How to Fix Thunderbird Stuck on Checking Password Error?

Have you also encountered a situation in which Thunderbird stuck on checking password and you get no access to your data? If yes, then we are here to guide you through this error and help you resolve it swiftly. So, Thunderbird is an amazing email client that supports multiple email clients, but sometimes due to possible authentication or server issues, the user encounters Thunderbird hangs on checking password situation. This not only makes the user panic or frustrated but also leads to a risk of data loss. Thus, do not worry anymore, as this blog post covers everything from the reasons and manual ways to the best alternative solution that every expert recommends in such a situation. So, without any further ado, let’s dive in!

Reasons Behind Thunderbird Stuck on Checking Password

There are multiple factors that make Thunderbird hangs on checking password, and thus, to know about them in detail, read the points.

• The primary reason can be that the user might have entered an older or incorrect password.
• Also, if the user’s OAuth2 feature is not set properly, then Thunderbird freezes on “Checking Password”.
• Another possible reason is that any antivirus or firewall may be blocking Thunderbird from accessing the mail server.
• Apart from this, wrong configuration or any issue in the IMAP/SMTP server also led to Thunderbird stuck on checking password.
• Furthermore, another reason behind this is that the user might not be using the app-specific password, which is required to log in.
• Over and above that, corrupt profile data or Thunderbird add-ons can also create such blunders.
• Last but not least, one more prominent cause of this error is a weak internet connection that is unable Thunderbird to move further in the login procedure.

Manual Way to Fix Thunderbird Hangs on Checking Password Issue

There are n number of conventional solutions that can help a user bypass this issue of Thunderbird account configuration. However, there is no guarantee that a single way can help in fixing Thunderbird stuck on checking password since the user needs to follow multiple solutions. So, have a quick glance at these indirect ways.

1. Change the Settings of Thunderbird Firewall

1. First of all, open Windows Security on your device.
2. Now, go to the Firewall and network protection option.
3. Once done, click on the Allow an app through the Firewall option.
4. Further, check that Thunderbird is approved for the Public and Private networks.
5. After this, restart your system and check whether the Thunderbird stuck on checking password got resolved or not.

Note: Apart from this, you can also open your antivirus software and make sure that Thunderbird falls in the whitelist category. And, if not, do the required setting changes.

2. Fix the Thunderbird Email Account

1. Before doing any further steps, make sure to take a backup of Thunderbird files.
2. Once done, run Thunderbird and open Account Settings.
3. From there, eliminate the account that is causing the problem.
4. After this, reconfigure the account using the manual way. Make sure to add the correct server settings.
5. Lastly, save the settings and check the status of the Thunderbird issue.

3. Launch Thunderbird in Safe Mode Using PowerShell

1. First of all, close the running Thunderbird.
2. Then, open PowerShell on your screen.
3. After this, type the command, “thunderbird.exe -safe-mode”.
4. Hit the Enter button, and this will disable the unnecessary obstruction.
5. Finally, run Thunderbird again, and there is a chance that the issue where Thunderbird stuck on checking password will be resolved.

Note: While starting PowerShell, make sure to run it as an administrator. Also, apart from PowerShell, users can type the same command in the Windows Run box. 

4. Update the Thunderbird Saved Passwords

1. Firstly, start Thunderbird and click on Tools.
2. Then, choose Options and select Privacy & Security.
3. Navigate to the Passwords section and hit the Saved Passwords button.
4. Now, in the pop-up window, check the settings, see the saved password, and click on the Remove button.
5. Further, close Thunderbird and re-open that.
6. After this, enter the correct password, and the error of Thunderbird stuck on checking password will be fixed.

Note: For a lot of other email clients, such as Gmail, Outlook, and more, the user must know the App Password, as in Thunderbird, only that password is supportable. 

5. Fix the Thunderbird Authentication Settings

1. Run Thunderbird on your device.
2. Click on Account Settings and then select Server Settings.
3. Now, in the authentication method section, change the settings to OAuth2 or Normal Password, accordingly.
4. Once done, navigate to the Outgoing Server (SMTP) and do the same settings there.
5. Finally, restart Thunderbird and log in using the right credentials.

Drawbacks of The Manual Ways

• Very technical and complex to follow for non-tech users.
• Do not guarantee the result, which makes it unreliable.
• The user may need to follow all the solutions and still can’t fix Thunderbird stuck on checking password.
• May lead to data loss or alteration as they are prone to error.

Alternative Solution to Fix Thunderbird Hangs on Checking Password

There is no guarantee that the manual method to resolve Thunderbird freezes on checking password will work in all cases. And that is why it is always suggested to choose a Thunderbird Converter Tool. It not only helps the user save their data for long-term future use but also allows them to switch the email client in case of no solution. Thus, this tool has 30+ export options, which include prominent email clients and file extensions. The best thing is that it supports bulk action, has an easy-to-use interface, keeps the data original, supports every attachment/element of the files, and ensures no privacy breach at all. Also, to make the user familiar with this advanced tool and test its efficiency, there is a demo edition as well, which is completely free of cost and has no charges at all. The quick steps to use this tool are:

1. Install and run the tool.
   
   
2. Select Thunderbird data using the given options.
   
3. Choose the export option from the list there.
   
4. Give credentials or the saving location, accordingly.
   
5. Click on Export to get the output.
   

Conclusion

Hence, in this entire page, we briefly shared multiple ways to address and overcome the Thunderbird stuck on checking password error. This included various conventional ways, which are not only indirect but also complex to follow. Therefore, professionals always rely on a tool like the one mentioned above, as it takes the data backup and offers various options to the user so that they can bail out of this situation swiftly.