You can open Tbird's password manager and delete or modify the incorrect password(s), assuming those passwords are still accepted by the respective mail servers. See Password Manager - Remember, delete and change passwords in Thunderbird for how to use the password manager.

Those passwords may no longer be valid, so if changing them in the password manager doesn't fix this, you need to log into those affected accounts via a browser to confirm whether the same passwords are still in effect. You may want to consider using a password manager (besides Thunderbird's password manager) to store your passwords instead of relying on human memory.

Thanks - your answer certainly increased my understanding of p'word manager. However, probably cos I didn't state my main issue very clearly, it doesn't explain why the app, having told me that an incorrect password has been entered, then gives me the option to 'retry' BUT instead of first inviting me to enter the password correctly, simply retries the one it knows to be wrong..... Slightly weird - just cos I entered s'thing incorrectly doesn't necessarily mean I don't know it (or that I want to change it - a new p'word to remember is last thing I need!). I don't know of of any other app which, having identified an incorrect p'word, doesn't provide the opportunity to enter it correctly, rather than having to change it/exit the app in order to invoke a further p'word request. But if that's how it works......

You said it yourself, that the prompt gives you three options; retry, new and cancel. The retry option doesn't help you much because it simply reuses the invalid/incorrect password that is already stored in Tbird's password manager. The new option gives you the opportunity to enter a new/the correct password, while cancel simply ends the login attempt, until the next time Tbird tries to connect to the server.

having identified an incorrect p'word, doesn't provide the opportunity to enter it correctly, rather than having to change it/exit the app in order to invoke a further p'word request.

That's exactly what the new option is for, it provides you the opportunity to enter a new (the correct) password. It seems you misunderstood what the new option is for. The new option does not change the account's password, it simply changes the copy that is stored in Tbird's password manager. Other than the new option, you have access to the password manager where Tbird stored the incorrect password and you have the option to reveal the passwords and change them there directly. Since you know the correct passwords, it should be easy to identify the incorrectly entered password and change it accordingly. If that still doesn't work, you can delete the stored password and you'll get prompted for it, so you get the opportunity to enter it correctly.

None of those options will be of any help if the password for the affected account is not working anymore. If that's the case, then it doesn't matter how many times you try to force Tbird to use it. If the server rejects that password, Tbird has no magical way of forcing it to accept it. You need to log in to that email account via a browser using the known password to confirm that it's still valid. Who is your email service provider?

You have of course hit the nail firmly on the head with 'That's exactly what the new option is for, .............................. it simply changes the copy that is stored in Tbird's password manager.' For a start, I had assumed that on those occasions (not sure what triggers them) when T'bird prompts for a p'word, that it simply compared that entry with what it had stored in p'word manager, and if they didn't agree presented 'retry/new/cancel' option. But, unless I have misunderstood you, the entry in response to the prompt actually CHANGES the p'word stored in T'bird, which is then passed to the server. In that context the 'new' option makes perfect sense - absent knowing this, I had assumed that 'new' meant that only THEN would I be changing the p'word in p'word manager (AND possibly a/c on the server) and therefore using 'new' to enter the correct p'word would be rejected as trying to re-use a previous p'word (thus forcing me to change a p'word I knew, but had simply entered incorrectly, e.g. caps lock on). As an option, 'retry' appears only to confuse things, as it simply flings at the server s'thing it knows latter has already rejected as incorrect. And, when next to 'retry', I still think 'new' is a somewhat unfortunate expression to use in the context of simply being asked to enter a p'word - 're-enter' would make much more sense, especially to those - me - not knowing how T'bird is operating in the background. One man's view, but that said, I REALLY APPRECIATE you taking the time & trouble to so patiently explain things (so that next time I goof, I can confidently hit 'new' and try to re-enter p'word correctly!). Thanks.

As an option, 'retry' appears only to confuse things, as it simply flings at the server s'thing it knows latter has already rejected as incorrect.

Sometimes mail servers suffer a misconfiguration and reject valid passwords, and a retry gets it working again. It's not a common occurence though. Not too long ago, I just experienced a similar occurence when logging in to my LastPass Vault. The first two attempts of entering my master password failed with an "incorrect password" notice in the password field. The exact same password got accepted on the third attempt. Weird things happen when interracting with forms. For example, a momentary lag may cause a keyboard input to not be captured in the target field. I sometimes experience this on certain sites when the ProWritingAid add-on is interracting with web forms. You are most welcome.

On a side note, and in reference to my advice against relying on human memory to store/keep passwords, you may want to look into password managers as alternatives for memorising passwords, especially when you have a number of online accounts that should be using different/unique passwords, which are sometimes required to be changed after a certain period of time. If interested, one of the best (free) options are LastPass and Bitwarden.

bill.crane said

As an option, 'retry' appears only to confuse things, as it simply flings at the server s'thing it knows latter has already rejected as incorrect.

Sometimes mail servers suffer a misconfiguration and reject valid passwords, and a retry gets it working again. It's not a common occurence though. Not too long ago, I just experienced a similar occurence when logging in to my LastPass Vault. The first two attempts of entering my master password failed with an "incorrect password" notice in the password field. The exact same password got accepted on the third attempt. Weird things happen when interracting with forms. For example, a momentary lag may cause a keyboard input to not be captured in the target field. I sometimes experience this on certain sites when the ProWritingAid add-on is interracting with web forms. You are most welcome.

On a side note, and in reference to my advice against relying on human memory to store/keep passwords, you may want to look into password managers as alternatives for memorising passwords, especially when you have a number of online accounts that should be using different/unique passwords, which are sometimes required to be changed after a certain period of time. If interested, one of the best (free) options are LastPass and Bitwarden.

Hi, I have same problem. On thunderbird (v 78.2.2 32bit) start I got dialog box 'Login to account "xyz" failed' for every account. After click on Retry is all ok. This is not mail server 'misconfiguration' its your app bug. Previous version of thunderbird works correctly, and other clients works too.

Peter.