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GMail credentials not working

  • 6 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 24 views
  • Last reply by LeeLorenzSr

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Since Google went down this morning (obviously a problem then), everything is supposedly back up - but Thunderbird continually asks me for my Google OAuth2 credentials on three different gmail accounts I have.

I am able to access these accounts via browser.

One of the accounts has 2FA through my device, another through SMS, and a third has no 2FA. All authenticate me and get to the "Allow" button page, but after I click "Allow" Thunderbird still can't connect to the account to send or receive e-mail.

According to the news sites, Google's outage problem is over, and all sites are "Green" - but clearly, there is some sort of issue still. Any ideas?

Since Google went down this morning (obviously a problem then), everything is supposedly back up - but Thunderbird continually asks me for my Google OAuth2 credentials on three different gmail accounts I have. I am able to access these accounts via browser. One of the accounts has 2FA through my device, another through SMS, and a third has no 2FA. All authenticate me and get to the "Allow" button page, but after I click "Allow" Thunderbird still can't connect to the account to send or receive e-mail. According to the news sites, Google's outage problem is over, and all sites are "Green" - but clearly, there is some sort of issue still. Any ideas?

Chosen solution

OK, Update.... I checked my version of Thunderbird, I was a version behind. For whatever reason, that seemed to jog things. OAuth2 finally connected on the final step.

I suspect that Thunderbird never really "disengaged" until the update? As a developer, this feels like it was using some sort of stale data (even through several restarts of the software)

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All Replies (6)

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Indeed, google had service problems this morning https://downdetector.com/status/google/

Was your google account credentials/password saved to thunderbird password manager? I found some of mine were missing in PW manager.

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Tools->Options->Security->Passwords->Saved Passwords... I deleted all of my gmail account entries, and same result.

As I said, I go through the OAuth2 procedure, logging in to my gmail accounts and getting to the "Allow Application" screen without issue, but as soon as I click "Allow" Thunderbird pops up an error box.

I am familiar with the OAuth2 protocol, I've used it in my own apps (I am a developer), but thunderbird is a bit obtuse with logs and such. I was hoping somebody here would have more information about what is happening (or not happening) with Google. Bad certificate? Key Code sent by Google not working? What is going on here?

In Chrome or other browsers, GMail is working fine. This is just Thunderbird and the OAuth2 credentials having a problem.

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Still not working. I have removed passwords, cookies associated with google (I allow all cookies), removed one of my accounts, and STILL, it refuses to accept the OAuth2 credentials from Google.

This is EXTREMELY frustrating. My accounts were working just fine before google's crash, and now they won't re-authenticate. This seems like a Thunderbird issue, am I the only one experiencing this?

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Chosen Solution

OK, Update.... I checked my version of Thunderbird, I was a version behind. For whatever reason, that seemed to jog things. OAuth2 finally connected on the final step.

I suspect that Thunderbird never really "disengaged" until the update? As a developer, this feels like it was using some sort of stale data (even through several restarts of the software)

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> I checked my version of Thunderbird, I was a version behind. For whatever reason, that seemed to jog things.

Thanks for keeping us informed.

However, what was "a version behind"? Were you on version 68?

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Well, I guess I can't rely on the "Check Updates" in my about box. I am waaaayyyyy... behind in updates. I updated from 60.9.0 to 60.9.1. Seriously, WTF is it with this mechanism?

So I suspect some Thunderbird process was still running until I did the "update" (to a version from last year!!), which probably killed all associated processes, and that allowed the credentials to work, finally.

So I guess I'll just keep hitting the "Check Update" button until I catch up.

I like having a unified mail client that isn't Outlook. It's a shame Thunderbird doesn't get more love, or that issues like the credentials rejection aren't fixed yet (this isn't the first time I've had to fumble through this stuff).

At any rate, thanks for checking in. I would not have caught the update issue otherwise.