At times, Mozilla Thunderbird keeps asking for password for user verification even after the user has successfully completed all the necessary steps to configure the email account. When you are configuring your email account in Thunderbird, you are asked to enter the password once or log-in using the same via OAuth, but sometimes this becomes repetitive.In this blog, we will discuss the most probable causes of this issue and the methods to resolve it to eliminate repeated prompts for password verification along with a data backup solution as a bonus action.
The Appearance of the Issue
When you are opening Thunderbird to check your inbox, you may try to create a new message or press the sync button to retrieve new messages from the email server. At this time, Thunderbird asks you for your credentials in order to complete the action. But at times, Thunderbird keeps asking for your password even after configuration, as if the password is correct or not recognized. This is exactly when the Thunderbird email password problem appears.
Causes of Thunderbird Keeps Asking for Password
For the sake of knowing,
- Thunderbird is a popular email client used for accessing emails on Windows, macOS, & Linux systems.
- Mozilla Thunderbird connects local systems to email servers over the internet.
- Email transactions (sending & receiving) need server authentication.
- This authentication is done using an OAuth token or email account password for security purposes.
Cases When Thunderbird Keeps Asking for Password
While configuring your email account, Thunderbird provides an option to save the user password and credentials in order to seamlessly continue communicating with your email server without Thunderbird asking for password again and again. But sometimes Thunderbird asks for your password repeatedly, which usually happens in the following scenarios:
- Whenever the password is expired or is an old password depending on your organization’s security policy for renewal of passwords.
- Whenever the key4.db or logins.json files, which store the OAuth token and/or user Password, become corrupt.
- If the user has failed to check the checkbox for “Use Password Manager to remember this password” command while configuring the email account.
- If there is an instance of incorrect server settings, change in security protocols from the backend, or unstable network due to which user authentication fails.
- Possible interference from firewall, proxy server, or antivirus especially with IMAP servers.
Standard Resolutions for Thunderbird Email Password Problem
Below mentioned are possible quick fixes available for the most recent version of Thunderbird email client running on Windows OS or MacOS. You must update to the latest version of Thunderbird as the legacy Thunderbird version may not be compliant with the advanced security architecture, which might be resulting in this issue when Thunderbird keeps asking for password repeatedly for a password verification, thus the complication.
Quick Fix #1: Try Updating The Saved Password in Mozilla Thunderbird
In a scenario where a user has updated the password in Thunderbird via webmail, but has forgotten to update the same password in the local Thunderbird email client. Follow the below mentioned steps to fix the issue of repeated password prompts.
- Go to Menu > Settings in the local Thunderbird email client.
- Navigate to the Privacy and Security tab.
- Look for the old password using the Find search bar in the Settings tab.
- Go to Saved Password and click on Show Password.
- Press “Yes” to confirm the password.
- Edit password by right clicking on each account.
- Manually Enter the new passwords for each account.
- Close Thunderbird email client and restart it, and it will fix the Thunderbird keeps asking for password issues.
Quick Fix #2: Tick in front of empty box for “Use Password Manager to Remember This Password” to Save New Password
For this process, execute the steps below:
- Do close Thunderbird email client and then restart.
- Re-Enter the new password when prompted.
- Tick ✔ checkbox “Use Password Manager to Remember This Password”.
Quick Fix #3: Deactivate The Primary Password
For better user account security and privacy, Thunderbird allows its users to be able to set a Primary or Master password. If a user has enabled the primary password feature, Thunderbird email client will always ask for the password every time it is restarted. You can disable this using the following steps:
- Navigate to Menu > Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security tab.
- Uncheck “Use a Primary Password”.
- Enter password and click Remove.
Quick Fix #4: Delete Corrupted logins.json File and Re-Configure Email Accounts in Thunderbird
Thunderbird email client saves the OAuth token and login password in a logins.json file in its profile folder.
Method #1:
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
- Scroll to Saved Passwords.
- Click Remove All.
- Restart Thunderbird.
Method #2:
- Go to Menu > Help > Troubleshooting Information.
- Open Profile Folder.
- Delete logins.json file.
- Restart Thunderbird.
Quick Fix #5: Make a Transition to OAuth2
- Open Account Settings.
- Go to Server Settings.
- Select OAuth2.
Quick Fix #6: Disable/Turn-Off any Firewall, proxy, and/or Antivirus Running
Some tools such as firewall or antivirus may disrupt secure email connections.
Little Extra Advice!
If the repeated prompts for password issue continues, then follow these steps:
- You must temporarily disable email scanning by your installed antivirus application.
- Make sure that the Thunderbird email client is permitted to pass through the firewall application.
- Close and then restart Thunderbird email client and now see if the issue has resolved.
Value Tip: Wakeup to Backup Thunderbird Data Before It Vanishes!
At times, Mozilla Thunderbird keeps asking for password, and that’s something not to worry about much as your data remains totally secure. But, in rare scenarios, this could be an early alert of profile corruption. To steer clear of any such troubles, it is a great idea to use the professional Thunderbird Converter Tool for backing up your Mozilla Thunderbird profile data safely, so that your crucial data is preserved forever. It is always better to be safe than sorry!
FAQs – Asking Is Understanding
The more you ask, the more you learn and get informed about the right things:
Question: Why is Mozilla Thunderbird asking for the password again and again?
Answer: Mozilla Thunderbird stores credentials in logins.json (encrypted via key4.db). If files corrupt, tokens expire, or credentials mismatch, it prompts re-login to the user. For OAuth2 (Gmail, Outlook Yahoo), this means re-authenticating via a web pop-up to refresh the token.
Question: How to halt Mozilla Thunderbird’s repeated password prompts?
Answer: Disabling the primary password in Mozilla Thunderbird won’t stop login prompts, it only removes the master password check. To resolve this issue smoothly you need to clear old or corrupted saved credentials so new ones can be created.
Question: Why does Mozilla Thunderbird suddenly ask for a password persistently?
Answer: This issue occurs when the email provider such as Gmail, Yahoo updates its security settings, the users changes their password, or Thunderbird’s local file (key4.db) becomes corrupted.
Think About It!
It could really be very annoying when Mozilla Thunderbird keeps asking for password repeatedly, but here is the good news – you can fix it! In this blog post, we explained some highly effective fixes for your benefit. The real catch lies in addressing specific causes one by one till the problem gets fixed and Mozilla Thunderbird finally stops asking for your password over & over again.
If you have any doubts or need assistance about this process get in touch with our Technical Support team and one of our experts will guide you with perfection.