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Repetitive requests for password

  • 2 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 3 views
  • Last reply by DonaldG

DonaldG
DonaldG
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I use AOL mail. Recently, Thunderbird started repetitively asking for passwords even though they are saved. Sometimes clicking retry or x'ing it out seems to let it go forward. I did switch from pop to imap so don't know if that is part of the problem. It happens randomly and especially if I select a saved folder. I even deleted Thunderbird and the associated appdata files and did a new download to reinstall. The problem still happens. I have also experienced it with my laptop so I think it is a Thunderbird problem, but will have to discontinue using Thunderbird if it continues. Would hate to do that as I have used the program for years and have really enjoyed it.

I use AOL mail. Recently, Thunderbird started repetitively asking for passwords even though they are saved. Sometimes clicking retry or x'ing it out seems to let it go forward. I did switch from pop to imap so don't know if that is part of the problem. It happens randomly and especially if I select a saved folder. I even deleted Thunderbird and the associated appdata files and did a new download to reinstall. The problem still happens. I have also experienced it with my laptop so I think it is a Thunderbird problem, but will have to discontinue using Thunderbird if it continues. Would hate to do that as I have used the program for years and have really enjoyed it.

Chosen solution

I think I have fixed the problem. I started to think that if the retry would work after a while then maybe Thunderbird was not allowing enough time for AOL to connect and respond. I opened the configuration manager and searched for timeout entries and found that email server timeouts were all set at 29. I doubled them all to 60 and now Thunderbird seems to be behaving properly.

As this is a recent problem I don't know if AOL response time has slowed down or if a recent Thunderbird update changed the AOL default. Either way I think the answer if for Mozilla to increase the default timeout for AOL email.

Thanks to christ1 for the response. It didn't solve the issue, but it did get me to thinking about the speed issue between Thunderbird and AOL and that led me to the solution.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (2)

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
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I'd rather suspect the AOL servers to be the culprit. AOL appears to be very slow here, and I also do get the password prompts every once in a while. I don't think there's much which can be done about it other than AOL improving their server performance.

DonaldG
DonaldG Question owner
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Chosen Solution

I think I have fixed the problem. I started to think that if the retry would work after a while then maybe Thunderbird was not allowing enough time for AOL to connect and respond. I opened the configuration manager and searched for timeout entries and found that email server timeouts were all set at 29. I doubled them all to 60 and now Thunderbird seems to be behaving properly.

As this is a recent problem I don't know if AOL response time has slowed down or if a recent Thunderbird update changed the AOL default. Either way I think the answer if for Mozilla to increase the default timeout for AOL email.

Thanks to christ1 for the response. It didn't solve the issue, but it did get me to thinking about the speed issue between Thunderbird and AOL and that led me to the solution.

Modified by DonaldG