Why can't I progress beyond entering my username when configuring Thunderbird to use Gmail?

I've always used my Gmail accounts with Thunderbird. Until two days ago I was using them and then I decided to install Ubuntu Gnome 16.04 - which I had previously used and worked fine with Gmail+Thunderbird -, now I can't get through the Google sign in to configure my imap gmail account.

I enter the appropriate info and when I hit done it goes to that usual google page where you have to enter your username and then hit next to enter the password. That's when it gets stuck: I hit next and nothing happens.

Any ideas?

Solution 1:

You'll have to install the beta version of Thunderbird. Please follow these steps.

1. Open a terminal window;

2. Uninstall current version of thunderbird by entering:

   sudo apt-get remove thunderbird
   

3. Add "thunderbird-next" ppa (contains releases of Thunderbird from the beta channel) by entering:

   sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/thunderbird-next
   

4. Download the package lists from the repositories and update them by entering:

   sudo apt-get update
   

5. Install the new version of Thunderbird by entering:

   sudo apt-get install thunderbird
   

6. After installation ends close the terminal window. Now you should have the 1:54.0 version of the software. You can check this opening thunderbird, and clicking "Help" > "about thunderbird" from the menu. A new window appears informing the version.

7. Now you can configure the Google account normally.

Solution 2:

That was a bug in Thunderbird 52.0.1, concerning improvement on Google sign-in process on Apr 20, 2017.

see: https://developers.googleblog.com/2016/08/modernizing-oauth-interactions-in-native-apps.html

And it was fixed in Thunderbird 52.1.0 released today, Apr 30, 2017.

refer to https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1359297

Solution 3:

Alternate Workaround:

If anyone needs a workaround for any reason as I did, here is one option to consider to get your gmail working in Thunderbird without the patch or beta release.

First in your gmail account you will need to have “Allow less secure apps” turned on. You can always turn this back off when you have OAuth working again. here is the link to the setting. Google tool screenshot

Next, In Thunderbird > account settings > server settings > Change the Authentication method from “OAuth” to “Normal Password”.

Last change the SMTP server settings to normal as well (to be able to send out email).

This got me back into my email when I can’t get the latest patch for Thunderbird easily.