So, did you already have this account set up and working on Thunderbird just fine until recently?

Hi Stans, This may sound very silly, but I think so - it's hard to say now I've deleted it - but I think I had it set up as IMAP. I've got it set up as POP on other devices, so thought I'd go for POP

Can't see how to edit this. I was getting messages that IMAP connection was being refused so tried fiddling and using POP

I would recommend sticking with IMAP especially since you will be using multiple devices to access the same account. If you haven't yet, start here https://www.google.com/search?q=imap+vs+pop for many sources of information regarding the two protocols.

If you're sure you want to use POP with your Gmail account, you first have to enable POP in your Gmail settings. Since you're already using POP on other devices for this same account, I suppose you already enabled POP in Gmail settings. If you've deleted Gmail stored passwords from Tbird's password manager and have deleted the account as well, then start the process of re-adding the account and use the manual configuration option instead, then use the settings given here https://support.google.com/mail/answer/7104828?hl=en

There is additional information on that page regarding sign in problems and other scenarious that may arise, so take your time and go through it keenly. Also, it's best to ugrade to the latest version of Thunderbird in case you're running an old version. Old versions do not support Google's OAuth protocol, but version 68, the current release version, does.

To download a gmail POP account on multiple computers or with multiple email programs, you must enable 'recent mode'.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Using_Gmail_with_Thunderbird_and_Mozilla_Suite

Use OAuth2 authentication in TB 68.6 for gmail POP (or IMAP) to avoid 'less-secure apps' settings on the Google account.

Hi Stans and sfhowes,

My head is spinning at the moment with 2 email programmes on Windows, another on Android and another on the Ipad. I get the same problem with IMAP - I can log in to Webmail with no problem but, using the same email and password and with everything else supposedly set right, it freaks out on Thunderbird and maybe others. For now, I'm going to have a rest before starting again - I've simply forwarded my gmail messages to my main email account. But I'd like to sort it some time - I don't like things not working! In the meantime, I've ended up with a strange GMail "account" (but not an account) on THunderbird - see file. Any ideas how to get rid of it? - If I choose Account Settings and Account Actions, delete is greyed out

The Default account can't be removed in Account Actions, but it looks to me you have renamed Local Folders to Gmail. If you select Gmail, do you see in the right pane something that looks like the attached picture (with the Account Name as Gmail)?

Hi SF,

Yes, it does. Do I just rename it Local Folders? I've no idea how it got changed.....

Yes, change it back to Local Folders. It cannot be removed or set as the Default account.

I am having same problem as Tombarkas but, if I got it right, his solution was to use POP instead of IMAP. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'd like to stay with IMAP if possible, so what can I try to make it accept the new password? I already cleared this account old passwords from the manager to no avail. Now it shows the correct new password but still refuses to accept it. The portuguese message translate as "Authentication on the imap.googlemail.com server with the user [email protected] failed." It happens in both computers I use Thunderbird client: a rather old XP one and a not so old Win7Pro one. I'll appreciate any help, today I have 298 new messages in hold and counting.

I gave up on it and simply forwarded my gmail emails to another account i CAN access

I am having same problem as Tombarkas but, if I got it right, his solution was to use POP instead of IMAP. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'd like to stay with IMAP if possible, so what can I try to make it accept the new password? I already cleared this account old passwords from the manager to no avail. Now it shows the correct new password but still refuses to accept it. The portuguese message translate as "Authentication on the imap.googlemail.com server with the user [email protected] failed." It happens in both computers I use Thunderbird client: a rather old XP one and a not so old Win7Pro one. I'll appreciate any help, today I have 298 new messages in hold and counting.

The XP computer can't have a version of TB higher than 52, so it's not going to work with OAuth2 authentication. With 'normal password' authentication, you will have to enable access by less-secure apps in the Google account settings. Also, if the account has two-step verification, an app password must be used in place of the account password.

On the W7 computer with the latest TB 68, use OAuth2 authentication and allow cookies in TB Options/Privacy. OAuth2 works independently of the less-secure setting or 2SV.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Using_Gmail_with_Thunderbird_and_Mozilla_Suite

Don’t know if this might help - it’s for Mail on the Iphone, but might work for other systems

https://www.iphonefaq.org/archives/971486