Cannot connect Yahoo email to Thunderbird client
Hi,
I've recently tried connecting my Yahoo account to my Thunderbird client (102.12.0 (64-bit) on Windows 10 but it refuses to connect. I add the account and use the recommended settings, I get through entering my email, password, checking I am not a bot, and autheniticating using an app but then it just reverts back to asking me to entering my email again (screen shot 1) and never connects.
I have a VPN but the issue remains when it is turned off. I have also tried logging in to my email in Firefox and this works fine so there's no issue with the credentials at all. The settings are the standard (second screen shot)
Can you advise please as this is my main email address and I'd like it working, as has done for years, in Thunderbird.
Many thanks
[EDIT] Antivirus was the cause. Had to add exceptions for https://mail.yahoo.com and https://login.yahoo.com in my antivirus settings to finally get access
Modified by oobersmardon
Chosen solution
App passwords are usually only required if the the authentication method is restricted (by the provider or the mail app) to 'normal password', or 2-step verification is set on the account. With OAuth2 authentication, enter the account password, not an app password, when asked for a 'password'.
I suggest turning off the VPN and perhaps running Windows in safe mode to bypass startup apps that might be interfering, especially antivirus.
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Second screen shot as it was missing in the original post
Yahoo requires a different password when using an email client and requires OAUTH2 authentication. This URL may assist: https://help.yahoo.com/kb/SLN15241.html
In your first picture, the email address has not been entered automatically, which happens when cookies are not accepted in TB Settings/Privacy & Security, which will block the OAuth authentication from completing.
Hi all. Thanks for the tips. I've added Yahoo to the exceptions in Thunderbird and I can now see it auto-complete my email address on the login in the first picture I posted. Which is an improvement.
However, I have also generated an app password for TB and used that for authentication, but it does not accept it and says it is incorrect (first screen shot). Not only that it sends me through the robot check twice before it tells me it is incorrect. If I used the normal account password I get the same effect, check I'm not a robot and ask an for authentication code, then it just goes back to the start (but doesn't complain about it being an incorrect password).
If it is any help I get the same on my Android phone when I try to add it to the gmail app so it suggests there's something up with the settings yahoo will accept for a connection rather than the app itself, since one is Thunderbird on a PC and the other is Gmail on a phone.
Chosen Solution
App passwords are usually only required if the the authentication method is restricted (by the provider or the mail app) to 'normal password', or 2-step verification is set on the account. With OAuth2 authentication, enter the account password, not an app password, when asked for a 'password'.
I suggest turning off the VPN and perhaps running Windows in safe mode to bypass startup apps that might be interfering, especially antivirus.
Bingo! Turns out my antivirus was the problem. Had to add exceptions for https://mail.yahoo.com and https://login.yahoo.com to the antivirus before it would work. I now have my emails as I had before :)
Many thanks peeps!
Modified by oobersmardon
For our possible use for future questions, please share what anti-virus you are using? Thanks.
I was using Avast! (specifically 23.5.6066 (build 23.5.8195.786) - free version) antivirus on PC. Had to add exceptions for https://mail.yahoo.com and https://login.yahoo.com in my antivirus exception settings to finally get access
THank you. We see Avast regularly on the forum.