Apple Mail and HotMail account

[LookToWindward]

Hi,

I'm using Apple Mail 16.0 under OC/Monterey. I have a number of POP accounts that work ok, I also have one HotMail account which used to work ok but has stopped working. The problem is that when I enter the Account Name and Password, it just says "Unable to Verify Account name or Password". I'm sire the Account name and Password are correct since I can log into the account using a web browser.

Any idea of why it stopped working and how to fix?

Cheers
Dave

 

[LookToWindward]

I'm using a Mac Pro 5,1 if this makes a difference.

 

[avz]

You will probably have to add it in Apple Mail as a Microsoft Exchange account.

 

[LookToWindward]

You will probably have to add it in Apple Mail as a Microsoft Exchange account.

As far as I know it is setup as a ME account, it was working fine until a few days ago.

Just tried to create a ME account with the same credentials, same error

 

[Bigwaff]

You probably need to create an app password. Did you recently enable 2FA on your Microsoft account?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-get-and-use-app-passwords-5896ed9b-4263-e681-128a-a6f2979a7944

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Hotmail now requires OAuth, as of September something… remove & re-add normally does it?

 

[LookToWindward]

You probably need to create an app password. Did you recently enable 2FA on your Microsoft account?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-get-and-use-app-passwords-5896ed9b-4263-e681-128a-a6f2979a7944

No, I've not touched anything, it just stopped working. The first time it happened it accepted the password and logged on and all was fine for a while, then a couple of days ago it stopped working in the same way, but now I get an error. I just had a thought I also have MS Outlook, I'll see if it works there later

 

[gilby101]

As far as I know it is setup as a ME account, it was working fine until a few days ago.

No, I've not touched anything, it just stopped working.

As you say you haven't changed anything, I suspect it set up as an "Other Mail account" which uses IMAP with simple password authentication. MS no longer supports that. You need to remove it from Mail and add it again as "Microsoft Exchange" type. MS will also insist on some form of two factor authentication.

 

[LookToWindward]

As you say you haven't changed anything, I suspect it set up as an "Other Mail account" which uses IMAP with simple password authentication. MS no longer supports that. You need to remove it from Mail and add it again as "Microsoft Exchange" type. MS will also insist on some form of two factor authentication.

I remember setting up the account but I can't be certain that I setup as ME. I do remember that IMAP didn't work "out of the box" and I had to do something to make it work, I'm pretty sure I would I would have chosen ME as there are there's not really any alternative. It works on the Browser without TFA, is this consistent with what you are saying?

Is there way of checking the account type in Apple Mail?

 

[LookToWindward]

I just tried it in Outlook 2021 and it works fine without any TFA, looks like it's an Apple Mail Problem?

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I just tried it in Outlook 2021 and it works fine without any TFA, looks like it's an Apple Mail Problem?

It's a Microsoft security issue. As of September 16th, they don't support basic authentication on any 3rd party apps. Outlook 2021, of course, is not a third-party app to Hotmail.

More info here.

 

[gilby101]

Is there way of checking the account type in Apple Mail?

In Apple Mail, go to menu Mail > Settings > Accounts tab and look in the left hand sidebar. MS accounts (e.g. @hotmail) must now have "Exchange" as the type with an "E" icon.

looks like it's an Apple Mail Problem

It is a Microsoft change, not an Apple Mail issue. As you have discovered, so does using Outlook app or a browser. MS has changed how authentication works with their free email - this is the issue and the fix is to remove your hotmail from Apple Mail and add it again as an Exchange type.

Just watch out that the MS documention (@FreakinEurekan's link) on this shows connection on iPhone using Outlook.com as the connection type. On a Mac this does not exist and you must use Microsoft Exchange.

 

[LookToWindward]

In Apple Mail, go to menu Mail > Settings > Accounts tab and look in the left hand sidebar. MS accounts (e.g. @hotmail) must now have "Exchange" as the type with an "E" icon.

It is a Microsoft change, not an Apple Mail issue. As you have discovered, so does using Outlook app or a browser. MS has changed how authentication works with their free email - this is the issue and the fix is to remove your hotmail from Apple Mail and add it again as an Exchange type.

Just watch out that the MS documention (@FreakinEurekan's link) on this shows connection on iPhone using Outlook.com as the connection type. On a Mac this does not exist and you must use Microsoft Exchange.

I just tried it and it works! Thank you so much for your help, it's much appreciated.

I didn't have to use TFA it worked with just the email address and password.

All the Best
Dave