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Why can't I login into Yahoo Mail using POP3, while IMAP is working?

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I've just installed thunderbird.

When I try to create an account using POP3 it says "Configuration could not be verified -- is the username or password wrong?"

When I choose IMAP option, I can login as usual without any problem.

I also tried to turn on "Allow apps that use less secure sign in" option in my mail account. It still didn't work.

What's wrong?

I've just installed thunderbird. When I try to create an account using POP3 it says "Configuration could not be verified -- is the username or password wrong?" When I choose IMAP option, I can login as usual without any problem. I also tried to turn on "Allow apps that use less secure sign in" option in my mail account. It still didn't work. What's wrong?

Chosen solution

radelfulsan said

Do I need to upgrade my account to be able to use POP? Why is that?

I would guess you need to generate an application password, that is the most common issue.

See https://help.yahoo.com/kb/generate-third-party-passwords-sln15241.html

IMAP uses a completely different authentication process, so just works out of the box.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (14)

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Do I need to upgrade my account to be able to use POP? Why is that?

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I don't think you have to upgrade for POP access, but you have to enable POP for the account; IMAP is enabled by default.

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Chosen Solution

radelfulsan said

Do I need to upgrade my account to be able to use POP? Why is that?

I would guess you need to generate an application password, that is the most common issue.

See https://help.yahoo.com/kb/generate-third-party-passwords-sln15241.html

IMAP uses a completely different authentication process, so just works out of the box.

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Matt solution strangely work, I don't know why it is. Two years ago I can use POP3 in Yahoo Mail without these steps.

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sfhowes said

I don't think you have to upgrade for POP access, but you have to enable POP for the account; IMAP is enabled by default.

I didn't see any POP and forwarding settings in my mail account, the page you gave me is outdated. Perhaps yahoo had remove it from normal user account.

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radelfulsan said

Matt solution strangely work, I don't know why it is. Two years ago I can use POP3 in Yahoo Mail without these steps.

And in the past couple of years yahoo have placed a whole raft of road blocks in place. It was I suppose in response to having all or nearly all of their users data released on one or another of their hacks. They have to be seen to be doing something.

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I have tried both POP3 and IMAP, neither work on my

yahoo account  ,  and yes i have selected  "Allow apps that use less secure sign in"

"configuration could not be verified - is the username or password wrong?"

No the user name and password are not wrong, it works both via webmail on all browsers and my K9MAIL for my android phone works , so that 3rd party app works fine (K9mail is using username/password authentication, no special generated code is needed.) its only thunderbird that is the issue here.

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mperu99 said

I have tried both POP3 and IMAP, neither work on my yahoo account , and yes i have selected "Allow apps that use less secure sign in" "configuration could not be verified - is the username or password wrong?" No the user name and password are not wrong, it works both via webmail on all browsers and my K9MAIL for my android phone works , so that 3rd party app works fine (K9mail is using username/password authentication, no special generated code is needed.) its only thunderbird that is the issue here.

Are you asking or answering?

What K-9 Mail protocol that you are using? IMAP or POP3?

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mperu99 said

I have tried both POP3 and IMAP, neither work on my yahoo account , and yes i have selected "Allow apps that use less secure sign in" "configuration could not be verified - is the username or password wrong?" No the user name and password are not wrong, it works both via webmail on all browsers and my K9MAIL for my android phone works , so that 3rd party app works fine (K9mail is using username/password authentication, no special generated code is needed.) its only thunderbird that is the issue here.

Are you asking or answering?

What K-9 Mail protocol that you are using? IMAP or POP3?

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radelfulsan said

mperu99 said
I have tried both POP3 and IMAP, neither work on my yahoo account , and yes i have selected "Allow apps that use less secure sign in" "configuration could not be verified - is the username or password wrong?" No the user name and password are not wrong, it works both via webmail on all browsers and my K9MAIL for my android phone works , so that 3rd party app works fine (K9mail is using username/password authentication, no special generated code is needed.) its only thunderbird that is the issue here.

Are you asking or answering?

What K-9 Mail protocol that you are using? IMAP or POP3?

I was asking... I was using MX-LINUX 18.3 , switched over to Linux Mint 19.2 and it works.. fine, so its thunderbird in MX Linux 18.3

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mperu99 said

I was asking... I was using MX-LINUX 18.3 , switched over to Linux Mint 19.2 and it works.. fine, so its thunderbird in MX Linux 18.3

Okay, so you are using Thunderbird on MX-LINUX but it didn't work, then you're using Thunderbird on Linux Mint, and it did work.

What protocol are you using when using the Thunderbird? IMAP or POP3?

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That is correct, works with Linux Mint but not on MX-LINUX , using IMAP, but also tried POP, both protocols work on Linux Mint, but not on MX-Linux.

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mperu99 said

That is correct, works with Linux Mint but not on MX-LINUX , using IMAP, but also tried POP, both protocols work on Linux Mint, but not on MX-Linux.

Umm, I don't really know the reason well and how to fix it, since I'm not using it on both the operating systems as you said.

But, if you want to really know the answer, please ask a new question instead of disscussing it here, there'll be someone answer it I think if you make a new thread.