Have you checked to see the passwords are no longer listed?

I see lots of folks in these forums screaming about Thunderbird updating and asking for passwords and not getting mail. All they have to do is get rid pof their "internet security suite" that is breaking connectivity for the new version. I mess around in it authorizing a new version of the software.

There was a bug some time ago, a year or two perhaps where one had to delete the pk11.txt file from the user profile. This was a but initiated by the Thunderbird install being cancelled while the update was asking for an account password. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1505038

But I really have no idea if you are here to vent or are actually seeking assistance as you do not mention anything about the version of the software you are using.

Could you please do the following:

1. Open the menu > Help > Troubleshooting Information, then click Copy text to Clipboard.
2. Go to https://pastebin.com and paste the info from your Troubleshooting Information page, then copy the resulting URL.
3. Open a reply to this post, and paste the link to your troubleshooting information.

Next, we'll need you to provide answers to the following question:

• Does Thunderbird work in Thunderbird Safe mode?
• Do you use anti-virus and firewall software? What is the version?

The passwords for email were erased from the Password Manager.

There is no 'internet security suite' preventing Thunderbird from recalling the passwords, they were just *gone* from Thunderbird.

The install was not cancelled during install, nor did the install ask me for an account password. Only restarting Thunderbird after the install did it suddenly ask me for passwords it previously had stored. They were just wiped, no longer remembered.

None of it was caused by firewall or antivirus. The passwords were just erased from Thunderbird's stored passwords. Gone.

Since I had to get into my email, I re-entered them all manually after I was able to remember what they probably were, with trial and error.

But I don't appreciate Thunderbird just LOSING them.

UPDATED: Sorry, I've just read this: Since I had to get into my email, I re-entered them all manually after I was able to remember what they probably were, with trial and error. Do I presume you have reinstated the passwords and therefore no longer have an issue? If yes, then please ignore earlier request for info etc.

what Operating System you are using?

I updated T-bird finally, was easily a year behind, maybe more, as I don't bother to update it much. what version of Thunderbird were you using prior to updating Thunderbird? what version of Thunderbird are you currently using?

Did you uninstall the older Thunderbird before updating to new thunderbird or just used the Help > About Thunderbird to update? If the latter, did you need to perform several updates to get to whatever version you are using now?

As you may have been using a version prior to version 60, it is possible you may have been effected by the changes from legacy NSS database files cert8.db and key3.db to newer SQLite database files cert9.db and key4.db files.

In Thunderbird Help > Troubleshooting Information click on 'Open Folder' button A new window opens showing the contents of your profile name folder.

Exit Thunderbird now.

Locate and delete this file: pkcs11.txt

Start Thunderbird.

Please report back on results

I updated to 68.1.0 as per instructions when opening whatever version I had (no idea). It installed a COMPLETELY NEW VERSION and wiped out EVERYTHING. It wants my password which I don't know. I only had one, no master password. Running Windows 10. I guess I have to change the password now (because I have a record of it - it was set up many many years ago and just worked). But that won't help me with anything except to get the emails that are on the server! I am older and don't do any emails on any device but my computer... so I had local folders etc. I was not fully IMAP. It wasn't important (since I didn't expect an update to wipe it out) and a big issue for me to change.

I DO NOT EXPECT AN UPDATE TO REPLACE EVERYTHING, essentially putting me back to ground ZERO. There are no update logs or anything past the point that this was installed (a few hours ago). I am seriously considering a complete redo and another email client (even though I've used Thunderbird for at least a decade). This is just completely unacceptable.

I tried your advice (thank you) and it made zero difference. Also, simply changing my password will not solve my problem!!! But it will make me functional from now forward. Should I choose to use this

BUT I HAVE LOST A LOT OF MAIL and specifically, my folders. I just can't believe it! I can't wrap my head around it. I keep thinking there must be a way to get back to where I was. Isn't there an UNDO button for failed installs?