Cannot input or change primary password
I tried to ask this question a few days ago, but I see when I go to the forum that most of my question is missing, so I am posting it here again, with any luck in full:
I downloaded Thunderbird to my new laptop. In the setup it asked me to enter a primary password I used the same primary password I was using on the machine from which I wanted to transfer.
I copied the old Thunderbird folder into my new machine at the designated location (.../roaming) in order to keep transfer all my old info, and all the folders etc from my old machine transferred correctly.
When I download or send a message, I get the usual prompt for a password to the sbcglobal account I am accessing. And it works fine. But I would like to store the password so I don't have to type it in each time, so I check the box to store it using a primary password.
The primary password dialog offers to let me "change", but not to enter a new password (the top box is greyed out, implying that it accepted a primary password during setup). I type in the same primary password I used in setup and in my old machine, but it just tells me the password can't be changed.
The only thing I can think of is that I mistyped the primary password during setup. There is no Show Password option to check this.
How do I either reset the primary password or get it to recognize the one I've already put in?
I tried using the procedure under the following link, but it didn't work (perhaps only for older versions of Thunderbird?) : https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/protect-your-thunderbird-passwords-master-password
Help much appreciated.
Wubrane rozwězanje
If you rename the files, they can be restored by reversing the process. When you restart TB, you will have to re-enter the account passwords, and recreate a primary password if needed. Copy the passwords from Saved Passwords before doing this if you've forgotten some account passwords.
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I presume you know that a primary (master) password is for protecting access to the account passwords, and is not related to the account passwords for accessing accounts. The primary and all account passwords can be erased by deleting or renaming key4.db, logins.json and cert9.db in the profile folder (Help/Troubleshooting, Profile Folder, Open Folder).
As for the sbcglobal accounts, are you using secure mail keys in TB in place of the account passwords?
https://www.att.com/support/article/dsl-high-speed/KM1010523/
Thanks very much for your reply.
Yes, I know the difference between the primary password and the password for the individual e-mail accounts -- and I realize, from reading some of the threads on this board, that that often causes confusion to users of Tbird. I have no problem logging in to my sbcglobal account by typing in the long and unmemorable password by hand.
I am nervous of deleting those files in case it messes up the settings and I find myself unable to access my e-mails. If I back up the files before deleting them and then restore them afterwards if there are problems, will I get everything back?
I really appreciate your volunteering to help on this support board - thank you!
Wubrane rozwězanje
If you rename the files, they can be restored by reversing the process. When you restart TB, you will have to re-enter the account passwords, and recreate a primary password if needed. Copy the passwords from Saved Passwords before doing this if you've forgotten some account passwords.