If you have just installed Thunderbird then make sure the Firewall has Thunderbird as an allowed program.

Exit Thunderbird. Access Firewall which might be default on computer or run by your Anti-Virus software package. Set Thunderbird as allowed program.

Now make sure your Anti-Virus has not switched on a VPN. I use Norton 360 and discovered it had updated and installed a VPN which was auto switched on. It caused problems. So if you have VPN switch it off.

re: He has the latest version (17.0.9)  !!? Thunderbird latest release is version 91.10.0 but it has only just updated from 91.9.1

• https://www.thunderbird.net

You may have heard from gmail to switch on 2 step verification - do not switch that on, it is not required because Thunderbird provides OAuth2 for both pop and imap accounts.

If previously you used POP and this time you set up IMAP - you may need to logon to webmail account and make sure it has been set up to allow IMAP connection. Note POP and IMAP work very differently.

If you set up as IMAP but think you prefer POP. Remove the account you created. Restart Thunderbird and add new existing mail account. When Thunderbird looks for account, it auto sets up as IMAP, so you will need to click on 'Configure Manaully' button to select the correct Server Type with appropriate correct server settings.

You need the following for gmail. Note: you must allow cookies for OAuth2 to work. Thunderbird has made alterations so now both POP and IMAP accounts can use OAuth2 for gmail. check your settings:

• Select 'Menu app icon' (it has 3 horizontal lines) > 'Preferences' > 'Privacy & Security '
• Under 'Web Content'
• Select 'Accept cookies from sites'

It may also be a good idea to make exception:

• Click on 'Exceptions..' button
• Enter: https://accounts.google.com
• Set to 'Allow'
• click on 'Save Changes'

Check settings in Account Settings:

• Right click on gmail pop/imap account name in Folder Pane and select 'Settings'

This opens the Account Settings in new tab The pop/imap account name should be selected Look bottom right for Outgoing Server (SMTP)

• Click on 'Edit Server _SMTP' button

You need these settings:

• Server name = smtp.gmail.com
• Port: 465
• Make sure username is full gmail email address
• Set Authentication Method : OAuth2
• Connection Security: SSL/TLS
• Click on OK

Now check the incoming authentication:

• select 'Server Settings' for gmail account

It depends upon whether you are set up as pop or imap - whatever you initially set up - do not change the server name or port. If you do not want the type you created then you need to remove it and recreate the account correctly.

If Server Type: says POP then you have to use the pop server settings. If Server Type: says IMAP then you have to use the imap server settings.

• Server name will be either: imap.gmail.com or pop.gmail.com
• Port: 993 (imap) OR Port 995 (pop)
• Make sure username is full gmail email address
• Set Authentication Method : OAuth2
• Connection Security: SSL/TLS
• Click on OK

Exit Thunderbird and wait a few moments for background processes to complete Start Thunderbird

Gmail will prompt you to enter gmail email address and normal password you use to access webmail account. Follow instructions. It will ask this to allow Thunderbird to access server.

An Oauth token will get stored in Thunderbird - same place as passwords and from then onwards Thunderbird will use it to access server.

Thanks Toad-Hall

I removed ESR and installed TBird 91. Seemed to find old profile and import mail correctly. Want to use POP access. Main issue is saving passwords. Every time I sync there's a pop-up for Google password via oAuth 2.0. I added an exception under 'Privacy & Security' for https://accounts.google.com/.

There are two email accounts: Google and a local ISP. Should I delete and recreate?

I would first try removing the stored password.

• Menu app icon > Preferences > Privacy and Security
• Under 'Passwords' section
• Click on 'Saved Passwords'
• Select the mailbox and smtp lines and click on 'Remove'.

Restart Thunderbird.

However, it could be a problem with certain files in the old profile. So if the quick try to fix above does not work......

• Menu app icon > Help > More Troubleshooting Information
• Under 'Application Basics' - Profile Folder - click on 'Open Folder'

This opens a new window showing the contents of your current in use profile name folder.

• Exit Thunderbird now - this is important.

Some time ago, it was discovered the pkcs11.txt was causing an issue. The following has fixed recent connection issues.

Look for the following files and delete them.

• cert8.db - obselete file
• key3.db - obselete file
• pkcs11.txt
• secmod.db - obselete file
• session.json
• xulstore.json

NOTE: do NOT delete:

• key4.db
• cert9.db
• logins.json

Start Thunderbird New pkcs11.txt, session.json, xulstore.json files will get created.

Enter email address and normal password at gmail prompt.

Thanks. There are no saved passwords under Preferences > Privacy and Security.

There is also no pkcs11.txt file in the Profile folder (C:\Users\toddn\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\zmzd4819.default)?

Should I delete and recreate POP email accounts?

Recreating the pop account will have no effect. So do not waste time.

re :There is also no pkcs11.txt file in the Profile folder

That would cause a problem.

But please confirm - did you follow the instructions - Exit Thunderbird - delete all the other files I mentioned and then restart Thunderbird.

I just deleted all files you suggested and restarted tbird:

   cert8.db - obselete file
   key3.db - obselete file
   pkcs11.txt (NOT THERE)
   secmod.db - obselete file
   session.json
   xulstore.json

Restarted. Still prompting for both email passwords; no longer accepts ISP. Accepted gmail, wrote both to "saved passwords" under Preferences > Privacy and Security.

Gmail is syncing like it should ... not sure what's wrong with ISP settings now.

pkcs11.txt generated and now in profile folder -- we're close, just need to troubleshoot ISP email settings

Are you sure the benlomand server is still not using any secure methods for incoming and outgoing ?

First confirm you really know the correct password. Logon to your webmail account via a browser to confirm the password is good.

Check: Menu app icon > Preferences > Privacy and Security Under 'Passwords' section Click on 'Saved Passwords' Click on 'Show Passwords'

Check the 'username' it must be the full email address for both mailbox incoming and outgoing smtp. You can use right click on line and select : Edit User name' then clear the contents completely before entering correct email address all lower case.

Do the same with the password to edit it, but first you must be able to access webmail account using that password.

I have the benlomand.net syncing properly -- case-sensitive character in password

main issue now is restoring address book. i've read key files are abook.mab and history.mab?

i backed up profile before uninstalling ESR version, files are: -- abook.mab (23kb) -- history.mab (60kb)

I closed TBird, copied above files to active Profile folder, overwrote what's there, and still no entries in address book.

Thanks in advance.

was able to import mab files thru TBird 91 address book -- thanks for moderator's help today, especially Toad-Hall -- A++++++++++++

Good to hear all is ok.