What do you recommend as the best alternative to Thunderbird - keep the list as short as possible as I do not have time to try 100 or more.

You were discussing an issue with gmail in another question which I believe has not been resolved by the 'Chosen solution'.

You mention you updated Chrome browser and gmail in TB went wrong with all kinds of errors.

Have you allowed cookies in Chrome ? If no then allow.

At this point in time: I notice so far you have not provided any info on current settings. It is important anyone helping you knows exactly what you currently have got setup. Do you have a gmail account setup or is it still deleted? If set up already... is it pop or imap? Please post current data: Help > Troubleshooting Information Copy all the 'Mail and News Accounts' section Paste info into this forum question.

If not setup: Have you allowed cookies in Thunderbird? Please check this first. In Thunderbird Menu app icon > Options > Privacy. Either select checkboxs to 'Accept cookies from sites' always accept third party cookies until they expire. or click on 'Exceptions' allow cookies in Thunderbird for https://accounts.google.com

Click on 'Show cookies' to ensure that one is allowed and listed. Please confirm you have this cookie allowed in Thunderbird. Tell the forum if you needed to set this up because it was missing.

Please tell the forum what OS you use and what version of Thunderbird you are currently using.

Full story - including the bits that may be irrelevant - but 8 days to correct problems caused when updating Chrome is really too long.

Using Windows 10 and Thunderbird 68.5.0 and these have been around since before problems.

Then could not send Gmail from Thunderbird but Yahoo OK. Part of the time I did receive SOME emails into Gmail but only when I was doing things to it.

I even removed Gmail account from TB and tried to enter new account but it would not allow.

It said either config, username, or password is wrong when I tried to reset.

Both Gmail and TB help pages gave links or details how to correct but they do not correspond with TB page so are useless.

I stupidly allow cookies and are then told to clear cookies because they are preventing another/same site running properly.

The password has been changed dozens of times in the last week because Gmail says it is wrong, then TB says it does not match, then have to change Gmail again.

Other messages included 1. authentication failed 2. the 80004005 error unknown 3. can't connect to Google 4. TB does not recognise smtp.gmail.com 5. email not sent because lost connection 6. Sent but not saved.

Amongst suggestions from Google 1. Take your PHONE to a dealer even though I only use a PC 2. Take PC into a shop that knows more about Google and Gmail than our community. 3. Google say do not save passwords as this could be the issue - write them down or copy into an email. Sounds like a safe solution if they don't trust saving passwords!

I am not sure how, but I do now have access even though I had to change the account name. It is currently downloading messages so I am hopeful.

Gmail says setup in POP and change to IMAP. TB defaults to IMAP but then says it does not support imap.gmail.com

I think the issue may have been with a password at TB end (even though not changed). However, the route described to find passwords on TB is not as described on help pages as once you click TOOLS, the OPTIONS link is no longer visible. Even then, that is only part of the way as OPTIONS then has to be clicked again from the next page even though it looks like a header.

The problem remains of WHAT was the issue causing it as I may be unable to follow the same steps again.

It took 8 days over several help pages / forums but I do thank you for your reply.

re :TOOLS, the OPTIONS link is no longer visible.

Yes they have been moving all kinds of stuff around over the past year or so.

But the 'Tools' > 'Options' link is still available. I use it all the time as it is much quicker. However, you do need to have the 'Menu Bar' toolbar enabled. These days the good old fashioned 'Menu Bar' is not enabled by default. 'Menu app icon' > 'Options' > select 'Menu Bar'

Ah, so it is the first line of instructions that is missing!

For some reason, TB seemed to have stored or created random passwords for the Gmail account but using mine in the Yahoo account.

Suddenly, today, I get this error message and cannot send anything.

"Sending of the message failed. Failed due to unexpected error 80004005. No description is available. The message could not be sent using Outgoing server (SMTP) smtp.gmail.com for an unknown reason. Please verify that your Outgoing server (SMTP) settings are correct and try again."

I like that, for an unknown reason....