I'm using a Mac. I need to know about Passwords and I see no other questions which address all of my issues/questions.
BACKGROUND: I'm using a Mac with Thunderbird version 52.2. I have one old T-bird POP acct through a provider which I just left yesterday— (but they must have a time period in which they keep allowing access of their servers because today's email was sent to my T-bird acct). And no... I did not set it up to "forward" messages to any other address— T-bird is just still able to download messages from the old provider's server (at least, for now!).
The new provider that I've chosen recommends using IMAP instead of POP so that all of my mail will sync across devices. Therefore I have set up the new T-bird accounts that way. I have 2 email addresses with that new provider (with different Passwords for each email). So I set up 2 separate accts in Thunderbird— one for each address, which also uses different passwords for each acct. That brings me to my questions:
1) Must I use the exact same passwords in my Thunderbird accts that were used when setting up the email within the provider's site in order for T-bird to send/retrieve messages? (I'm just wondering if those passwords must sync?) 2) If I AM able to use different passwords in Thunderbird than what was used to set up the email within the provider's site, then am I also able to use the SAME password for BOTH of my email addresses within the accts in Thunderbird (from the same provider)?
Seems to me that T-bird used to be designed to allow one to "log on" to T-bird with just ONE PASSWORD. Then ALL of the T-bird accts would automatically load messages, and could also be accessed freely with sending/receiving. I WISH IT WERE STILL THAT WAY!!!
I have read other posts about changing passwords, but when I looked in my T-bird program to see if I could change passwords I found:
1) There is NO "options" under the "tools" menu... or anywhere else in this program that I can see. 2) I read one commentor advising others to hold down the ALT key or F10 key if they didn't see "options".... and again, this does not do a thing for me. Perhaps it's because I'm using a MAC?
Currently in T-bird: I've noticed that when "setting up a new email acct, once the password is entered within the acct settings and the box is (or is not) set to remember the PW, then that is that— it will not allow me to see and/or change any password information. I've searched and found NO way to change these settings.
Additionally, I'm wondering... What would I FORGOT a password? Is there a way to retrieve it in order to continue using the T-bird account(s)? Again... ONE password to open and access all email needs in T-bird would make me a happy camper!!!!
Thanks for your help! Mokey
All Replies (5)
First, stop placing spaces at the front of sentences in your posts. They make it impossible to read.
Thunderbird has no password. You enter the password to your email account with your provider.
To see, remove or edit what you told Thunderbird to remember go to.. Preferences-Security-Passwords-Saved Passwords Click Show Passwords Right click a password and chose the appropriate action.
Email passwords are administered with your mail provider. Contact them if you forget what it is.
Since you are using a MAC and most articles reference Windows menus, refer to this article for the differences. Like looking for Preferences instead of Options. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Menu_differences_in_Windows,_Linux,_and_Mac
As for wishing Thunderbird allowed just one log on. You do not log into Thunderbird. You provide passwords to your providers servers when asked for one. It has always been that way. The only password in Thunderbird is the Master Password and that is optional. Its purpose is to prevent access to your saved password file.
Well, sorry... I did not know about the spaces in front of the sentences.
As for checking the passwords in the preferences section... the ONLY acct I have in that section is the very first email acct that I ever set up with T-bird— and that has been a closed acct for years. I haven't deleted it yet in order to read old data. BUT, the main point is . . .
The new accounts which I set up are not listed at all in the preferences- security- passwords section— only that one defunct email acct.
1) If T-bird automatically uses passwords which are set on the provider's site, then why does it ask for a password when setting up new accts., (in the acct settings section)? 2) If T-bird automatically uses the password I set when setting the acct up on the provider's site, then if I change that password, will it automatically update the password in T-bird? 3) How can I change the setting for my computer to remember the password instead of asking each time? That too was set in the initial set-up within the acct settings. However it does not show up now in the acct settings section (or anywhere else that I've found within T-bird).
The preferences-security-password section only allows someone to copy or change passwords --- well, it does for me on that one defunct acct... but the others are not listed there, so I cannot even do that much! Thoughts / advice?? Thanks, Mokey
If the account and its passwords are not displayed on the password page it indicates that you have not told Thunderbird to remember them and that you will manually enter them when requested.
Part of the setup process is for Thunderbird to contact your providers server and see if you have a legitimate, working account. Password needed to log into your account to do this.
If you did not tell Thunderbird to save the password it does not need to update anything. I think you need to understand the only purpose of password manager in Thunderbird is to remember your password to save you from entering it when the server requests it. The Password screen reflects what you have elected for Thunderbird to remember.
If you had told Thunderbird to remember the password and you decided to change that and you enter them yourself you would go to the password screen and delete the passwords.
ONE OTHER THING. . .
I keep getting the following message after Thunderbird has been open for a little while and then I try to send a message.
Sending of the message failed. An error occurred while sending mail: Could not get password for smtp.(provider name).com. The message was not sent.
I used to get this with my older acct., and I am still getting the message with the newer accts that i have set up. The only work-around that I have used (but is a real pain in the butt) has been to save the message, then open it from the saved folder, and hit the send button. That's when a field pops up prompting me for my password. But like I said, this is a pain! Thoughts / suggestions? Thanks, Mokey
Modified by Mokey
I have not encountered that one. Sorry. Maybe someone will come along with a suggestion.