What is gMail's Mail App Password

I have a number of gMail accounts. When I look at my security settings in Google. I see 3 entries for each account..

Mail App Password
Thunderbird (which I'm moving away from)
Mailbird (which I'm moving to)

I'm curious about the first one, Mail App Password. It seems to have been created approx 2 years ago. But I cannot think what it could be for? As far as I know, I don't need Mail App Password unless it is somehow associated with the Thunderbird and Mailbird emails. If I delete it. Will my Thunderbird/Mailbird programs still have full access to my gMail Accounts. Any light shed on this would be helpful.

I also have 2 step authentication on for all accounts. I assumed this was for verifying me as a user. But I'm wondering if Thunderbird/Mailbird need some settings to cope with logging on with 2 step authentication?

My basic problem is I cannot see any differences in google for all of these accounts. But some of my Mailbird accounts won't send mail. So maybe there is a setting in Mailbird, which I've overlooked, for why this is happening?

SoFine409 said:

Hi stub. See if this will help you understand app specific passwords https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185833?hl=en

Thank you. But that doesn't really answer the question as to whether I need the Mail App Password to sign into Thunderbird or Mailbird, when I already have them setup separately. I'm also wondering what the heck might be using my Mail App Password, if it isn't Thunderbird or Mailbird. My guess is that it's surplus to requirements. But I don't really want to delete it just on a hunch.

Would the Mail App Password be used for signing into gMail in my browser?

stub said:

Would the Mail App Password be used for signing into gMail in my browser?

This any help?

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185833

In your Google Security Settings, simply revoke access from apps you no longer use or trust...

OK. It looks like a picture is better than 1000 words. I'm not very expert at uploading pics. I hope you can read it. It's this top one on this list. Mail App Password. I don't know what this is. Is it required in order to run Thunderbird/Mailbird below it. I would prefer to know what this is before I delete it. Because I'm already having way too much disruption with my email with this changeover from Thunderbird to Mailbird. And I would have no idea how to create it if it's needed.

Attachment 222607

@stub, if you're intending to download emails from a Gmail account into Thunderbird or Mailbird you will need that password or you won't get access to the Gmail servers.

stub said:

OK. It looks like a picture is better than 1000 words. I'm not very expert at uploading pics. I hope you can read it. It's this top one on this list. Mail App Password. I don't know what this is. Is it required in order to run Thunderbird/Mailbird below it. I would prefer to know what this is before I delete it. Because I'm already having way too much disruption with my email with this changeover from Thunderbird to Mailbird. And I would have no idea how to create it if it's needed.

Attachment 222607

I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with that setting!

Sheltieuk said:

@stub, if you're intending to download emails from a Gmail account into Thunderbird or Mailbird you will need that password or you won't get access to the Gmail servers.

Thank you for your reply. I'm thinking this is an inaccurate statement. I just checked 2 accounts, 1 a gmail account, and 1 using gmail due to it being added to my Google Suite. Both do not have this Mail App Password included in their settings, but I am receiving the emails from these 2 accounts into both Thunderbird and Mailbird. Both these Google Accounts Settings for these 2 email addresses also have the Thunderbird and Mailbird settings you see in my example.

So now I'm even more perplexed. I have at least 2 accounts which don't have this Mail App Password setting and I am receiving emails from gMail. WTF is this Mail App Password?

Let me just say. I am appreciating everybody's help with this problem.