topic Re: Can't sign in using a third pary email client in Email

Can't sign in using a third pary email client

trevc — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 20:15:25 GMT

Hi.

Does anybody have any idea why my Sky ID password won't work when I'm trying to use Outlook or Thunderbird. Previously I used to generate an app password but for some reason Sky in their wisdom have removed this option and I don't want to have to rely on the web browser since we are now forced to use 2 factor authentication every time I log in which is inconvenient at the very least when trying to quickly check emails – I don’t always have my phone next to me.

Thanks,

Trevor.

Re: Can't sign in using a third pary email client

Mark39 — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 20:18:36 GMT

@trevc it should work with Thunderbird if you select OAuth2 authentication.

Outlook isn't OAuth2 compliant.

Re: Can't sign in using a third pary email client

jayach — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 21:57:00 GMT

What device are you using?

Both Thunderbird and Outlook will work on most devices, but there are differences between the mobile and desktop versions.

Re: Can't sign in using a third pary email client

trevc — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 08:08:03 GMT

Hi. It's the desktop version. I've never been able to log in with my Sky ID password so I've always used the 16 character password generator. Unfortunatley that isn't currently avialable for some reason.

Re: Can't sign in using a third pary email client

jayach — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 13:50:40 GMT

Thunderbird does not need a generated password, just make sure you select OAuth2 as the authentication method.

You will also need to use the Yahoo servers, or the OAuth2 option may not be available.

Tbird Server setting

Classic Outlook does need a generated password, it can't be used without one, but New Outlook (available on both Windows 10 & 11 for free) can, so which version of Outlook are you trying to use?

Re: Can't sign in using a third pary email client

trevc — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 20:40:32 GMT

Hi,

Thanks for the advice and screen shot. I've tried that and it's worked for Thunderbird with my Sky ID password. I was using new outlook (outlook classic stopped working ages ago). but always had to use a generated password for it and had to re-generate it from time to time. My Sky ID password never worked for any version of Outlook.

Guess I'll have to get used to Thunderbird.

Thanks again.

Trevor

Re: Can't sign in using a third pary email client

jayach — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 21:16:58 GMT

@trevc

New Outlook will definately work without a generated password.

It should recognise that your Sky email is a Yahoo account, and set it up as such, if for some reason it is not doing so, select it as Yahoo your self.

Check the icons to make sure you are using New Outlook.

Re: Can't sign in using a third pary email client

trevc — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 21:35:09 GMT

Hi.

Thanks for the info. I removed the account from New Outlook and re-added it and it's now working again. 🙂

Guess the MFA that sky recently implemented changed something as re-adding the account forced me to log into Yahoo using the MFA.

Thanks for the help!

Cheers,

Trevor.

Re: Can't sign in using a third pary email client

jayach — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 21:54:56 GMT

@trevc wrote:
Guess the MFA that sky recently implemented changed something as re-adding the account forced me to log into Yahoo using the MFA.

More likely Microsoft updated Outlook to recognise Sky email addresses as Yahoo.

But as long as it works.🙂