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Authentication failure at log in to yahoo email from Thunderbird

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Accessing my yahoo email with Thunderbird have worked fine for several months. Now I cannot log in. Yahoo mail is not accessible from the web either. But the web login works fine from Windows. I tried to change authentication method from OAuth2 to password but that didn't help. When I start Thunderbird there is either a dialogue which requires password or a window (see added picture) with a long string at the top of the window. That string cannot be edited. The rest of the window is empty.

Accessing my yahoo email with Thunderbird have worked fine for several months. Now I cannot log in. Yahoo mail is not accessible from the web either. But the web login works fine from Windows. I tried to change authentication method from OAuth2 to password but that didn't help. When I start Thunderbird there is either a dialogue which requires password or a window (see added picture) with a long string at the top of the window. That string cannot be edited. The rest of the window is empty.
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Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 25 Contributor

Check Help Article as there are recent changes:

Please check the following which has always applied but ensure nothing has altered. On computer: Firewall: Access Firewall - it might be the defaulton computer or controlled by an Anti-Virus prgram. Set up Thunderbird program as 'allowed' so nothing gets blocked. Confirm Thunderbird is set up as allowed program.

VPN: Check computer for a VPN. Some Anti-Virus products now offer a VPN and I have come across some people who did not realise one had been enabled. Switch off VPN (or create split tunnelling and set it up for Thunderbird to use). Many servers do not like VPN as it atempts to hide your IP address, so server decides you might be hacker so it auto blocks access. Confirm VPN is switched off

Localhost: Do you have anything using the localhost? People who manage websites may typically use eg: Apache Xampp. You need to switch of any program using the localhost whilst setting up gmail. You can enable it again afterwards. I had to switch off Apache Xampp. Confirm nothing is using localhost.

In Thunderbird

  • Settings > Privacy & Security
  • Web Content
  • Select 'Accept cookies from sites'
  • Click on 'Exceptions' button
  • Enter data such as: yahoo.com, aol.com or att.com.
  • Click on 'Allow
  • Click on 'Save Changes'

Whilst in that area - scroll to Passwords section

  • click on 'Saved Passwords'
  • If you see any mention of the account/username - select the relevant lines and click on 'Remove'. You may have an oauth line and/or imap line and possibly smtp line.
  • Click on Close

In 'Account Settings' check both incoming and outgoing 'Authentication Method' is set as 'Oauth2'

then Exit Thunderbird - wait a few moments for background processes to complete - restart Thunderbird.

You should get asked for password by yahoo and then asked to allow Thunderbird.

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