Didn't they add a description to this field in settings? There should be something like this: A Primary Password protects all your passwords. Plus a link to this article: Protect your Thunderbird passwords with a Primary Password

Hi again, thanks for spending some time on this issue. I might be under the wrong impression that this primairy password blocks all access. That is what I expect from a password as such. As you can see I had this configured (sorry it's all Dutch) but when changing it, it says that it protects other passwords and so on, not that is blocks all access to the program as I expect it to do. -> so end conclusion, my mistake for expecting too much. Maybe reconsider if "password" is the right word to use in this context. Should it be "security code for all passwords" or something that does not give the impression your texts are safe for all other eyes than your own, like I have been thinking for years!!!

The issue is basically everyone thinks user access control should be on a per application basis. Fundamantally this might have some merit on shared computers where the user has no user account to protect them, but that is not really a Thunderbird issue. It is an overall security issue.

Hence when told Thunderbird's primary password only encrypts and protects their saved passwords they are ready to try and argue the point that it should do more. Personally I can't think of anything sillier. But it is a popular view. You might want to share in on the feedback forum where others have already suggested their idea as to what should happen. https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/ideas/primary-password-was-master-password-to-block-access-to/idi-p/25967