Your operating system must think you do as that show button uses the password verify dialog from the operating system to verify you are at least knowing your own access password for the local machine.

Thanks for your prompt response Matt. The password required to allow me to access the Thunderbird Password file is my Microsoft Account file password. When I enter this password it is not recognised even although I can enter my Microsoft Account from outside Thunderbird. I understand that there was a recent change to authentication by Microsoft and If that is the case is there a solution in the "pipeline" and it is just a case of waiting? I have found a workaround, but I am a tidy individual and would like to see the problem resolved.

Yes, there were some changes by MS. Maybe, if you post screenshots of your incoming and outgoing server settings, some suggestions will be forthcoming. Thank you.

Thank you for responding to my query David. Thunderbird is now working correctly using a workaround I have found. My main problem now is to try and remove the error where Thunderbird does not accept the correct password for my Microsoft Account. I am almost at the stage of deleting Thunderbird and relying on the web based client offered by BT.

Well, please do post screenshots of your incoming and outgoing servers. They may contribute nothing, but sometimes they open opportunities.

Incoming & Outgoing Server details attached. Another question if I uninstalled Thunderbird & reinstalled a fresh copy of the program would I lose my emails. Many Thanks

Ok, my confusion. You mention an MS account, but I see btinternet. Is that an MS account? You mentioned that MS had made a recent change, but it doesn't take effect until september. In that, the direction was to use MS servers (outlook.office365.com and Oauth2 for incoming and smtp.office365.com and Oauth2 for output, but that doesn't seem to be the issue here. On your question, you don't need to uninstall, just install over the top. Data will remain,

Hi David, I repeat my original query: I am asked for a PIN number by Mozilla Thunderbird when I try to Show Passwords in the Password File.

The password is related to my Microsoft Account, but when the password is entered it is not recognised, even although when I enter my Microsoft account from out with Thunderbird there is no problem with the password.

I want to create a clean version of Thunderbird in order to remove(?) this problem, without losing any existing data if that is possible.

One other problem is that if I reply to a contacts email and I do not remove the history attached to the email Thunderbird will not send the email. If I enter webmail it sends the reply without any problem.

My email address is related to British Telecom (BT) who also supply my landline facilities. This address is not related to Microsoft.

- you can download a fresh version of thunderbird and install over the top of current version without impacting user data. (But, I have a habit of copying to a safe place anyway because computers sometimes make mistakes - and sometimes I do...)

- I don't understand the history on a message. Are you referring to the text written by the sender? What error do you get? Including sender's content in the reply is a standard feature.

Hi David, I repeat my original query: I am asked for a PIN number by Mozilla Thunderbird when I try to Show Passwords in the Password File.

And Thunderbird has no capacity to either ask for or provide a pin for you to use. It really is that simple. Although I understand that some folk have two factor authentication on their Microsoft account and that requires a pin. Microsoft also refuses access to mail accounts using that authentication method and instead requires the authentication method use to be oAuth. Not normal password. They have issues a lot of emails in recent weeks about the change and a September date was suggested in the forum, but personally I have not received anything from them.

The password is related to my Microsoft Account, but when the password is entered it is not recognized, even although when I enter my Microsoft account from out with Thunderbird there is no problem with the password.

I see a possible conflating of two completely different things into one and the result is you are not having any success.

Thunderbird uses your Microsoft account/local password when you try and access the stored passwords. SO that password is whatever you enter into Windows when it asks you if you want to allow whatever program to make changes to your system. It has nothing as such to do with mail or retrieving mail. It may however be a Microsoft office365 or other password for accessing Microsoft online tools like word.

Your mail password, which you are also apparently having issues with is probably ok and your issue is your antivirus as decided Thunderbird needs to be blocked from getting mail because it has a new version number. It is one of the reasons I loath these less than helpful product that sell themselves on fear not quality or usefulness.

There are standard diagnostics, which are rarely used that will help in the diagnosis of the issue;

• Does Thunderbird work as expected in Thunderbird troubleshooting mode?
• Does Thunderbird work as expected with your OS started in safe mode with Networking. Instructions for each operating system: Windows 10/11, Windows 8, Windows 7, OSX

In addition to the above, I suggest you go to the Microsoft support site for you account type and confirm the settings you have in Thunderbird account settings are still correct. That is this link for outlook.com Hotmail live and MSN. https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/pop-imap-and-smtp-settings-for-outlook-com-d088b986-291d-42b8-9564-9c414e2aa040