Update, Laura Herijgers, 09:55, 2/02: Microsoft addressed the connection problems earlier this week. Outlook.com accounts should no longer receive pop-ups asking you to authenticate. For Outlook 2013 and 2016, the tech giant does indicate that it is important that two-step verification is installed and users have created an app password.
Original, Floris Hulshoff Pol, 11:19, 30/01: End users with Outlook.com accounts have been unable to connect to e-mail clients for several days. Microsoft has launched an investigation into the occurrences.
Since last week, users have been complaining that their Outlook.com accounts are no longer connecting to e-mail clients from Microsoft and other providers. Due to the problem, users with these accounts can no longer receive and send emails.
Login problems
More specifically, the problems are in the email clients Outlook 2013, Outlook 20216, Outlook for Microsoft 365, Thunderbird and mobile email apps. These are no longer able to connect via POP, IMAP and Exchange.
The problem occurs when users try to log into their accounts. Logging in with an App password establishes a connection but later reverts to an unconnected status. After this, a pop-up asks users to enter their password and gives them a “Remember my credentials” option. When users enter the correct password, the pop-up reappears when the client or app tries to connect.
Microsoft is working on a solution
Microsoft is aware of the problem and is working on a fix. Details are not yet known but will be communicated as they become available.
In the meantime, the tech giant recommends that users use the web version of Outlook.com to read and send their e-mail from Outlook.com accounts.
More frequent problems with Outlook.com accounts
The current problem is not the first issue with the e-mail service the tech giant has faced recently. In December 2023, Microsoft fixed an issue that caused Outlook desktop clients to crash when sending emails from Outlook.com accounts in version 2311 Build 17029.20068. Users eventually had to update their client’s version to do so.
Last July, the tech giant fixed a configuration issue that triggered 401 errors and broke email searches for Outlook.com users.
Also read: Outlook will be the central point for Microsoft 365 apps: update on redesign
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