Sending email via IMAP fails - BT email

[Kman2024]

Using a Thunderbird e-mail client - Windows 11 - and my email account of @talk21.com sending emails from client to e-mail erver has become very, very slow. Downloading into my Inbox is fine with no issues.

Recently I have received a variety of error messages indicating that my password is required, server has timed out, refusal due to a policy issue, etc. is preventing the upload of an email from client to server. It is not possible to send an email. Only very, very occassionally will the server upload an email from the client.

I have confirmed the IMAP settings are correct with the BT email website help guide, confirmed the password is correct and logged on sucessfully via the BT web browser interface to BT email. The same issue arises if I use a different PC/Laptop. I can however send emails from Thunderbird to a @gmail.com account sucessfully without any delays or error messages. Thunderbird supports multiple IMAP accounts.

This has the "feel" of an issue with the email server and not a Thunderbird or client settings issue. Perhaps the IMAP email service is overloaded? Currently I cannot send emails.

Can anyone help me to resolve this issue?

Mamy thanks

Michael

[licquorice]

Just so that you are aware, IMAP is the receive protocol, sending is SMTP. Check your SMTP settings.

[Kman2024]

Licquorice

many thanks for your speedy reply. I can confirm that my settings are identical to yours and were same as the issues were developing. I can also confirm that the slowness I mentioned developed over time and has grown to a point were I am getting the errors listed plus "time-out" errors. I had also deleted and re-installed Thunderbird to see if it was the issue - however the fact that it can send e-mails to the gmail email server seems to confirm that it is not a Thunderbird issue.

Michael

[licquorice · Accepted solution]

Are you currently either a btbroadband customer or paying for premium mail? If neither your account will have been downgraded to basic mail which is only accessible via webmail.

[Kman2024]

I was a BT customer but have not been one for some considerable time. I was not aware that downgrading was to happen or had happened and that access could then only be achieved via a browser not a client interface. If this is what has now happened I understand.

However, it still seems strange that some e-mails were able to be sent to the BT email server, that lengthy delays were occuring in sending and that the error messages reported by Thunderbird were various and confusing, including timeout and password errors.

Many thanks for the information.  I am happy to close this POST as an Accepted Solution unless there is any further commentary.

Michael

[neilg40]

I suddenly started having this same problem.

I decided to switch to Thunderbird because of all the Webmail 'upgrade' issues recently, and for some time all was well, but then Sending just failed.

I can send fine in webmail, and I have the same settings as shown here.

When I look at my account (I am a BT Broadband user) it says my email address is 'Standard' IE not Basic

Any more thoughts?

I've just tried eM client, putting in the same SMTP settings and it pops up a box stating:
"Server says "invalid user ID or password from 109.147.24.78"

Unlike the OP, I cannot send to a gmail account - get the same errors

[Kman2024]

Neilg

as a BT customer you should not be experirencing any e-mail issues.

E-mail providers such as "gmail" have introduced a new e-mail authorisation/protocol scheme called OAUTH2. This requires according to their support notes a reinstall of Thunderbird or other client e-mail system as it is these applications that access the Server using e-mail protocols or by applying a manual fix. It may be that your version of Thunderbird already supports this process (or perhaps not) - if you look at its settings you should see a change in POP/IMAP settings secutity/authentication to OAUTH.

OAUTH2 is alreadying working in Iphones. If you have one check it out. I have no information on Android phones.

Accessing it via a browser (webmail) likely by passes this issue as e-mail protocols are not used.

Information on implementing  OAUTH is available on the support pages for gmail and is not difficult to follow.

Michael

PS - sorry for delay in responding

[neilg40]

@Kman2024 Thanks

Receiving of emails in Thunderbird not a problem - I have the latest, it autoupdates - and I can see OAUTH2 in the POP/IMAP settings.

It just point blank fails to send - I've checked passwords, and other settings are as per BT page.

I gave up and setup the account in Outlook - I have a 365 account - and it worked without having to enter any servers etc. It just worked it all out with my username and password!