How to Fix Thunderbird Gmail Authentication Failure Issue?

Are you also encountering the Thunderbird Gmail authentication failure issue recently on your device? If yes, then this is the right page where you will get all the answers on why Thunderbird not working with Gmail and how one can fix this.

So, in such an error, when Thunderbird not connect or authenticate with Gmail account, it basically limits access to IMAP or SMTP servers. This makes the user encounter the notification that the login credentials are invalid. Thus, due to the very same issue, users also get the pop-up warning stating “Login to server imp.gmail.com failed”. Therefore, to fix this Thunderbird Gmail authentication failure, simply read and follow this blog, which covers everything from the reasons and manual way to fix to the professional solution to overcome this error seamlessly.

Reason Behind Thunderbird Gmail Authentication Failure

• The primary reason can be that the user must have entered incorrect Gmail credentials, due to which Thunderbird not working with Gmail.
• Apart from this, another reason can be using a regular password instead of an App password.
• In addition to this, now Gmail gives preference to those accounts which has secure sign-in settings such as OAuth2. So, if the user is following the outdated method, then the Thunderbird Gmail authentication failure error takes place.
• In case of the expiry of the Thunderbird OAuth2 token or if it is revoked, it causes such problems.
• Apart from this, if Google detects a suspicious login of the account, then it blocks access, leading to similar restrictions.
• Last but not least, trying to authenticate Gmail account in an outdated Thunderbird edition also brings such inconvenience.

How to Manually Fix Thunderbird Not Working With Gmail?

There are multiple conventional ways to fix the Thunderbird Gmail authentication failure issue, and among them, we are mentioning below some of the most prominent yet helpful ones. So, have a quick look at them:

1. Fix Gmail Security Settings

1. Run a web browser and go to Settings.
2. Choose See all Settings, and click on Forwarding and the POP/IMAP.
3. Now, enable the IMAP option and finally save the changes.
4. With this, there are high chances to resolve the Thunderbird Gmail authentication failure issue.

2. Choose the OAuth2 Method for Authentication

1. Run Thunderbird on your device.
2. Click on Account Settings and choose Server Settings.
3. Then, select the Outgoing Server option.
4. After this, under the Authentication method, select OAuthe2.
5. Further, click on OK and give the logging credentials to authenticate with Thunderbird.
6. And, this is another way to fix the Thunderbird not working with Gmail issue.

3. Make the Gmail App Password And Use It

1. Open your Google account and go to Security.
2. Once done, choose the App passwords option and hit the Mail button.
3. After this, select the device and click on Generate.
4. If done, copy the 16-digit App password.
5. Now, make sure to use the App password instead of the normal password to overcome the Thunderbird Gmail authentication failure error.

Read Also: Complete Solution to Fix Thunderbird Import Not Working Error

4. Renew the Old Password

1. Run Thunderbird on your system.
2. Then, click on Tools.
3. Further, choose Options and select the Privacy & Security option.
4. Once done, select the Saved Passwords section.
5. Now, click on the Show Passwords option.
6. Next, eliminate the passwords that are old or outdated.
7. At last, restart Thunderbird and then authenticate Gmail with the updated password.
8. This is also a prominent solution to fix Thunderbird not working with Gmail.

5. Give the Device Permission to Access Gmail

1. Log in to your Gmail account on Chrome.
2. Go to Security and click on Recent security events.
3. Once done, have a look at all the devices and the activities.
4. Now, give the confirmation to the device where you are trying to authenticate Gmail.
5. Finally, with this, there are high chances that your Thunderbird not working with Gmail issue will be solved.

6.  Try to Reconfigure Gmail in Thunderbird

1. Run Thunderbird on your system and click on the menu icon.
2. Once done, select Account Settings and then choose Account Actions.
3. Further, click on the Remove button and restart Thunderbird.
4. Next, again click on the three horizontal line icon and choose New.
5. Now, select the Existing Mail Account and fill in the credentials.
6. Then, click on Done to save the changes in the current account.
7. A new window will pop up, so log in to the Gmail account by giving all the required permissions.
8. Finally, the errors related to Thunderbird Gmail Authentication failure will be resolved.

More Solutions: Apart from the above-mentioned solutions, make sure to check the internet connectivity, update Thunderbird, and fix the corruption in the Thunderbird profile.

What’s Not Reliable About Manual Ways?

The conventional methods to fix Thunderbird Gmail authentication failure might look easy or free of cost, but it has lots of limitations that make them unworthy to use. Some of them are as follows:

• The risk of data loss or data alteration is very high in the manual methods.
• They are technical and very complex, which makes non-tech users suffer while practicing them.
• These solutions consume a lot of user time, effort, and other resources.
• There is no one solution that can fix the Thunderbird not working with Gmail issue, as the user has to try multiple ways and then find the one that fits them.
• Professionals never use or recommend them since it is indirect, conventional, and unsafe for data integrity.

How does an Automated Tool Help in Such Issues?

The manual methods have lots of restrictions, which hamper users’ productivity and put the data at risk. Therefore, in such a case, experts always use a reliable utility such as the RecoveryTools Thunderbird Converter tool. They recommend it because it not only allows the users to take a backup of Thunderbird’s complete profile, but also fixes minor folder corruption by converting Thunderbird files to a healthier MBOX, or gives the user the choice to switch the email client with no data loss. The quick steps to use this solution to fix the Thunderbird Gmail authentication failure problem are as follows:

1. Install and run the tool on your device.
   
2. Now, choose the Thunderbird files or folders using any of the given selection modes.
   
3. Further, select the export option, such as MBOX, Gmail, Outlook, etc.
   
4. Give the saving location or credentials of the account, according to the export option.
   
5. Finally, click on Convert to seamlessly overcome the Thunderbird not working with Gmail issue.
   

Benefits of Using the Pro Tool

• Allows the user to safely backup the Thunderbird data before practicing any of the manual methods, which are prone to error.
• It has 30+ saving options which allow the user to convert Thunderbird to PST, EML, MBOX, MSG, Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and more effortlessly.
• There are multiple file selection modes in this software, which ensure a decluttered output.
• First-time users can also download the free edition of the solution to test how it helps to fix the Thunderbird Gmail authentication failure issue.
• The file-naming option and file-saving destination option allow the user to manage and easily access the output generated by the tool.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we briefly discussed multiple conventional solutions to deal with the Thunderbird Gmail authentication failure issue. However, each one of them has some limitations, and that is why experts suggest using the tool mentioned above to first take a backup of the important data and then proceed further to the indirect solutions. Therefore, getting the tool mentioned above is the best solution as it supports bulk action, runs on all operating systems, and has advanced features that make it a one-stop Thunderbird solution.