How are you trying to access you mail? What happens when you try?

I have an icon on my taskbar for Thunderbird to access my inbox.

And the icon is not working? I'm sorry that I don't know how to fix that kind of Windows problem. Can you delete that icon and create a new one? Let's hope that someone else can help.

When I click the icon, I get a screen asking for my name, username, & password, then sends a number to my phone. However, when I verify that number, it fails to connect to my email.

I can connect to my inbox on Xfinity, but not with Thunderbird, which is a bit of a problem as far as my contacts, address lists, and local folders is concerned.

It seems that your issue is with two-factor authentication to access a specific e-mail account. Is that right?

Would you please post a screenshot of the window that asks for your credentials?

Does this help?

Hi Carroll,

That window appears when no profile (user data) exists for Thunderbird to use. It's asking you to set up your accounts. Have you been using Thunderbird or are you trying to use it for the first time?

I would guess that I have been using Thunderbird as my email client for as long as it has been around. So, no I am not a new user trying to set up a new account.

What has changed on your computer lately? Thunderbird update? Windows upgrade? New computer? Kid playing games?

Let's look for your profile that has your accounts and messages. Please do this:

1. When you see that account set-up window, press "Cancel".
2. "Help" menu > "Troubleshooting information".
3. Click on "about:profiles".
4. Take a screen shot of the next window and post it here.

Apparently, the application menu is now hidden by default in Windows, which puzzles me. And Thunderbird calls it a "menu bar toolbar", I guess, which is also odd because it is a menu bar but not a toolbar. If you do not see the menu bar across the top of the screen, press the <alt> key to make it appear.

Carroll, please also go to C:\Users\<YourUserName>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\, if you know your way around the file system, and post a screenshot of the top level of folders.

In the list of folders and files that you see there, there should be a file called "profiles.ini". Would you please open it with a text editor, then copy and paste the text here?

Please see the folders that I have, but no .ini file.

Thanks. Can you open "Profiles" (the file) in a text editor and copy and paste the text here?

[Install8216C80C92C4E828] Default=Profiles/28ax04vg.default Locked=1

[Profile1] Name=default IsRelative=1 Path=Profiles/28ax04vg.default Default=1

[Profile0] Name=default-release IsRelative=1 Path=Profiles/6a2w52b0.default-release

[General] StartWithLastProfile=1 Version=2

Thanks, Carroll.

You have two profiles. Now we want to know if one of them has your accounts and messages. Please do this:

1. Open Thunderbird. If you see the window for setting up an account, click "Cancel".
2. Are your accounts and messages there? I don't think so. Then continue ...
3. "Help" menu > "Troubleshooting information" > "about:profiles".
4. Identify the profile that is *not* in use.
5. Click on "Launch profile in new browser" below the information for that profile.
6. Are your accounts and messages there?

I am guessing that neither profile has your accounts and messages. So ...

Did you ever put a profile in a non-standard location?

What has changed on your computer recently? A Thunderbird upgrade? A new computer? Something else?

Do you have a back-up copy of the profile with your accounts and message (or of your whole drive)? (You should!)

Have you been using local folders in Thunderbird or are all your messages in server folders (accessible through webmail)?

Is your e-mail account a POP or IMAP account? Do you have more than one account? Are they all POP, all IMAP, or a mix?

While we continue working on Thunderbird, can you do what you need to in e-mail through webmail (at your e-mail service provider's site)?

Did you switch from one Thunderbird release channel to another, e. g., from esr to “release”?

I have selected the about profiles, but dn't know how to identify the one "not in use."

Sorry, I see the "in use" profile, but there is no indication that clicking on "Launch Profile" will be in a a new browser, more likely in a new window.

BTW, I am the only user of this computer, use the auto update, and have made no other changes.

I executed the Launch Profile on the one not in use, and it appears as though I am back in business. Should I go to the previous screen and set it as the Default Profile?

Yes. Good work.

Thank you for sticking with me, and for all of your help. I don't know how things got so screwed up, but I really appreciate your help!