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Gmail requires me to "allow access to less secure devices" in order for Thunderbird to make an IMAP connection to my gmail account. Help?

  • 4 replies
  • 5 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Paskiausią atsakymą parašė George Redden

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Thunderbird would not make a connection with my gmail account. I then got a message from Gmail saying the connection was blocked. I has to unset, then reset the "allow access to less secure devices" button in my gmail setting (through Google, not Thunderbird). Should I be concerned? The setting will affect other gmail connections. Is Thunderbird less secure?

Thunderbird would not make a connection with my gmail account. I then got a message from Gmail saying the connection was blocked. I has to unset, then reset the "allow access to less secure devices" button in my gmail setting (through Google, not Thunderbird). Should I be concerned? The setting will affect other gmail connections. Is Thunderbird less secure?

Chosen solution

Normally Gmail is accessed using oAuth2.0. But Google do not make that available for those using POP mail. So in your case you must allow the less secure apps for the POP mail account.

I use POP on Gmail, I have the less secure option turned on to get my mail. All it is is a setting that allows you to connect to Gmail using a password and user name as you have done until now. Google came up with a new idea, required it that worked out that there was not a single desktop application at the time that supported oAuth2.0 so they invented the less secure apps setting and talked about how much less secure it is. marketing hype at least some of it is. But regardless of what it is, you have to use it for POP per Googles requirement. Silly hey.

Skaityti atsakymą kartu su kontekstu 👍 4

All Replies (4)

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Please post your Troubleshooting Information. At the top right of the Thunderbird window, click the menu button , then select Help > Troubleshooting Information. Press the Copy text to clipboard button and paste the information into your reply.

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Hope this helps...


 Application Basics
   Name: Thunderbird
   Version: 45.4.0
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   Profile Folder: Show Folder
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   Enabled Plugins: about:plugins
   Build Configuration: about:buildconfig
   Memory Use: about:memory
 Mail and News Accounts
   account2:
     INCOMING: account2, , (none) Local Folders, plain, passwordCleartext
   account3:
     INCOMING: account3, , (pop3) mail.srv.net:110, plain, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , mail.srv.net:587, plain, passwordCleartext, true
   account4:
     INCOMING: account4, , (pop3) mail.srv.net:110, plain, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , mail.srv.net:587, plain, passwordCleartext, true
   account5:
     INCOMING: account5, , (imap) smtp.nbi.ku.dk:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.nbi.ku.dk:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account7:
     INCOMING: account7, , (imap) imap.gmail.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.googlemail.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account8:
     INCOMING: account8, , (pop3) pop.googlemail.com:995, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.googlemail.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account9:
     INCOMING: account9, , (imap) imap.googlemail.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.googlemail.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
 Crash Reports
   http://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-e4a5f903-74d9-475c-9213-21efb2151211 (12/11/2015)
   http://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-58f01e5d-1099-437b-aeec-263b52151120 (11/20/2015)
   http://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-ff6f2622-af1f-4275-a474-11ae12150914 (9/14/2015)
   http://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-9f0716d3-052f-454e-8425-82b022150411 (4/11/2015)
   http://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-fc87ed75-1869-4556-9121-ff5df2131123 (11/23/2013)
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   Manually sort folders, 1.1.1, true, tbsortfolders@xulforum.org
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Chosen Solution

Normally Gmail is accessed using oAuth2.0. But Google do not make that available for those using POP mail. So in your case you must allow the less secure apps for the POP mail account.

I use POP on Gmail, I have the less secure option turned on to get my mail. All it is is a setting that allows you to connect to Gmail using a password and user name as you have done until now. Google came up with a new idea, required it that worked out that there was not a single desktop application at the time that supported oAuth2.0 so they invented the less secure apps setting and talked about how much less secure it is. marketing hype at least some of it is. But regardless of what it is, you have to use it for POP per Googles requirement. Silly hey.

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Thanks. That was helpful.