Error accessing nyu.edu email (provided by gmail) from Thunderbird client after nyu password update
Give that I use TB as my desktop client to access my nyu.edu email (provided by google), and that recently I updated my password as periodically requested by nyu admin When I try to access nyu email a pop up screen come up asking to authenticate with imap.gmail.com. I click next and get a 403 Access Forbidden error (Authentication failure while connecting to server imap.gmail.com.)
Solutions I have tried: 1. Clear cookies, history and cache on browsers and TB; 2. Changed default browsers (Ffox, Ch, Edge); 3. Deleted account in TB and created it again using instructions here https://www.nyu.edu/servicelink/KB0016473 4. Accessed my nyu email on browser to check user name and password. It works. I can access the email.
Nothing seems to work. Still get 403 error. As a result I am unable to authenticate and hence use the email account in TB.
Chosen solution
I was able to resolve this issue as explained in my comments here https://github.com/thunderbird/autoconfig/issues/111
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You might try removing old passwords: - click settings>privacy&security - click 'saved passwords' and then 'show passwords' - highlight the rows for the account and delete them. - if that doesn't work, you might delete logins.json, key4.db, and cert9.db within the profile folder as those are used for encrypted passwords.
I deleted all passwords. I deleted all the files you mentioned. I had no trouble connecting to my personal gmail accounts but still no luck connecting to the nyu one. Same error.
ok a quick questions, because I didn't go to university I guess. But what are you entering in authentication method? I read those instructions and really they do not look like they have been reviewed in the last 10 years.
Outlook: 2013 is listed there was another release in 2016. Lightning: Interpreted in version 78 in 2020.
Google require oauth as the authentication method, but I see nothing in those instructions that would see it move from normal password, and that would be in line with them being quite dated. The oAuth requirements are quite recent really. https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6010255?hl=en and https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2023/09/winding-down-google-sync-and-less-secure-apps-support.html
So now we come to the error. A a 403 Access Forbidden error could occur either with oauth or not, but given Google stated intention regarding passwords I am thinking you are not currently trying with an oauth authentication method and need to do so.
Off topic I guess, but is it only students that get @nyu.edu addresses? Are staff faculty somehow identified as such? I am asking because this could be made oh so much easier if the email addresses ending with @nyu.edu were identified by Thunderbird as Google addresses. I could file a bug to have that happen, but really I don't have enough information to support such a global request. So I am looking for more.
I bit the bullet and submitted the report anyway, but anything you can add would be good. https://github.com/thunderbird/autoconfig/issues/111
You might even point the NYU support folk to the report. They might have something to say as well.
Thank you. I entered Oauth2 as authentication method bc that is what I have for my other Gmail accounts. Still does not work. But it is true the I instructuons do not mention this.
Nyu uses Gmail as the back end of their email system for students, faculty, and alumni. On the web you access via email.nyu.edu which brings up an NYU branded authentication page. The same page TB used to bring up. Now it seems to be going to a general Google Page.
NYU uses 2fa so maybe that is an additional complication.
FWIW I have been using nyu email on TB for over 20 years without a problem.
Chosen Solution
I was able to resolve this issue as explained in my comments here https://github.com/thunderbird/autoconfig/issues/111
I am glad one of us had success.