Table of Contents
What does the Primary Password protect?
Thunderbird can save passwords for each account, so you don't have to re-enter them when you check for new messages. You can view them and remove the ones you don't use anymore.
What if you share a computer, and don't want others to see your stored passwords? With the Primary Password feature, Thunderbird will require you to enter a Primary Password in order to view or use the passwords you've told Thunderbird to remember. When you have a Primary Password set, you'll only need to enter it once per session.
Do you want to prevent others from seeing your messages? If you are sharing a computer, the most secure way is to create a separate WindowsmacOSOS user account on the operating system for each person, and make sure your WindowsmacOSOS account requires a password. Thunderbird stores accounts, messages and password information separately for each operating system account.
Set a Primary Password
By default, Thunderbird does not use a Primary Password to protect stored credentials. To set a Primary Password:
- In the menu bar, click the menu and select .Click the menu button and choose .
- Select the section.
- Go to the Passwords subsection.
- Put a checkmark next to Use a Primary Password.
- The Change Primary Password dialog will appear. As you enter your Primary Password, the password quality meter will indicate the difficulty of guessing the password. Here are some tips for creating better passwords:
- Use at least one capital letter.
- Use one or more digits.
- Use at least one non-alphanumeric character, such as: @ # $ % ^ & * ( )
- Make your Primary Password something that is easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess, to ensure that only you yourself will be able to see your saved passwords.
- The password must be entered twice to make sure that you have entered it correctly as intended.
- To set your Primary Password, click .
Now that your Primary Password is set, Thunderbird will prompt you to enter it the first time you need to view or use a password per session.
Change your Primary Password
- In the menu bar, click the menu and select .Click the menu button and choose .
- Select the section.
- Go to the Passwords subsection.
- Click the button .
- Enter your current Primary Password to confirm you are authorized to change it.
- Enter the new Primary Password twice.
- Click .
Remove your Primary Password
Follow the steps above to Change your Primary Password, but leave both of the new Primary Password fields empty.
Reset your Primary Password if you have forgotten it
If you've forgotten your Primary Password, you can reset it.
- Press the shortcut keys Ctrl + Shift + J (Command + Shift + J on macOS) to open the error console
- Copy the text given below and paste it into the Console. The choice is determined by the version you are using:
- If using a version prior to 78, copy and paste the following text:
openDialog("chrome://pippki/content/resetpassword.xul")
- If using version 78 or later, copy and paste the following text:
openDialog("chrome://pippki/content/resetpassword.xhtml")
- If using a version prior to 78, copy and paste the following text:
- Click the Return or Enter on your keyboard. button. If you do not see an Evaluate button, press
- When prompted with the confirmation dialog box, click the
button.