re :Is there a FREE server that works with GMAIL? Gmail is a Free server.

re :A week ago, GMAIL refused to let Thunderbird log in. Why does Goggle/Gmail keep doing this crap?

You will experience issues of this type with Gmail, particulary if you use POP mail accounts or IMAP mail accounts that do not use OAuth2 as the Authentication Method. Gmail will deliberately block your access by unchecking the option 'use less secure apps' which you may have previously set up via webmail account. This means Gmail will force you to access/logon to your webmail account via a browser and then you would need to reset the 'less secure apps' option. https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6010255?hl=en

Thunderbird, which is an email client program running on your computer to download email, cannot stop Gmail from doing this.

'Less secure apps' does not mean Thunderbird is less secure. Using a password of good strength is advisable. It's just gmail trying to get you to use OAuth2 as a method they prefer. A simple one password accessing the google account via a token and this means easier to sign in to use Google account with shopping and online services. It really is very little to do with access via Thunderbird in itself, but Oauth2 has become an all embracing method google prefer to use.

Bottom line is...You do not have to use Oauth2, but if you do not then gmail will block you every so often as a 'safety' measure, to ensure you really are you by forcing a webmail logon.

In the version 68.5.0 release notes, it does mention: New: Support for OAuth 2.0 authentication for POP3 accounts https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/68.5.0/releasenotes/

I've not actually tested this on gmail, but it may be a better option as the 'less secure apps' setting in gmail webmail will no longer apply.

• Authentication Method: OAuth2

When this is selected and you try to get messages, you would be prompted to logon to gmail via a browser link. You need to follow the instructions, then a special token is created and saved in thunderbird in the same place as all other passwords are stored. Then in future, gmail will use that token (not the password) to access server. However, you will still need to use the password whenever prompted or when you need to logon to server.

Toad-Hall said

re :Is there a FREE server that works with GMAIL? Gmail is a Free server. re :A week ago, GMAIL refused to let Thunderbird log in. Why does Goggle/Gmail keep doing this crap? You will experience issues of this type with Gmail, particulary if you use POP mail accounts or IMAP mail accounts that do not use OAuth2 as the Authentication Method. Gmail will deliberately block your access by unchecking the option 'use less secure apps' which you may have previously set up via webmail account. This means Gmail will force you to access/logon to your webmail account via a browser and then you would need to reset the 'less secure apps' option. https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6010255?hl=en Thunderbird, which is an email client program running on your computer to download email, cannot stop Gmail from doing this. 'Less secure apps' does not mean Thunderbird is less secure. Using a password of good strength is advisable. It's just gmail trying to get you to use OAuth2 as a method they prefer. A simple one password accessing the google account via a token and this means easier to sign in to use Google account with shopping and online services. It really is very little to do with access via Thunderbird in itself, but Oauth2 has become an all embracing method google prefer to use. Bottom line is...You do not have to use Oauth2, but if you do not then gmail will block you every so often as a 'safety' measure, to ensure you really are you by forcing a webmail logon.

Thank you for your efforts. It is all too complicated so I ahve decided to use Mail Bird at a small cost. I also notice that Thunderbird is nor really for windows 64 bit. I am old and really need a client that works without having to "tweak"it all the time. I also wonder if this all a conspiracy to get people to use a Microsoft server???? Again, thank you for your help.

Brett said

Thank you for your efforts. It is all too complicated so I ahve decided to use Mail Bird at a small cost. I also notice that Thunderbird is nor really for windows 64 bit. I am old and really need a client that works without having to "tweak"it all the time. I also wonder if this all a conspiracy to get people to use a Microsoft server???? Again, thank you for your help.

Just to be clear, changing mail client will not help you in connecting with Gmail long term. The changes are being driven by Google and as such will impact ALL mail clients. Google have announced that their will only accept oAuth logins for retrieving mail effective around June IIRC, so their activity to "persuade" their users to change over before that time will become more aggressive.

Mailbird will have created your account as oAuth, simply because their have now, like Thunderbird" added it. They beat Thunderbird by three months. But I would expect paid for software to be a long way ahead of a open source one that struggles along on donations. We still got it in before Yahoo required it, they will be insisting on oAuth long before Google, about now is my understanding.

So you will have to learn how to use new software because it is apparently easier than changing a single setting in the account setup.

Just to be very clear, it involves doing this.

Thanks Matt, what is GMAIL driving at? That is does Google have a particular client in mind that they want people to use? Are not these methods restriction of trade? Or are they just trying to get rid of client mail altogether? I re-did Thunderbird and got it to work once again, how I do not know BUT when it synced 1,400 emails came down from GMAIl. These were not visible in GMAIL and I know I had deleted most of them from GMAIL, or I thought I had. Not impressed with GMAIL/Google. Would swap from GMAIL BUT are the others any better and oh the hassle.

Brett said

Thanks Matt, what is GMAIL driving at?

They argue that it is an improvement in your security the drives them. I have doubts as to the validity of using a web security model (oAuth) in a non web setting. But there is little doubt that oAuth is more secure than just a password.

That is does Google have a particular client in mind that they want people to use?

They make a browser and offer gmail as a web mail client in that browser. They also offer Android for mobile devices and offer an oAth mail client for that.

Just remember they make their money from advertising and there is no advertising in someone else's mail client.

Are not these methods restriction of trade?

No

Or are they just trying to get rid of client mail altogether?

See my comments on advertising revenue, there is none from a mail client

I re-did Thunderbird and got it to work once again, how I do not know BUT when it synced 1,400 emails came down from GMAIl. These were not visible in GMAIL and I know I had deleted most of them from GMAIL, or I thought I had. Not impressed with GMAIL/Google. Would swap from GMAIL BUT are the others any better and oh the hassle.

Personally I suggest you try an account with GMX.com free, based in Germany so German privacy law applies to the company. It just works, has not caught the oAuth thing yet, but it probably will. Like purple feature walls in the 1960s lots of things on the internet are fads. There will be a new shiny authorization thing come along again soon and they will all hare off after it.

You might also want to look at the all mail folder in gmail. IT contains all your mails with labels, inbox, deleted etc. Once the mail is on no other folder (has no labels) it is considered archived. But gmail really makes you work to delete stuff.

thanks again Matt, what is the browser with GMAIL Client please? I suppose it costs money.

Brett said

thanks again Matt, what is the browser with GMAIL Client please? I suppose it costs money.

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox The browser is not important, hey make money when you use their web client because they get to feed your advertisements. They also get to know all about your interests and involvement through the content of your email so can charge more per ass because they are only showing people that might be interested in the product.