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Thunderbird stopped accepting Primary Password

  • 5 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 962 views
  • Last reply by pawlub

p.sherburn
p.sherburn
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Hello,

This morning when I opened Thunderbird it wouldn't accept my master/primary password. I've used the same one for years, so I know I've not forgotten it. Plus it worked yesterday!

Only thing that seems to have changed is the update to Thunderbird 91.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Hello, This morning when I opened Thunderbird it wouldn't accept my master/primary password. I've used the same one for years, so I know I've not forgotten it. Plus it worked yesterday! Only thing that seems to have changed is the update to Thunderbird 91. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Chosen solution

See https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/protect-your-thunderbird-passwords-master-password#w_resetting-your-master-password-if-you-have-forgotten-it

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (5)

John_FW
John_FW
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I am trying to help a friend who is beginning to suffer from Alzheimers. He has a 6 years old laptop with WIN 10 and uses Thunderbird as his email client. Since 22nd October he has been unable to use Thunderbird because it keeps demanding a PRIMARY PASSWORD. He has never set one. I have spent the best part of two half days trying to deal with his problems without success. I suspect that some APP on his PC is the problem, but he has so many, and so little memory of what has been done that the task is very difficult! No matter what we did the PRIMARP PASSWORD box kept reappearing. In ultimate frustration I used the WIN 10 APPS option in SETTINGS to remove both Firefox and Thunderbird. I I then downloaded and reinstalled Thunderbird - but found that it STILL asked for a PRIMARY PASSWORD!! We tried the nuclear option of creating a PRIMARY PASSWORD, but it still wouldn't accept it! So I tried to delete the PRIMARY PASSWORD. But it wouldn't recognise the PRIMARY PASSWORD I had set either!! He is using a paid for version of AVAST by the way I wonder what can be done next? His email is fine by the way - if I check it on webmail on my own kit HELP PLEASE

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 25 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

See https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/protect-your-thunderbird-passwords-master-password#w_resetting-your-master-password-if-you-have-forgotten-it

p.sherburn
p.sherburn Question owner
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Thanks @sfhowes that did the trick

pawlub
pawlub
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Hi, I went through the Primary Password Reset procedure, but Thunderbird is still asking for a password.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/protect-your-thunderbird-passwords-primary-password?redirectslug=protect-your-thunderbird-passwords-master-password&redirectlocale=en-US#w_resetting-your-master-password-if-you-have-forgotten-it

Please assist me with this problem.

/Paul

pawlub
pawlub
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Sorry, my bad, I have resolved this issue.