Gmail user/password isn't accepted by thunderbird (64 Characters)
The password and username have been copied - and tested with mail.google.com and its working there.. May it be that thunderbird only allows a specific max length or doesn't allow specific characters? The password looks something like this: .9LubOCdl+q7Wp.70i9;::/WLhvfZ%eD*.pnv9ig#lCMagzB82A#3c2r\@5\z5O1
Chosen solution
Problem solved! I was required to enable "less secure applications" in my account security settings - though don't I understand how thunderbird is a less secure app?!
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From RFC 3501 (IMAP):
Your userid and password are defined as type astring, defined thus:
astring = 1*ASTRING-CHAR / string ASTRING-CHAR = ATOM-CHAR / resp-specials atom = 1*ATOM-CHAR ATOM-CHAR = <any CHAR except atom-specials> atom-specials = "(" / ")" / "{" / SP / CTL / list-wildcards /
quoted-specials / resp-specials
resp-specials = "]" quoted-specials = DQUOTE / "\"
…so your password or userid must not contain any of the atom-specials.
(The definition seems to be self-contradictory in that it both includes and excludes "resp-specials". It looks like ']' is permitted. )
I suspect "list-wildcards" means things like '*' and '?'. I see elsewhere that '%' may present difficulties too.
Thunderbird in common with other email clients uses IMAP, POP and SMTP. If you login in to gmail at their website via your browser, it uses http and there is a very different set of constraints. So characters acceptable in the webmail login may not be permitted via an email client. These are limitations set by the protocols, not specifically Thunderbird.
Try placing quotes around your password. Or using just alphanumerics.
I have now limited the characterset and my password would look something like: i&iK&QD:LiE9vP$UGXmIm3dYt35XS-=0gC0u4!Oc^gtUAGC!tSy^b=fHW^e=B!^^
I excluded any spaces, brackets, minus, underscore and these: ? * . | \ / " ' `
still not working
Alright, this can't be.. I've now reduced my password length to 16 characters and restricted the character set to a-z,A-Z,0-0 ONLY.
copy + paste the working credentials to thunderbird and STILL get the error.
I now assume it's my office's fault. I'll retry with the initial - secure - password at home.
It's a pity one can't edit posts.. so.. update:
I now tried to add a mail.com account - still in the office.. and it works, so it's something with gmail & thunderbird anyway!
Are you using 2-step authentication?
No, plain user/password authentication.
Chosen Solution
Problem solved! I was required to enable "less secure applications" in my account security settings - though don't I understand how thunderbird is a less secure app?!
Google wants you to only connect with applications that use OAuth 2.0. Thunderbird and Microsoft Outlook do not support that.