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Which Thunderbird version is Gmail's legacy cutoff for use without "less secure app access"?

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  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

jaseins
jaseins
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I want to use a newer Thunderbird, but I can't stay up-to-date because I use old operating systems.

How old can I go in Thunderbird with Gmail's less secure app access off?

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6010255?hl=en

I want to use a newer Thunderbird, but I can't stay up-to-date because I use old operating systems. How old can I go in Thunderbird with Gmail's ''less secure app access'' off? https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6010255?hl=en

All Replies (5)

Matt
Matt
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No idea, you appear to be using Linux and the versions of Linux dependencies varies across distributions as most build their own from source.

The last mess with Gmail was I think v60.

jaseins
jaseins Question owner
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What does "the last mess" mean?

There is definitely dependency variation across distributions, even within the same family, but I think the Thunderbird security variable is independent.

Matt
Matt
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The last mess was the last time Google changed the oAuth sequence and no one could access Google until a patch was released

Looking quickly at bugzilla it looks like I was wrong and it was as late as 68.2.1. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1592407

jaseins
jaseins Question owner
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Less technically meaning??

Are there any versions of Thunderbird that are not compatible with Gmail?

I'm looking to avoid "less secure app access" while avoiding current versions. I go back to about 30, which still works with access.

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
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I'm looking to avoid "less secure app access"

If you are not using a version of TB which uses IMAP and OAuth2 as Authentication then as far as gmail is concerned you are using 'less secure apps' which is not really less secure at all if you use a sensible password. Gmail really love using vocabulary which sounds far more dramatic than it is in reality, but then, Gmail really want you to use OAuth2 because you are then also set up to get quick and easy access to a load of websites and this is information google can be used for obvious marketing purposes. Gmail on occasions throws a spanner in the works as per Matt's info.

Gmail still works perfectly ok using POP or IMAP and Normal Password but you just have to select the 'less secure apps' option and be prepared that gmail will on occasion block access requiring you to logon to gmail webmail account and reselect the 'less secure apps' option which gmail had deliberately switched off. They claim they want to check you really are you, a small inconvenience but does means you do not have to use OAuth2.

IF avoiding 'less secure apps' then you are using IMAP and OAuth2 as Authentication.

But you need to check what versions will work with whatever OS you are using. Here are a few links to info. Version 78 system requirements https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/78.0/system-requirements/

Version 68 system requirements https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/68.0/system-requirements/

Version 60.0 system requirements https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/60.0/system-requirements/