Version 14.0, to retrieve email from several Gmail accounts. I have the gmail settings set to allow less secure apps (i.e. Thunderbird) and I have NO problems downloading my emails when I am on my home internet wireless.
My problem is that whenever I try to retrieve my Gmail emails on my laptop when I am not using my home wireless, I get the dreaded cannot log in to server, sending of password failed, and please enter a new password for each of my Gmail accounts. This occurs for all my Gmail accounts. When I log directly into Gmail using either Safari or Firefox browsers, I can access the accounts directly. In each of the accounts appears an email from Google stating they have blocked an unknown log-in attempt. Even when I acknowledge that it was me, it still won't allow me to access Gmail using Thunderbird until I return to using my home wireless internet connection.
This has happened when I am using someone else's home wireless and it happened with using a secured wireless internet host at a state park. In both situations, everything else with my internet works fine. I'd like to be able to retrieve my emails on Thunderbird without having to physically be on my home internet!
Chosen solution
See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Using_Gmail_with_Thunderbird_and_Mozilla_Suite
Cookies must be allowed for at least *.google.com for the OAuth2 authentication to work. Click Exceptions.
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (15)
You should be able to access the account through any network if you have the correct settings, such as imap.gmail.com on port 993, smtp.gmail.com on port 465; for both servers: SSL/TLS security, OAuth2 authentication, User Name = email address. What are your settings, and are you using a VPN away from home?
I use POP settings for retrieving my Gmail because I only retrieve these emails to one device. So your solution does not answer my issue but thank you.
The question remains: what are your settings? For POP, the incoming server is pop.gmail.com on port 995, but the rest is the same.
Can someone tell me how to ask a question? I saw a button for it somewhere, but now I can't find it.
All of the accounts are set up for pop.gmail.com, port 995.
Forgot to answer your other question. No, I do not use any VPNs.
'Authentication failure' means the User Name, password or authentication method is wrong. Once more: what is the authentication method?
Authentication for pop.gmail.com, port 995, is SSL/TLS, Normal Password (because OAuth2 has never worked) and the outgoing settings are smtp.gmail.com, port 587, Normal Password, STARTTLS
Is this enough information? This is how all the Gmail accounts are set up on the Thunderbird app.
btw... Thunderbird version 78.3.2 (64-bit) and no add-ons.
Modified by sedminster
Change the authentication to OAuth2 on both the incoming and outgoing, check that cookies are allowed in TB Options/Privacy & Security (not your browser), remove the passwords in Options/Privacy & Security/Passwords/Saved Passwords, restart TB, enter the account password in the OAuth window when prompted.
Couple of questions: 1. The information you just provided...Is there a link to your instructions somewhere in Mozilla Thunderbird Support? (None of the setup instructions I found included the information you just provided.) 2. Am I correct that I am forced to allow cookies on Thunderbird for this to work? 3. Can I disable third party cookies or, alternatively, set it to "From Visited" instead of "Always" and still have this work?
Couple of questions: 1. The information you just provided...Is there a link to your instructions somewhere in Mozilla Thunderbird Support? (None of the setup instructions I found included the information you just provided.) 2. Am I correct that I am forced to allow cookies on Thunderbird for this to work? 3. Can I disable third party cookies or, alternatively, set it to "From Visited" instead of "Always" and still have this work?
Couple of questions: 1. The information you just provided...Is there a link to your instructions somewhere in Mozilla Thunderbird Support? (None of the setup instructions I found included the information you just provided.) 2. Am I correct that I am forced to allow cookies on Thunderbird for this to work? 3. Can I disable third party cookies or, alternatively, set it to "From Visited" instead of "Always" and still have this work?
Sorry if this posts several times - suddenly when I try to respond my post disappears.
Couple of questions: 1. The information you just provided...Is there a link to your instructions somewhere in Mozilla Thunderbird Support? (None of the setup instructions I found included the information you just provided.) 2. Am I correct that I am forced to allow cookies on Thunderbird for this to work? 3. Can I disable third party cookies or, alternatively, set it to "From Visited" instead of "Always" and still have this work?
Chosen Solution
See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Using_Gmail_with_Thunderbird_and_Mozilla_Suite
Cookies must be allowed for at least *.google.com for the OAuth2 authentication to work. Click Exceptions.