![Thunderbird logo](https://assets-prod.sumo.prod.webservices.mozgcp.net/media/uploads/products/2024-02-12-07-36-53-599028_1.png)
Thunderbird for Mac Can't Access E-Mail - unable to login to server
I've followed the troubleshooting for installing Thunderbird for Mac (both 68.3.1 and 72.0b3), but I still can't get it to access my 2 GMail accounts in Mac OS 10.11 (El Capitan)?? Ironically, Thunderbird 3.1.11 works fine on an older Mac OS 10.4.11 (Tiger), but just too slowly for me....??
I've tried both auto-configure, and manually configuring the accounts, but I keep getting an error saying it can't get to the gmail server?? I've also tried No Authentication, but it still won't go through....??
I think it really should be a lot easier to configure than this--can anybody help fix this??
Thanks!
--Jackie
Wayne Mery द्वारा
चुने गए समाधान
Matt said
I will have to look and see if I can find the topic again.
Found it. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1275293
संदर्भ में यह जवाब पढ़ें 👍 1All Replies (14)
Wait--I tried sfhowes' suggestion to reboot in safe mode, and it worked!!! *Finally*!!! ;=) ;=)
I was able to successfully set up the 2 GMail accounts I had wanted to through AutoDetect. ;)
- Except* when I went back into regular mode, I then kept getting the errors from TB that it couldn't connect to the server......?? So I still haven't isolated the prob that TB is having trouble with in connecting.....??
So......I still can't use the TB accounts using regular Mac boot settings.....??
Is it "safe" to use in safe mode, just for the transfer of e-mails I want to do, then go back to regular mode for my other tasks? But this is kinda a hassle......;/
Thanks!
--Jackie
What are your login items?
https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/mac-help/mh21210/mac
Unless it's a driver issue, you may need to disable all the items, test in normal mode, then add them back one-by-one in normal mode, until the problem returns.
I did discover Oauth2 as an authentication method ... just now ... in a different area of TB 68.4.1.
It is hiding in the Server Settings section of the Account Settings panel. Now I need to know what, if anything, I need to do to successfully switch to it.
I'll try this advice here and let you know: https://www.supertechcrew.com/thunderbird-oauth2-gmail/
Good call on asking her to start up in Safe Mode!!! The Fact that everything is OK in safe mode "Proves" that TB Is OK and my advice to call Apple Technical Support was correct. One of her start up extensions IS Fouling up Thunderbird - on her system.
And I discovered that Oauth2 IS In there somewhere ... will have to cancel that Bug I created after all.
See:
Sea Mac द्वारा
I got my Gmail account running on an Oauth2 Key now. Thunderbird, On my old beater Mac, is a welcome guest ... and "Insecure APP Access" is now OFF for GMAIL ... so I voided the bug I created. I had to go into preferences and Enable Cookies in Thunderbird to make it WORK!!!! Step by step instructions on how to do it are here. -------> https://www.supertechcrew.com/thunderbird-oauth2-gmail/ But she STILL has an issue with start up items ... and SHOULD call Apple Tech Support about this issue.
It's helpful to know that Mac users can still enable OAuth2 in the account settings, after adding the account, but I think it is still a valid bug if the option isn't visible in the account setup, as it is in Windows. Users shouldn't be required, and most won't know in advance, to adjust the authentication after setup.
Thanks again, everyone, for suggestions! ;)
My login items are Startup Sound and JAgent applications.
I'd rather keep the Startup Sound, as it's fun and I added it for....a startup sound. ;)
I looked up JAgent, and it's a watcher app for the JoinMe program for an Android phone. I'd still want to use it occasionally if I want to download files from my phone.
But I really don't see why these would be blocking TB, as none of them involve security or Internet issues......??
There may be hidden startup apps, but how would I see them....??
I did find 0Auth2 where SeaMac said, but it had already been chosen with the AutoDetect option.
I agree it should still be listed as a bug, if it's not an option for the user in the manual config window.
I could call Apple Support, but am reluctant to if I'm only going to get the answer that they don't support TB (and after waiting 45 mins. on the phone)......??
Suggested next steps......?
Thanks!
--Jackie
It's easy enough to disable the Login Items and restart in normal mode, and see if TB connects. Also, look in the StartupItems folder for other apps that launch at startup.
Thanks, sfhowes!
But the link you sent was for the older Macs (which I have, running Tiger 10.4.11, but I don't have an issue with that OS).....;/ The info on that page doesn't apply to El Capitan, 10.11.
In El Capitan, there's only the option to totally remove the Startup Items, but not to activate them again later on (would have to go back and totally install them again).
Also, I checked the System ----> Library -----> Startup Items, and it was empty. I also checked my User ------> Library folder, and there was no Startup Items folder. The only Startup Items I found were under Users/Groups under System Preferences.
I also did a test in Safe Boot mode with TB 68. It runs kinda slow, and then keeps giving me an error saying Authentication Error or sumpin' similar.....?? I noticed not all e-mails had been synched as well (i.e., some were missing).....??
At this point, it's better for me to keep using TB 3 on the older Mac (at least the e-mails synch, but slowly)......;/ *sigh*
Thanks!
--Jackie
Someone else with a mac had connectivity issues and after much messing around with apple support they had him doing weird things on startup.
I will have to look and see if I can find the topic again. But in the interim, on preferences> Advanced > Network and disk space In the connection settings button.
Change the default setting from the default use system proxy to none and see if that has any effect. I am surmising this from what I remember. Try the auto detect as well is none does not work.
चयनित समाधान
Matt said
I will have to look and see if I can find the topic again.
Found it. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1275293
OMG, *THANKS*, Matt!!! ;=) ;=)
- FINALLY*, a permanent solution!!! ;=) ;=)
Why can't TB just fix this bug for newer Macs?!??!!! ;=P Can you pls. maybe add this to the bug list....?!??
Now TB 64 works like my older TB 3, but a bit faster........;=)
- THANKS*!!! ;=)
--Jackie
Actually as the original topic suggests. The bug it in MACOS, he spent time with apple support to get a crude workaround that in macOS I modified for you. This is just a workaround for a macOS bug based on that thread.
So is it a Mac OS bug only when using TB, or is it a bug for other programs? If it's only when using TB, then isn't that a TB bug....??
But *thanks* for streamlining the workaround so nice! ;)
Though now that I've got it working, do you know why I get these periodic errors saying there are authentication probs with the gmail server....?? I get them when I go back and forth between accounts. The error ultimately resolves itself, but it's pretty irritating......;/
Thanks!
--Jackie
All I know is what is in the other support topic I linked to. Apple support told him it was an Apple bug. I assume it is. I catainly have no apple product to test it on.
Telling Thunderbird not to use the system proxy appears to work and using the system proxy should work as it is a more compatible setting, just go with the flow as it were. but why it does not work for some folks I have no idea.