Why are my passwords not saved?
Hello,
(My system: TB Version 52.6.0, Win 10 64 Bit, POP3, no IMAP, Provider 1and1 works with trial profile in Extra TB installation with other user, Windows Defender, otherwise no firewall or antivirus software).
My problem
After moving to a brand new PC and importing the saved profile folder, the address book and all folders are back, but :
No passwords are displayed in the password folder: Therefore, TB cannot send or receive and displays "Timeout" errors.
I tried this in the configuration editor
1.) Why are my passwords not saved? (German): https://www.thunderbird-mail.de/lexicon/entry/119-warum-werden-meine-passw%C3%B6rter-nicht-gespeichert/
The files "signon.rememberSignons" and "signon.remember.Signons.visibilityToggle" were set to "false", now to "true. I saved it to the old state for a test, then back to "true": Without success.
2.) Where are my passwords stored? (German): https://www.thunderbird-mail.de/lexicon/entry/117-wo-werden-meine-passw%C3%B6rter-gespeichert/ (...) Thunderbird's version history has used various technical variants and filenames to store passwords. The current file (version 38.* and also 45.*) is logins.json. Older variants could also still exist in the profile folder: signons.sqlite, signons.txt or xxxxxxxx.s (the x are a random string) (...) I cannot find all four files mentioned above in the configuration editor.
3.) Copy the old profile back to the new profile folder as a trial: Did no good, either.
How can I get TB to ask me for a password again?
Can anyone help? Thank you!
All Replies (8)
No passwords are displayed in the password folder: Therefore, TB cannot send or receive and displays "Timeout" errors.
Your problem is the timeout error. Fix that first. https://support.mozilla.org/kb/cannot-receive-messages
If you have a program like CCleaner which you use on occasions, then you must make sure it is not allowed to scan/have access to any Thunderbird file or folder. It is known that this product and other similar products will delete necessary files such as those storing passwords.
re:No passwords are displayed in the password folder 'Menu icon' > 'Options' > 'Options' > 'Security' > 'Passwords' tab click on 'Saved Passwords' click on 'Show Passwords' Do you see any accounts listed showing mailbox and smtp lines? If no then nothing is stored.
re :The files "signon.rememberSignons" and "signon.remember.Signons.visibilityToggle" were set to "false"
They should be set to 'True'.
If you are prompted to enter password and the checkbox to allow password manager to remember the password is missing then the above two 'signons' need to be set to 'True'.
re :importing the saved profile folder I presume you mean you did one of these methods:
Installed Thunderbird program on new computer, but did not run. Copied the old saved: C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird folder and pasted it into the new computer: C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming folder then started Thunderbird.
OR Installed Thunderbird on new machine and run first time to create a default profile name folder. Opened the saved 'profile name' folder; usually called 'xxxxxxxx.default' where the x's were letters and numbers. C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name> folder. Copied all the files and Folders - all the contents in that profile name folder.
Located and opened the new default profile name folder. Pasted all the old files and folders overwriting the new default with old saved files and folders. Ran Thunderbird.
So you should have these files in the old saved profile name folder which you copied over.
- logins.json
- key3.db
- cert8.db
If you are sure you do not have CCleaner or any other similar cleanup program. You could copy paste those files again, but make sure Thunderbird is closed first.
If still not working.
Q: Are you being prompted for a password? Please read section on: 'Doesn't prompt for a password' at this link: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Password_not_remembered_-_Thunderbird Your popstate.dat file - one per pop account - may be causing the issue. Removing it would only cause a complete redownload of whatever is still in server Inbox.
Hello Toad-Hall,
CCleaner: Yes, from time to time I used this program without spending any attention to passwords in TB.
(...) Do you see any accounts listed showing mailbox and smtp lines? If no then nothing is stored. (...)
As I mentioned above: There are no lines. The window is completely empty. I am unfortunatedly not prompted for any password, that`s the surface of the problem...smile...
Concerning installation: I took the second way. I now checked the old profile on the old PC by means of the registration editor. These files aren`t shown there:
logins.json key3.db cert8.db
I think you're right, Ccleaner shot the passwords.
I'll take a closer look at what I can set in CCleaner. Because it tidies up well. Too well, sometimes. I see it as a sharp cut and a fresh start. Spring cleaning ...smile...
Thank you very much for your help!
CCLeaner is highly likely to be the culprit on this occasion. Some people use CCleaner to clean out files from Mozilla Firefox and CCleaner seems to assume Mozilla Thunderbird needs it as well. It can also clear up session data and other similar files, so it is better to make the Roaming Thunderbird folder exempt to stop it occuring in the future.
What I don't understand: I've been using CCleaner for many years, a few times a month. There were never any problems. Only after my action to copy the profile folder it turned out that _all_TB data and settings are there on the source and the target PC. The "only" thing that doesn't work on the source and target PC now is sending and receiving emails. Somehow the profile was damaged during copying. Thanks for your support. I have accepted that as my fate.
Please check your 'Firewall' which may be part of your Anti-Virus program.
Exit Thunderbird. Access Firewall Thunderbird must be allowed list in order to access internet.
Apart from windows defender I don't use any antivirus- or firewall programs
All Windows OS have a Firewall. In Windows 10 it is turned on by default. Here are a few links you should find helpful.