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Thunderbird does not let me enter my email account password (gmail).

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  • Last reply by jcerruto

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I use gmail and Thunderbird. Everything has worked for several years. A few days ago I changed my Gmail password.

I am able to access my mail via gmail's web interface using this new password. When I start up Thunderbird, it opens a window asking me to sign into my Google account. The screen has a field for my email address which is pre-populated with my correct email address. It also has a "Next" button. Upon clicking the button, I expected to be taken to a screen which asks for my password. Instead, my email address is deleted from the field and replaced with "Email or phone."

OK, I re-enter my email address and click "Next" again. The same thing happens. I try my phone number and get the message "Couldn't find you Google Account. Try entering your email address instead". Note - the phone number is correct and linked to my Google account. I used it to change my Google password which of course led to this problem.

Also, after experiencing this I tried notifying Thunderbird of my new password via Options > Privacy and Security > Saved Passwords... In this screen I changed both incoming and outgoing passwords to my new Gmail password and retried. Same exact experience. Next I went back to this screen and deleted both passwords and retried. Same exact experience.

Please help.

Thanks.

I use gmail and Thunderbird. Everything has worked for several years. A few days ago I changed my Gmail password. I am able to access my mail via gmail's web interface using this new password. When I start up Thunderbird, it opens a window asking me to sign into my Google account. The screen has a field for my email address which is pre-populated with my correct email address. It also has a "Next" button. Upon clicking the button, I expected to be taken to a screen which asks for my password. Instead, my email address is deleted from the field and replaced with "Email or phone." OK, I re-enter my email address and click "Next" again. The same thing happens. I try my phone number and get the message "Couldn't find you Google Account. Try entering your email address instead". Note - the phone number is correct and linked to my Google account. I used it to change my Google password which of course led to this problem. Also, after experiencing this I tried notifying Thunderbird of my new password via Options > Privacy and Security > Saved Passwords... In this screen I changed both incoming and outgoing passwords to my new Gmail password and retried. Same exact experience. Next I went back to this screen and deleted both passwords and retried. Same exact experience. Please help. Thanks.

Chosen solution

Remove the entries in Saved Passwords, check that the authentication for incoming and outgoing is OAuth2, check that cookies are allowed in TB Options/Privacy & Security, restart TB, enter the account password in the OAuth browser window when prompted.

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Chosen Solution

Remove the entries in Saved Passwords, check that the authentication for incoming and outgoing is OAuth2, check that cookies are allowed in TB Options/Privacy & Security, restart TB, enter the account password in the OAuth browser window when prompted.

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Yes, the problem was that the Google login screen relies on cookies. I enabled cookies in Thunderbird and it worked. Thanks sfhowes!!