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.

Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

New Yahoo Passwor Rejected

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 83 views
  • Last reply by theedgesite

theedgesite
theedgesite
more options

I have loved and used Thunderbird for years after finally replacing good old Eudora. I recently had to change my Yahoo password for security reasons. I followed all the Thunderbird instructions on how to update my password, from options, to security, to show password, to delete password, reboot and entering my new password when prompted, and then save to password manager. But the new password is rejected when trying to download mail. Nothing else has changed. I've spent many, many hours with no success. The new, correct Yahoo password is now in Thunderbird. It is a long story, but for several reasons, I still use and must use Version 52.9.1, Mozilla 5.0. Therefore, some of the suggestions I've found online do not work with my older version. I can read my emails on Yahoo, but need to download them to Thunderbird for historical and management purposes. Any help much appreciated!

I have loved and used Thunderbird for years after finally replacing good old Eudora. I recently had to change my Yahoo password for security reasons. I followed all the Thunderbird instructions on how to update my password, from options, to security, to show password, to delete password, reboot and entering my new password when prompted, and then save to password manager. But the new password is rejected when trying to download mail. Nothing else has changed. I've spent many, many hours with no success. The new, correct Yahoo password is now in Thunderbird. It is a long story, but for several reasons, I still use and must use Version 52.9.1, Mozilla 5.0. Therefore, some of the suggestions I've found online do not work with my older version. I can read my emails on Yahoo, but need to download them to Thunderbird for historical and management purposes. Any help much appreciated!

Chosen solution

Since you don't use a version of TB that supports Yahoo's preferred authentication method, OAuth2, generate an app password and use that in place of the account password in TB:

https://help.yahoo.com/kb/mail/generate-third-party-passwords-sln15241.html

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (3)

Matt
Matt
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

lets back up a step... is thus a yahoo.com email address or one provided to say ATT customers. The advice differs you see.

If it is a real yahoo address using yahoo server names the simple answer is you need to change the authentication method used for both the incoming server and the outgoing server (SMTP) to oAuth. The use of "Normal Password" is not longer supported by yahoo in any practical sense. You can use Normal password with a mail key, but I would not recommend it. oAuth just works as long as the default cookie settings have remained, otherwise cookies have to be turned on.

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 25 Contributor
more options

Chosen Solution

Since you don't use a version of TB that supports Yahoo's preferred authentication method, OAuth2, generate an app password and use that in place of the account password in TB:

https://help.yahoo.com/kb/mail/generate-third-party-passwords-sln15241.html

theedgesite
theedgesite Question owner
more options

For sfhowes,

Your recommendation worked perfectly. After many , many hours of searching for an answer to my problem, you had it. All working great again. Thank you!