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

Moving Thunderbird to New PC

  • 10 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 19 views
  • Last reply by david

more options

The hard drive on my PC running Windows 10 crashed and I have a new one running Windows 11. I used Thunderbird on the old PC and am trying to set up Thunderbird on the new PC. My email account is with AOL. When setting up Thunderbird on the new PC, it asks for the password. I am trying to use the AOL password but it does not work. The same password works on other devices. I have no access to the data on the old hard drive. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

The hard drive on my PC running Windows 10 crashed and I have a new one running Windows 11. I used Thunderbird on the old PC and am trying to set up Thunderbird on the new PC. My email account is with AOL. When setting up Thunderbird on the new PC, it asks for the password. I am trying to use the AOL password but it does not work. The same password works on other devices. I have no access to the data on the old hard drive. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

All Replies (10)

more options

Verizon and AOL require an APP password when using email clients on a PC. I believe you must go to the AOL site and select the security page and can set up the APP password there. See this page for more info: https://help.aol.com/articles/Create-and-manage-app-password

more options

According to the documentation you referenced, an APP password is only needed if you have enabled 2 step verification. I have not. My AOL password works on other devices. I think the problem has more to do with the configuration Thunderbird is giving me. Using my desired email address as example@verizon.net , Thunderbird is using the following: Incoming POP3 SSL/TLS

  pop.verizon.net

Outgoing SMPT SSL/TLS

  smpt.verizon.net

Username

  example

I believe when AOL took over the Verizon emails, the POP server became pop.aol.com and the SMPT server became smpt.aol.com Also, I've seen posts that say the username should be example@verizon.net Instead of just example. I've tried all the above combinations and none has worked. Thanks for your help.

more options

Try pop.aol.com and smtp.pop.com (I have verizon account - imap - and it uses imap.aol.com and smtp.aol.com. ) Yes, use full email address.

more options
more options

Tried with the following configuration:

Incoming Server

    Protocol  POP3
    Hostname   pop.aol.com
    Port  995
    Connection Security     SSL/TLS
    Authentication Method   Normal Password
    Username   example@verizon.net

Outgoing Server

    Hostname   smpt.aol.com
    Port   465
    Connection Security    SSL/TLS
    Authentication Method   Normal Password
    Username   example@verizon.net

Error message: Unable to log into server. Probably wrong configuration, username or password. Thanks.

more options

you continully type smpt instead of smtp - is that a simple typo in your text or are you entering that into thunderbird?

more options

Typo. I used smtp.aol.com

more options

THis thread may help, indicating that OAUTH2 may be your solution: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1360869

more options

Thanks, David.

Solution was to change the Authentication Method for the Incoming Server to OAUTH2 instead of normal password. TB then went to the AOL site and allowed me to OK TB getting mail from AOL. This was not very intuitive, and I thank you for your help.

more options

You're welcome. I'll make a note of this because I know the issue will surface again.