Thunderbird not connecting to Gmail "Unable to log in at server. Probably wrong configuration, username or password"
I have been using Thunderbird for ages now with no problem, but I suddenly realised that no recent emails were appearing from my Gmail account. I have tried everything suggested on line to resolve the problem, including uninstalling and reinstalling Thunderbird, and deleting and re-entering my acccount details but neither the IMAP or SMTP servers will connect to Gmail. I have reset all of the server settings on Thunderbird, and have checked that Gmail is IMAP compliant (which, apparently, is is now automatically). I have spent hours trying to sort this out and am just at the point of abandoning Thunderbird completely, but I am loathe to do so if there is a solution. The latest error message i have received is "Unable to log in at server. Probably wrong configuration, username or password" but I don't know what else I can check or change.
Modified by Wayne Mery
All Replies (5)
A few more thoughts. Are you trying to use an app password for Gmail instead of your main account password? Are you using 2-factor authentication? If so, what is your 2nd factor? Are you using a passkey for your Google account?
I only have a single Google password which is used to open Gmail from Firefox. If I am signed out of my Google account, when I click on Gmail I am asked to choose which account to open. I select my email account and it opens without further verification. Certain other apps that I use, such as ebay, do use two factor authentication, usually by a code sent to my phone and to my tablet. As I have mentioned before, my Gmail account shows that Thunderbird has permission to access my emails, so the problem definitely seems to be that Gmail will not recognise the link between to two.
Hi Chris (again), Just tried opening my Windows 11 in Safe mode with Networking again and have just realised that there is no internet connection. Surely I need that to try and establish the link to Gmail. If so, how do I establish an internet connection in Safe mode?
Just tried opening my Windows 11 in Safe mode with Networking again and have just realised that there is no internet connection.
Presumably you're connecting to your Internet Router via WLAN. The Windows WLAN driver is disabled in safe mode as well. So you'd need to use a wired connection to your router.
I only have a single Google password which is used to open Gmail from Firefox.
You explicitly mentioned Firefox here. The password you use in Firefox is also the one you should use in Thunderbird for that Gmail account. Is this what you're doing?
when I click on Gmail I am asked to choose which account to open. I select my email account and it opens without further verification.
So is this still what you're seeing when logging into your Gmail account using Firefox? There is no password prompt?
my Gmail account shows that Thunderbird has permission to access my emails
This is when you're logged into your Google account via Firefox, and you're checking your Google account settings? Since you deleted your Gmail account in Thunderbird you can remove the entry for Thunderbird being allowed to access your Gmail account in Google account settings. The permission for Thunderbird to access your Gmail account will be restored once you successfully authenticated to your account using Thunderbird.
Also see https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1572104 May be you're missing an authentication prompt when attempting to authenticate using Thunderbird?
Modified by christ1
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