How do I setup Thunderbird for UMBC Gmail?

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These instructions are for UMBC email accounts created or migrated in Gmail.
Make sure IMAP is enabled in your UMBC Gmail account. How do I enable IMAP for Gmail?
If you have not changed your password since migrating to Gmail, you will need to change your password in myUMBC .

Google has deprecated the use of “less secure apps,” including older versions of Mozilla Thunderbird that rely on basic authentication (username and password). As of March 14, 2025, all third-party applications accessing Google services like Gmail must use OAuth 2.0 for authentication. This change enhances security by eliminating the need for app passwords and basic authentication methods.

To continue using Thunderbird with your UMBC Gmail account, ensure you’re using Thunderbird version 78 or later, which supports OAuth 2.0. You’ll need to remove your existing Google account from Thunderbird and re-add it, configuring it to use IMAP with OAuth 2.0.

Launch Thunderbird:
- If it’s your first time using Thunderbird, the Set Up Your Existing Email Address wizard will appear.
- If adding an account, go to Tools > Account Settings > Account Actions > Add Mail Account.
Enter Your Account Information:
- Your name: Enter the name you want to display on outgoing emails.
- Email address: Enter your full UMBC email address (e.g., username@umbc.edu).
- Password: Enter your myUMBC password.
Configure Server Settings Manually:
- Click on Manual config to enter settings manually.
- Incoming:
  - Protocol: IMAP
  - Server hostname: imap.gmail.com
  - Port: 993
  - SSL: SSL/TLS
  - Authentication: OAuth2
- Outgoing:
  - Server hostname: smtp.gmail.com
  - Port: 587
  - SSL: STARTTLS
  - Authentication: OAuth2
- Username: Enter your full UMBC email address for both incoming and outgoing servers.
Complete Setup:
- Click Done.
- A Google sign-in window will appear.
- Enter your UMBC email address and password.
- Grant Thunderbird permission to access your Gmail account.

The first time you send an e-mail from Thunderbird you may see a Login failed message. You will then be prompted for your password.