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Instructions for TBsync

  • 14 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 12 views
  • Last reply by athegn

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I see that gContactSync is obsolete.

So added TBsync. Looked in Tools Sync Settings (TbSync) but confused.

Add new account. What does that mean my Gmail account?

I get CalDAV and Exchange what do these means.

Are there a set of instructions on how to sync my gmail contacts with Thunderbird as gContactSync did?

Any advice please?

I see that gContactSync is obsolete. So added TBsync. Looked in Tools Sync Settings (TbSync) but confused. Add new account. What does that mean my Gmail account? I get CalDAV and Exchange what do these means. Are there a set of instructions on how to sync my gmail contacts with Thunderbird as gContactSync did? Any advice please?

All Replies (14)

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See https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1311530#answer-1363746

You may have to double-click extensions.dav4tbsync.googlesupport to true in Config. editor (Edit/Preferences/General/Indexing).

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Sorry I am not understanding this.

"You may have to double-click extensions.dav4tbsync.googlesupport to true in Config. editor (Edit/Preferences/General/Indexing)."

I cannot find "extensions.dav4tbsync.googlesupport" in Thunderbird

I also read that TBsync may not support Google in Thunderbird.

Any more advice please?

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The preference isn't defined until the two add-ons are installed.

TbSync/Provider for CalDAV &CardDAV are currently working here for Google. Card Book is another option for Google Contacts.

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Sorry for being so thick but still cannot get much further. I used to understand some of this a long time ago; now an old man so struggle.

Now at dialog asking for

Account Name: say friendly so I call it TBSync? User name: I use my normal user name? Password: make up a password?

URL of what server. As trying to sync Google contact the gmail server?

More advice please?

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The Account Name can be Google or TBSync or whatever name you want for the address book. The user name is your gmail address, the password is your gmail account password. If you have switched the preference to true, and selected Google after Add new account/CalDAV & CardDAV, the URL is entered automatically.

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Still having problems. No contact Sync.

did this:

"You may have to double-click extensions.dav4tbsync.googlesupport to true in Config. editor (Edit/Preferences/General/Indexing)."

Add account selected https://accounts.google.com

Account Name: Contacts via TBSync

In dialog box:- User name: my gmail address (copy/paste from password wallet) Password: my gmail password (copy/paste from password wallet)

CalDAV server adddress https://apidata.googleusercontent.com/caldav/v2/

CardDAV server address https://www.googleapis.com/.well-known

press Finish

Synchronization status

General check "Enable and synchronize this account"

Check "Contacts"

Press Synchronize now

Account "Contacts via TBSync" now with green tick

Look in Tools > Address Book "Contacts via TBSync" does not show?

Reboot laptop then re open Thunderbird get message:-

"Authentication failure while connecting to server imap.gmail.com"


Sorry but still require advice please.

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Still having problems. No contact Sync.

did this:

"You may have to double-click extensions.dav4tbsync.googlesupport to true in Config. editor (Edit/Preferences/General/Indexing)."

Add account selected https://accounts.google.com

Account Name: Contacts via TBSync

In dialog box:- User name: my gmail address (copy/paste from password wallet) Password: my gmail password (copy/paste from password wallet)

CalDAV server adddress https://apidata.googleusercontent.com/caldav/v2/

CardDAV server address https://www.googleapis.com/.well-known

press Finish

Synchronization status

General check "Enable and synchronize this account"

Check "Contacts"

Press Synchronize now

Account "Contacts via TBSync" now with green tick

Look in Tools > Address Book "Contacts via TBSync" does not show?

Reboot laptop then re open Thunderbird get message:-

"Authentication failure while connecting to server imap.gmail.com"

Sorry but still need more help

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Sorry about the double post

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After you entered your User Name and password, you should have seen a browser window asking to authorize access by TB (OAuth2 authentication). If you didn't, it's probably because cookies aren't allowed in TB Options/Privacy & Security, or the 'password wallet' is interfering with the TB password manager (unless the wallet is just a passive storage app with no automatic effects).

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NOTE "Authentication failure while connecting to server imap.gmail.com"

happens whether or Synchronized account is present or not i.e. delete this and reopen Thunderbird still gets this message, then setup sync account again and still get this message; maybe red herring for the sync process.


"Dialog opens "TbSync account <Contacts vika TBSync. request authoirization"

User name: my gmail address (copy/paste from password wallet) Password: my gmail password (copy/paste from password wallet)

Note wallet in edit mode so just text for copy/paste i.e. passive storage

New dialog

Provider for CalDAV & CardDAV wants to access your Google Account

This will allow Provider for CalDAV & CardDAV to edit etc Contacts and Calendar

Press Allow

then as in previous post

Contacts now has Status "Lightning: Contacts via TBSync (Contacts)"

CalDAV server adddress https://apidata.googleusercontent.com/caldav/v2/

CardDAV server address https://www.googleapis.com/.well-known

press Finish

Synchronization status

General check "Enable and synchronize this account"

Check "Contacts"

Press Synchronize now

Account "Contacts via TBSync" now with green tick

Look in Tools > Address Book "Contacts via TBSync" does not show?

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If you get an error message connecting to imap.gmail.com, the authentication for the gmail IMAP account is incorrect, or you haven't completed the OAuth2 process. Check the server settings on the mail account.

The attached picture shows my TBSync settings which sync the Address Book (Google Contacts) with the Google address book in TB Address Book. The Contacts resource is not needed because I don't have the Google calendar synced (the 4th resource).

Modified by sfhowes

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My setup shows the same; see image. https://user-media-prod-cdn.itsre-sumo.mozilla.net/uploads/images/2020-12-21-02-45-56-ae8e07.png

When I look through Options > Password I see the URLs of all the accounts. Not one is "imap.gmail.com" The nearest is "imap.googlemail.com" for mine and my wife's gmail accounts

For "oauth" I have:-

"chrome://gContactsSync/oauth" - the now defunct gContacts

"oauth://accounts.google.com (https://mail.google.com) - for one other gmail account, also now now longer used, and my gmail account

"oauth:my gmail account.com (Google Calendar Oauth Token)

so 4 oauth entries.

I also have:-

TbSync#4 (TbSync/DAV) - no URL.

I cannot tell what paswords are used as it seems all gmail password are encrypted. defunct gContacts encryption start with 1/*.

The three "oauth" starts with 1//*

TbSync#4 starts with "{"access":"*

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As you can see in my picture, the Address Book Resource has to be checked to sync with Google Contacts.

Authentication for imap.gmail.com is the same as for imap.googlemail.com. Remove all the items from Saved Passwords, restart TB, enter the passwords when prompted. This will omit any obsolete accounts or disabled add-ons.

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Thank you.

All now working