topic Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD in Discussions

Trouble with Hotmail (OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD). UNABLE TO LOG IN AT SERVER. PROBABLY WORNG CONFIGURATION, USERNAME OR PASSWORD

chris69 — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:32:46 GMT

For some reason or another, THUNDERBIRD doesn't recognize the settings for OUTLOOK (HOTMAIL). I have tried every setting suggested for Imap and for Pop3 and Thunderbird still says:

IMAP

imap:SSL/TLS
outlook.office365.com
Outgoing
smtp:STARTTLS
smtp.office365.com
Username
xxxx@xxx.com

pop3:SSL/TLS
outlook.office365.com
Outgoing
smtp:STARTTLS
smtp.office365.com
Username
xxxx@xx.com

And it doesn't matter which settings, I use, because this is the ERROR, I get

UNABLE TO LOG IN AT SERVER. PROBABLY WORNG CONFIGURATION, USERNAME OR PASSWORD !!!!

So what is the problem?

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

kevingal — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 12:28:05 GMT

I've had the same problem for the past few days. Has the protocol changed?

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

specialed03 — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 18:17:05 GMT

anyone have any suggestions to make it work?

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

itshim — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 19:14:21 GMT

Having the same problems for more than a week now. With several mail accounts. Access via Thunderbird not possible anymore. Must be a general problem with thunderbird or the outlook servers.

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

itshim — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 19:19:01 GMT

Found a fix: Change authentication method in your thunderbird account settings to "oAuth2"!

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

kevingal — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 15:27:23 GMT

I can confirm that changing the authentication method to OAuth2 works. I may have missed it, but OAuth2 didn't seem to be an option when I was adding the account. I was able to select it when I went to account configuration.

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

kevingal — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 15:28:28 GMT

Thanks for figuring it out, itshim!

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

nobswolf — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 17:08:07 GMT

When using Oauth2 for example to connect an existing IMAP account at Google Mail, Thunderbird uses the local http(s) tcp-ports as a call-back-URL. If you run a local web-server this call-back will not work. I'd say this is bad behaviour. It it is really needed to use a http-callback, it should check which ports are available. Or at least give some feedback to the user that the ports are needed. So my proposals are in this order:

1) use a different method than a local http-port if possible

2) check for free ports and use one of them

3) give a warning that the ports are needed

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

nobswolf — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 17:08:57 GMT

Workaround for the moment:

Stop your local web server until the Oauth2 is finished.

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

Manudinovi — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 09:41:25 GMT

Hello,
which port can I try ? (where can I find free ports ?)
for info I get the problem with the following configuration of Thundrebird

Thank's in advance for your help to a non expert guy ! 😉

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

hippie49sr — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 22:39:13 GMT

whats another outlook express type email, thunderbird is crap

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

Freddy — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 11:50:18 GMT

Yep - I'm beginning to concur. I've been with this for many years, and made donations, but every 18/24 months, it won't give access to my accounts, saying "try another password". It was ok till yesterday, now several accounts are effected - yet again.

For many years, Mozilla used to says it's the fault of Google/hotmail/outlook etc - nothing to do with us. But if you look into it, it's a common fault, that they can't/won't fix.

I'm desperate to use my laptop at present, but can't put up with this yet again, and again.

There is nothing wrong with the addresses or passwords when used on the phone,,,,,,, it's down to mozilla/thunderbird.

I'm also looking around for an alternative..

Good luck out there.

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

Freddy — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 12:10:33 GMT

Didn't work for me i'm afraid, it wouldn't even accept it !

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

Livon — Sat, 16 Sep 2023 15:26:41 GMT

Hello!

After a lot of reading around, and trial and error, this is what I found out, and what finally got my outlook and gmail accounts working again in Thunderbird 115:

Outlook, gmail, yahoo have deprecated basic username/password authentification, and are now requiring OAuth2 authentication. SMTP authentication has been restricted or in some cases, completely disabled. These providers require permission to place cookies for OAuth2 to work smoothly. Here's what worked for me:

1. In Thunderbird, Settings, Privacy and Security, tick "Accept cookies from sites", including "Accept third party cookies". Outlook and gmail require this.

2. In Thunderbird, Tools, Account Settings, set the Authentification method to OAuth2.

3. Next, follow exactly the instructions given on the Mozilla support site, at the link here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/microsoft-oauth-authentication-and-thunderbird-202 . The relevant part is number (2) on the list: "use the config editor to filter for "oauth2", find the appropriate server(s), and delete the entries for "oauth2.issuer" and "auth2.scope".

More info about the Config Editor can be found here: Config Editor (explicit path: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/config-editor)

3. Restart Thunderbird and provide the passwords for your accounts in the pop-up windows as prompted.

Outlook and gmail accounts throw out big, white pop up windows, where you need to log in then click YES to allow Thunderbird to access them. They look like this: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook_com/forum/all/managing-apps-and-services-connected-to-our/63b5d3aa-30b9-49dd-a729-9ba13df4e1eb

Do this for each account to make it compatible with the new authentication protocol of outlook or gmail. It will then send and receive mails through Thunderbird again.

This worked for me. I hope it helps someone else out there too!

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

Hmbc66 — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 21:02:12 GMT

This message is to the Mozilla Techs:

In my Thunderbird, Latest update, I can recieve but very rarely send.
Error message is about Timeout.
Imap: outlook.office365.com Port 993
SSL/TLS, Simple Password

Te above works perfectly every time

smtp-mail.outlook.com Port 587
STARTTLS, Simple Password

Sometimes I am able to send and a lot other times it fails with a timeout

In Outlook Express (a long time ago) I could extend the waiting time from 60 seconds to up to 5 minutes for a server response.
That parameter is possibly very useful in Thunderbird as Microsofts servers are sometime fery heavy to dance with.
Could you mozilla techs possibly add the timeout feature and make it active for editing.
PLEASE!!!!!

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

Agentvirtuel — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 06:08:04 GMT

Hello

If (just for a moment) you turn off your antivirus security software, what happens?

Other to try
https://kb.mozillazine.org/Can_not_send_large_attachments

Increase mailnews.tcptimeout from its default value of 60 seconds to 300 seconds using Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> General -> Connection timeout. This frequently solves the problem, especially when you have a wireless connection. This preference is only available in 1.5 or later. (In 3.x versions the setting is accessible only through the Config Editor - Tools->Options->Advanced->General->Config Editor.)

The default value i~~s no longer 60~~, now the default value is 100

You can try 600 if you like

Config Editor
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/config-editor
Search preference name mailnews.tcptimeout

It is good practice to restart Thunderbird after editing preferences for your changes to take effect

Thunderbird 115 alternative access to config Editor
In the Settings tab, enter in the search box about:config

Other information about mailnews.smtp.loglevel
https://forums.mozfr.org/viewtopic.php?p=945712#p945712

Thunderbird send message
Other information https://forums.mozfr.org/viewtopic.php?p=930430

The difference between IMAP and POP3
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/difference-between-imap-and-pop3
Glossary of Terms including types of Accounts
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/glossary-terms-including-types-accounts

Copies & Folders panel
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/configuration-options-accounts#w_copies-folders-panel
Try (to see if you wish), create a folder, in Local folders
Place a copy in: in the folder of your choice created in Local folders

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

Hmbc66 — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 10:55:29 GMT

Ibncreasing the mailnews.tcptimeout seems to have solved the issue. mailnews.tcptimeout changed from 100 to 300. OK

I have tried the trick of deactivating Firewall/antivirus for a moment but it didn't work properly.

Thamks for the suggestions.

Merry Christmas to all

Heinrich

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

wway — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 18:06:53 GMT

In server, settings delete imap-mail.outlook.com and add outlook.office365.com as the server, set the Authentication method to OAuth2. Restart and a window asking for you outlook/Hotmail account will pop up enter password and give outlook server permission to use thunderbird solved it for me

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

Robert2 — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:54:21 GMT

I have read the responses. and still have the same problem: no log in at server. Should I use another email programme? I have used Thunderbird for many years to my satisfaction, but it is coming to an end. Goodbye Thunderbird

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

Hmbc66 — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 12:17:47 GMT

Hello Robert2,

I browsed through several settings suggestions and I managed to find a solution.

The setup that seems top be working for me is this:

IN: IMAP: outlook.office365.com Port 993, SSL/TLS, Common Password
OUT: SMTP: smtp-mail.outlook.com Port 587, STARTTLS, Common Password

Of course the full email is username and the password that is just the cosen password.

I have been using Thunderbird for a long time too, as Using MS Outlook is a health risk to the system. Virus Infection risk and Microsofts ability to automate scripts and macros in emails and the direct access to the system itself. That is why I use non-MS software for something imprtant.

Hope it will help you..

Regards Heinrich

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

blued — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 08:57:24 GMT

Stopped using TB because of this. No time to jump through hoops and barrels to get it to work. Used Windows Mail and it worked right away.

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

Agentvirtuel — Sun, 05 May 2024 06:48:07 GMT

Hello

Personally https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/mozilla-thunderbird-issues-with-outlook-accounts/m-p/52257/highlight/true#M18585 i have no problems

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

AndrewPrzelucki — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 14:28:44 GMT

Changing to OAuth2 worked! Thanks!

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

chris451_hotmai — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 14:47:41 GMT

If I go to outlook.com and log into my hotmail account and find help, for thunderbird clients:
It says

SMTP server name	smtp-mail.outlook.com
SMTP port	587
SMTP encryption	STARTTLS
Authentication Method	OAuth2/Modern Auth

But thunderbird 128.0.1esr (64-bit) does not have oauth2 as a dropdown choice when adding
outgoing servers................is there a plugin?

Workaround using Imap: write your message and save in drafts.
this will be synced to the server.
From the MS web page locate the draft and send it from there. Works! but
we need oath2 added to the smtp choices.

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

Agentvirtuel — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 14:55:34 GMT

Hello

https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/mozilla-thunderbird-issues-with-outlook-accounts/m-p/61589/highlight/true#M21560

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1451325 ?

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

Jugo6 — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 09:55:54 GMT

this did it for me (starting an authorisation process via my other mail). Perhaps change to OAuth2 first, otherwise, a normal password is denied on the new server. (I went to settings again, and then changed to OAuth2).

Re: OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

wsm — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:32:20 GMT

@Livon, thanks for posting the solution to Hotmail's changed requirement - oauth2.

All, please note this website, Connect, is primarily for posting of feature ideas. When seeking support for problems, the best place to ask is https://support.mozilla.org/questions/new/thunderbird