I cannot get Gmail to work in a new install of Thunderbird on Ubuntu
I am trying to set up a new Thunderbird installation on a new Ubuntu installation. I am trying to set up Gmail but it is not working. I have spent about 16 hours this weekend looking at and trying everything I can find. It seems that most information is for people that had an installation that was affected by recent changes Google made to the login system but that is not what I am trying to do, I am trying to establish a new connection to my Gmail on a new installation of Thunderbird running in a new installation of Ubuntu.
At the Account Setup screen, I enter my password and click Done. It tries to authenticate for several minutes and fails with an error: "Unable to log in at server. Probably wrong configuration, username or password."
IMAP is enabled for this Gmail account 2FA can be on or off, it won't matter. App password fails No password fails Account password fails There are no passwords to delete because no account has been created on this installation of Thunderbird. Thunderbird has cookies enabled. This is a brand new installation of Ubuntu. Some people have said to shut down any servers on Apache. I am not aware that I would have this unless OneDrive hit it and did not release when I removed its installation. On a previous installation of Ubuntu I made for this (yes, seriously, I was not joking about the time I have spent) I tinkered with the advanced settings so I know that they are correct for Gmail. I have not bothered editing the Advanced Settings in Thunderbird while trying to establish my Gmail account on Thunderbird in this installation of Ubuntu, this is how I still have no saved passwords. Enable Less Secure Apps is no longer an option, even though some Google forums still point to it as a solution.
I feel like I am trying to do a very normal thing for way too long and it is not working. These are common things people use and I am trying to use them in a normal way. Google tech support stayed with me for about 2 hours but they were not able to assist.
Please help.
Modified by forreststrutton
All Replies (3)
I think a problem is that you're entering a password. That signals to Gmail that the account is authorized. Leave it blank. Here are the basics:
- change your security authorization to Oauth2 (do this for the incoming server settings and also for the Outgoing (SMTP) server - two places - remove the password entries for the account (remove the entire entries both incoming and outgoing) - that password info is at Tools>Preferences>Privacy&Security - click 'saved passwords' Then click 'show passwords' then highlight the rows with incoming and outgoing gmail servers and click DELete. - check to ensure that TB is set to accept cookies (that setting is just above the Passwords section) - Google will then step you through the authentication process for your PC.
I know the email wizard asks for password, but omit it.
I tried that. (I believe I noted that in my long-winded post
Oauth2 is the default for a new Gmail account setup, which I am doing and it gives. I have tried every combination of app-password, account-password, and no-password at least 5 times. I have also tried disabling 2FA with no effect.
There are no saved passwords on this new installation of Thunderbird in this new installation of Ubuntu. The Google page comes up for other email apps but does not proceed after I provide the credentials it requires. That page does not come up for Thunderbird. I only see the error I described in yellow on the account creation screen.
Modified by forreststrutton
I'm just posting to say this should be simple but I don't have a solution yet. I have to think Mozilla tried installing their software and adding a new account before they released it.
Has anyone tried setting up a new account with Gmail and had success? (Again, NEW account. I'm not migrating anything and there are no saved passwords!) I'm on Ubuntu; any input regarding NEW account setup (on Ubuntu or otherwise) is welcome and needed.
Thanks!