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You can’t change your email account password in Thunderbird. Change or recover it on your email provider’s website, then update Thunderbird’s saved credentials or sign in again, depending on the account’s authentication method.
1. Change the password with your email provider
Open your provider’s account website in a browser and change the password there. If you’ve forgotten it, use the provider’s recovery process. Mozilla explains that password changes and recovery must be handled by the mail provider: Password Manager – Remember, delete and change passwords in Thunderbird.
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2. Update Thunderbird’s saved sign-in
-
In Thunderbird, open the application menu and choose Settings.
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Enter
passin the settings search field, then open Saved Passwords. -
Find the entry for the relevant mail account or server. What you do next depends on its authentication method.
For a normal-password account
Select the relevant server entry and use the edit action to update the username or password. Alternatively, remove the entry; Thunderbird should prompt you for credentials when it next connects. Enter the new password when prompted.
For an OAuth2 account
Thunderbird stores a provider-issued access token rather than your account password. Remove the saved token from Saved Passwords. When Thunderbird next needs access, complete the provider’s sign-in and authorization prompt. Mozilla describes this OAuth2 flow for Yahoo, AOL, and AT&T accounts in its Yahoo/AOL/AT&T OAuth2 guidance.
3. Check incoming and outgoing authentication
If Thunderbird still can’t receive or send mail, check both the incoming account’s Server Settings and the outgoing SMTP configuration. The two can require separate authentication settings. Use the authentication method your provider requires; entering a new password in a normal-password field may not work if the provider requires OAuth2.
Microsoft-hosted accounts
For Microsoft-hosted services covered by Mozilla’s guidance, basic username-and-password authentication has been deprecated. Mozilla’s article, last updated July 22, 2026, describes OAuth2 settings for both incoming and outgoing mail and notes that the situation is evolving. Follow its current instructions and keep Thunderbird up to date: Microsoft OAuth authentication and Thunderbird.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which Thunderbird credential should you change?
| Authentication method | What Thunderbird stores | What to do after changing the provider password |
|---|---|---|
| Normal password | A saved username and password for a mail server | Edit or remove the relevant saved entry, then provide the updated password when prompted. |
| OAuth2 | A provider-issued access token | Remove the saved token and complete the provider’s sign-in and authorization prompt again. |
Menu labels and provider requirements can vary by Thunderbird release, operating system, and email provider. If the general steps don’t match your account, follow your provider’s current authentication instructions.
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