{"id":14069,"date":"2026-09-21T09:20:41","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T07:20:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/?post_type=manual_kb&#038;p=14069"},"modified":"2026-09-21T09:20:45","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T07:20:45","slug":"email-client-keeps-asking-for-your-password-causes-and-fixes","status":"publish","type":"manual_kb","link":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/email-client-keeps-asking-for-your-password-causes-and-fixes\/","title":{"rendered":"Email Client Keeps Asking for Your Password: Causes and Fixes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"translation-block translation-block-merged\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird, or another email client keeps asking for a password while webmail works, the mailbox is reachable but the email application is not completing its separate sign-in to the mail server. The cause may be a changed password, an outdated authentication method, an expired app password, an incomplete OAuth sign-in, or an account lockout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/email-client-keeps-asking-for-your-password-causes-and-fixes\/#Why_webmail_works_while_the_email_client_does_not\" >Why webmail works while the email client does not<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/email-client-keeps-asking-for-your-password-causes-and-fixes\/#Common_causes_of_repeated_password_prompts\" >Common causes of repeated password prompts<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/email-client-keeps-asking-for-your-password-causes-and-fixes\/#The_account_password_changed\" >The account password changed<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/email-client-keeps-asking-for-your-password-causes-and-fixes\/#The_stored_credentials_are_incorrect\" >The stored credentials are incorrect<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/email-client-keeps-asking-for-your-password-causes-and-fixes\/#Legacy_authentication_is_blocked\" >Legacy authentication is blocked<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/email-client-keeps-asking-for-your-password-causes-and-fixes\/#An_app_password_has_expired_or_is_no_longer_valid\" >An app password has expired or is no longer valid<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/email-client-keeps-asking-for-your-password-causes-and-fixes\/#OAuth_authorization_is_incomplete\" >OAuth authorization is incomplete<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/email-client-keeps-asking-for-your-password-causes-and-fixes\/#The_account_is_locked\" >The account is locked<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/email-client-keeps-asking-for-your-password-causes-and-fixes\/#Safe_order_for_fixing_the_sign-in\" >Safe order for fixing the sign-in<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/email-client-keeps-asking-for-your-password-causes-and-fixes\/#When_to_contact_mybox_support\" >When to contact mybox support<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/knowledgebase\/email-client-keeps-asking-for-your-password-causes-and-fixes\/#What_to_expect_after_the_fix\" >What to expect after the fix<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_webmail_works_while_the_email_client_does_not\"><\/span>Why webmail works while the email client does not<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Webmail and an email client use separate connections and sign-in settings. A successful login at <a href=\"https:\/\/mail.mybox.com\">mybox Webmail<\/a> confirms that the mailbox can be reached through the browser. It does not confirm that Outlook, Apple Mail, or Thunderbird has the correct server addresses, ports, password, or authentication method. <a href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/knowledgebase\/email-works-in-webmail-but-not-in-outlook-apple-mail-or-thunderbird-diagnostic-faq\/\">See the client connection checks<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_causes_of_repeated_password_prompts\"><\/span>Common causes of repeated password prompts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_account_password_changed\"><\/span>The account password changed<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"mybox-2492914732\" class=\"mybox-content mybox-entity-placement\"><div class=\"early-access-banner-inpost\">\r\n  <div class=\"banner-left-inpost\">\r\n    <div class=\"icon-box-inpost\">\r\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/square-info-icon.svg\" alt=\"Info\">\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"text-box-inpost\">\r\n      <span class=\"label-inpost\"><span class=\"translation-block translation-block-banner-text\">Early access<\/span><\/span>\r\n      <h4><span class=\"translation-block translation-block-banner-text\">Still need help?<\/span><\/h4>\r\n      <p><span class=\"translation-block translation-block-banner-text\">Contact our customer service team.<\/span><\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <div class=\"banner-right-inpost\">\r\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/panel.mybox.com\/helpdesk2\/v\/list\/\" class=\"banner-button-inpost\"><span class=\"translation-block translation-block-banner-text\">Message us<\/span><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"translation-block translation-block-merged\"><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After a mailbox password change, the email client may continue using the previous password. The client then retries the old credentials and shows the password prompt again. Sign in to webmail with the current password first. Then update the saved password in the email client. If the client offers to remember the password, save the current value only after the sign-in succeeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_stored_credentials_are_incorrect\"><\/span>The stored credentials are incorrect<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A password prompt does not always mean that the password itself has changed. The client may have an incorrect account name or an old saved credential. Check that the account uses the complete mailbox address where the client asks for the username, and enter the same current password that works in webmail. Avoid repeated attempts when the account may be locked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Legacy_authentication_is_blocked\"><\/span>Legacy authentication is blocked<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some email clients or older account profiles use a legacy authentication method. If the mail service no longer accepts that method, entering the correct password will not complete the sign-in. This creates a repeated prompt even though the password works in webmail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use the client\u2019s current sign-in option when it is available. If the client supports a modern authorization window, complete that sign-in instead of entering the password into an older prompt. If the client has no supported authentication option, contact mybox support before changing the mailbox password again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"An_app_password_has_expired_or_is_no_longer_valid\"><\/span>An app password has expired or is no longer valid<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An app password is a separate credential used by an email application when the normal account password cannot be used for that sign-in method. If an app password has expired or been revoked, the client can keep rejecting it and asking for another password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Replace the expired app password with a current one through the account\u2019s approved security process, then update the saved credential in the email client. Do not use an old app password together with a newly changed account password. If the client supports OAuth sign-in, use OAuth instead of an app password when that option is provided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"OAuth_authorization_is_incomplete\"><\/span>OAuth authorization is incomplete<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">OAuth is a sign-in method that sends the user through an authorization window instead of asking the email client to store the account password directly. A repeated prompt can occur when the authorization window was cancelled, did not finish, or is no longer linked to the account profile in the client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start the sign-in again from the client\u2019s account settings and complete every authorization step. If the client continues to return to the password prompt, remove the incomplete account profile only if the client allows it without deleting mailbox data, then add the account again using its supported OAuth option. Check the client\u2019s server addresses and ports as part of this process. <a href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/knowledgebase\/email-works-in-webmail-but-not-in-outlook-apple-mail-or-thunderbird-diagnostic-faq\/\">The client diagnostic steps are listed here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_account_is_locked\"><\/span>The account is locked<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An account lockout can prevent a valid password or app password from being accepted. Repeated attempts from an email client can continue to produce password prompts while the lockout is active.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stop repeated sign-in attempts, confirm that webmail access is available, and contact mybox support if the account remains locked or the client continues to reject the known valid credentials. Support can check the account status and advise on the next safe step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Safe_order_for_fixing_the_sign-in\"><\/span>Safe order for fixing the sign-in<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open mybox Webmail and confirm that the current mailbox password works in the browser.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Close the repeated password prompt in the email client instead of submitting the same credentials many times.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check the client\u2019s account name, server addresses, ports, and authentication setting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the password was recently changed, replace the saved client password with the current one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the client uses an app password, replace an expired or revoked app password with a current credential.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If OAuth is available, start the authorization flow again and complete it in the sign-in window.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Send a test message after the client accepts the sign-in. If sending fails with a message that the sender address was rejected because the user is not logged in, the client has not authenticated correctly to the outgoing SMTP server. <a href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/knowledgebase\/sender-address-rejected-not-logged-in\/\">See the SMTP authentication explanation<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_to_contact_mybox_support\"><\/span>When to contact mybox support<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Contact mybox support when webmail accepts the current credentials but the email client keeps rejecting them after its account settings and authentication method have been updated. Include the email client name, the exact error message, and whether the client uses the normal password, an app password, or OAuth. Also contact support if the account may be locked or if the client cannot complete the outgoing-server sign-in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_expect_after_the_fix\"><\/span>What to expect after the fix<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the client uses the correct credentials and a supported authentication method, the repeated prompt should stop. Messages sent from an email client may not appear in the Webmail Sent folder if the client stores sent messages locally or uses a different sent-mail setting. <a href=\"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/knowledgebase\/why-cant-i-see-messages-sent-from-an-email-client-in-mail-mybox-com\/\">Learn why sent messages may be stored separately<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","manualknowledgebasecat":[41],"manual_kb_tag":[],"class_list":["post-14069","manual_kb","type-manual_kb","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","manualknowledgebasecat-email"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb\/14069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/manual_kb"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb\/14069\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14070,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb\/14069\/revisions\/14070"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"manualknowledgebasecat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manualknowledgebasecat?post=14069"},{"taxonomy":"manual_kb_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybox.com\/help\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/manual_kb_tag?post=14069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}