OUTLOOK and THUNDERBIRD

[chris69]

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? 

[kevingal]

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

[specialed03]

anyone have any suggestions to make it work?

[itshim]

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.

[itshim]

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

[Freddy]

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

[kevingal]

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.

[kevingal]

Thanks for figuring it out, itshim!

[nobswolf]

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

[nobswolf]

Workaround for the moment:

Stop your local web server until the Oauth2 is finished.

[Manudinovi]

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 ! 😉

[hippie49sr]

whats another outlook express type email, thunderbird is crap

[Freddy]

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.

[Livon]

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-ou...

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!