SMTP password problem
I am a BT customer, Windows 10, Norton antivirus (via BT), Duckduckgo browser. I have three email acounts with Thunderbird. Recently, I cannot accurately remember the details, I have been unable to send from my default email. It receives mail and the other two accounts send and receive normally. The failed send prompts an error message about SMTP password. I usually use Mozilla prompted passwords but recently manually changed passwords in my BT account whilst trying to resolve the issue. Mail sent from within the MyBT webpage is delivered properly. The settings information for SMTP merely states the password as "the normal password" and I have no idea what it is using. I tried the approach suggested by one respondent of creating a duplicate default address and re-entering the password manually but this was not allowed by the system. I have tried uninstalling and re-installing Thunderbird in the hope that it would update to the correct password but without success. I don't want to delete my default adress for fear of ending up with loss of information. Is there a way of finding what password SMTP is accessing and changing it?
Chosen solution
I have tried uninstalling and re-installing Thunderbird in the hope that it would update to the correct password but without success.
You've been wasting your time. Profile files are stored separately from the Thunderbird program files. The program files are static and do not change (except when you upgrade the Thunderbird application version). Because we store profile and program files separately, you can uninstall Thunderbird without losing your messages and settings, and if something goes wrong with a Thunderbird update your information will still be available. It also means that you don't have to reinstall Thunderbird in order to delete your information or troubleshoot a problem.
I usually use Mozilla prompted passwords but recently manually changed passwords in my BT account
What does this mean? Are you saying you enter the password manually every time you're prompted to? Or did you tell Thunderbird to remember the password and send it automatically every time it's needed?
In the latter case try to delete the SMTP password for the BT account Thunderbird has remembered. At the top right of the Thunderbird window, click the menu button ≡ > Settings > Privacy & Security > Saved Passwords > Show Passwords.
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (2)
Chosen Solution
I have tried uninstalling and re-installing Thunderbird in the hope that it would update to the correct password but without success.
You've been wasting your time. Profile files are stored separately from the Thunderbird program files. The program files are static and do not change (except when you upgrade the Thunderbird application version). Because we store profile and program files separately, you can uninstall Thunderbird without losing your messages and settings, and if something goes wrong with a Thunderbird update your information will still be available. It also means that you don't have to reinstall Thunderbird in order to delete your information or troubleshoot a problem.
I usually use Mozilla prompted passwords but recently manually changed passwords in my BT account
What does this mean? Are you saying you enter the password manually every time you're prompted to? Or did you tell Thunderbird to remember the password and send it automatically every time it's needed?
In the latter case try to delete the SMTP password for the BT account Thunderbird has remembered. At the top right of the Thunderbird window, click the menu button ≡ > Settings > Privacy & Security > Saved Passwords > Show Passwords.
Modified by christ1
Thank you, your reply has helped resolve the issue but not by the method suggested. I followed the instructions to show the passwords. While there was an imap password listed for the last date of password update, the SMTP password and date were not updated. I had not previously been aware that I could edit this section. Editing the password to the current one has solved the problem although it is still shown as taking pace at the historic date. Re your question about manual entry, normally when I am asked for a password I let Firefox/Thunderbird create one. When updating my web and email and because BT had two passwords with the same username, I wanted to see what was happening and didn't want the hassle of having to record 16 characters, so entered each manually, it seemed a sensible idea at the time.