Thunderbird doesn't store your password where you can see it
Thunderbird (the email client made by Mozilla) does not display your saved password in plain text anywhere in the program. This is intentional — it protects your account if someone gains access to your computer. If you need your password, you have two paths: recover it from your email provider, or reset it through Thunderbird's built-in tools.
The confusion usually comes from the fact that Thunderbird remembers your password after you enter it once, so it logs in automatically. That memory is encrypted and locked away. You cannot and should not be able to read it directly.
Key Takeaways
- Thunderbird encrypts and hides saved passwords on purpose — you cannot view them in the program settings.
- Your actual password lives with your email provider (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or whoever hosts your account), not with Thunderbird.
- If you have forgotten your password, go to your email provider's login page and use their "Forgot Password" link to reset it.
- After you reset your password with your provider, update it in Thunderbird by going to Account Settings and re-entering the new password.
- If Thunderbird is asking for a password you do not remember, check whether you set up a Primary Password — that is separate from your email password.
How to find your password through your email provider
Your email password is managed by the company that hosts your email account. If you use Gmail, your password is stored by Google. If you use Outlook, it is stored by Microsoft. Thunderbird straightforward uses that password to log in on your behalf — it does not create or store the password itself.
To recover or reset your password, go directly to your email provider's website and use their account recovery tool. Here are the main ones:
- Gmail: Go to accounts.google.com, click "Sign in", then click "Forgot password?" on the login screen. Google will ask you to verify your identity using a recovery email or phone number.
- Outlook or Hotmail: Go to account.microsoft.com, click "Sign in", then click "Can't access your account?" and follow the recovery steps.
- Yahoo Mail: Go to login.yahoo.com, click "Sign in", then click "Trouble signing in?" and select "I forgot my password".
- Other providers: Visit your email provider's main website, find the login page, and look for a "Forgot Password" or "Can't Sign In" link.
You will need access to a recovery email address or phone number you set up with the account. If you no longer have access to those, contact your email provider's support team — they have additional verification methods.
Updating your password in Thunderbird after you reset it
Once you have reset your password with your email provider, Thunderbird still has the old password saved. You need to update it so Thunderbird can log in with the new one.
Open Thunderbird and go to Edit (or Thunderbird on Mac) → Account Settings. On the left side, find your email account and click it. In the main panel, look for Server Settings or Incoming Server. Scroll down until you see a field labeled Password. Delete the old password and type in your new one. Click OK to save.
Thunderbird will test the connection. If it succeeds, you are done. If it fails, double-check that you typed the new password correctly and that your email provider's password reset has finished processing (sometimes there is a short delay).
If Thunderbird is asking for a "Primary Password"
Some Thunderbird users set up a Primary Password — a master password that encrypts all saved passwords in the program. If Thunderbird is asking you for a password and you are not sure which one it wants, it may be asking for this Primary Password, not your email password.
A Primary Password is something you create yourself in Thunderbird's security settings. If you set one up and have forgotten it, there is no recovery option — Thunderbird cannot retrieve it for you. Your only choice is to reset Thunderbird's password storage, which will erase all saved passwords and require you to re-enter them.
To reset the password storage, close Thunderbird completely. Then go to your Thunderbird profile folder (the location varies by operating system — search "Thunderbird profile folder" for your system). Find the file called key4.db and delete it. When you restart Thunderbird, it will ask you to set up a new Primary Password or skip this step. You will then need to re-enter your email password.
What to do if Thunderbird keeps asking for your password
If Thunderbird repeatedly asks for your password even after you enter it correctly, the problem is usually one of three things: the password you entered is wrong, your email provider has changed its security settings, or Thunderbird's connection settings are incorrect.
First, verify that you are typing the password correctly by testing it on your email provider's website. Log out, then log back in using the exact password you are entering in Thunderbird. If that works, the password is correct.
Next, check whether your email provider requires an app password instead of your regular password. Gmail and Outlook both offer this for security reasons. If you have two-factor authentication turned on, you may need to generate a special app password just for Thunderbird. Check your email provider's security settings or support page for "app passwords" or "less find apps".
If neither of those solves it, go back to Account Settings and verify that the incoming server address is correct. For Gmail, it should be imap.gmail.com (or pop.gmail.com if you use POP instead of IMAP). For Outlook, it should be imap-mail.outlook.com. A typo here will cause repeated password prompts.
Protecting your password going forward
Once you have reset your password and Thunderbird is working again, consider a few steps to keep your account safer. Use a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or KeePass to store your email password in an encrypted vault rather than relying on Thunderbird's memory. This way, if your computer is compromised, the password is not sitting in Thunderbird's files.
Turn on two-factor authentication with your email provider if it is available. This means that even if someone learns your password, they cannot log in without a code from your phone. Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo all support this.
If you use Thunderbird on a shared computer, do not let it save your password at all. Instead, enter it each time you open the program. This prevents other users from accessing your email through Thunderbird.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see my saved Thunderbird password in the settings?
No. Thunderbird encrypts saved passwords and does not display them anywhere in the program, even in Account Settings. This is a security feature. If you need your password, you must recover it from your email provider's website.
What is the difference between my email password and my Thunderbird password?
There is only one password — your email password, which your email provider manages. Thunderbird uses that same password to log in. If you set up a Primary Password in Thunderbird, that is a separate password that only unlocks Thunderbird's encrypted storage.
Do I need to change my password in Thunderbird if I change it with my email provider?
Yes. Go to Account Settings, find the Password field under Server Settings, delete the old password, and type the new one. Thunderbird will not automatically sync password changes from your email provider.
What if I never set a password and Thunderbird is still asking for one?
Thunderbird is likely asking for a Primary Password, which is a security feature you or someone else set up in the program. If you did not create one, check whether someone else with access to the computer did. If you cannot remember it, you will need to delete the key4.db file in your Thunderbird profile folder to reset it.
Is it safe to let Thunderbird save my password?
It is reasonably safe if your computer is password-protected and you are the only user. However, a password manager is more find because it stores the password separately from your email client. If your computer is shared or you use public WiFi, do not let Thunderbird save your password.