why can thunderbird not connect to outlook
Like many others, I suddenly can no longer connect my Thunderbird to Outlook. The error message is "Login to server imap-mail.outlook.com failed."
I get the corresponding error message if I try to send emails.
I have received emails from microsoft, telling me that because of many failed attempts to access Outlook, I have been locked out. Clicking on links in these emails takes me to a record of attempts to connect to Outlook, and tells me that I have subsequently been reconnected, only to get locked out again.
I was using Thunderbird on Ubuntu on a laptop. However, from many instances reported on other forums, this is a common problem, which comes on suddenly.
It is nothing to do with anti-virus software, viruses, wrong passwords, forgetting to switch on the computer, or drinking the wrong brand of coffee. There is clearly an in-built problem in Thunderbird.
Does anyone know definitely what causes this, or a way of getting round the problem?
Do I have to change to another email client?
Please - no jargon, abbreviations, etc. I am NOT computer literate; just a computer user.
Chosen solution
Is 2-step authentication enabled for your account? https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12408/microsoft-account-about-two-step-verification
If so, you'll need to create an app password for Thunderbird.
There is clearly an in-built problem in Thunderbird.
I don't know what makes you so sure about that. It's the Microsoft server rejecting your password, not Thunderbird.
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (3)
Chosen Solution
Is 2-step authentication enabled for your account? https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12408/microsoft-account-about-two-step-verification
If so, you'll need to create an app password for Thunderbird.
There is clearly an in-built problem in Thunderbird.
I don't know what makes you so sure about that. It's the Microsoft server rejecting your password, not Thunderbird.
christ1 - Many thanks for your help.
I am not sure, from your reply and from other forums, whether the problem may be caused by having Two-step verification turned on, or by having it turned off, or by not having it installed. When I follow the steps in your link, I get the following: - "Under Two-step verification, choose Set up two-step verification to turn it on, or choose Turn off two-step verification to turn it off."
In Two step verification I don't get the option to turn it off, just "Set up two-step verification"
I cannot set up Two-step verification, because when I follow the instructions, I appear to need a smart phone, or a working email, neither of which I possess. (I've got a semi-working email, but it will only download some messages, but not including the one I need, containing a security number from microsoft.)
So, which do I need - a working "Two-step verification", "Two-step verification" turned off, or "Two-step verification " NOT installed?
I think it is clear that the problem lies within Thunderbird, because the same problem is reported in forums by people using other email providers/clients/or whatever they should be called. (Although Hotmail and Gmail get most mentions.) The reported problems always involve using Thunderbird. I use Hotmail. Friends using Hotmail, but not Thunderbird, don't have this problem. It only appeared on my computer suddenly after years of use with no problems.
Perhaps it is caused by Operator Error - I am the village-idiot, and senile. Hence the second part of the question - "or a way of getting round the problem"
I used to think my Send/Receive just used Thunderbird, but now it seems to involve Outlook too, oh, and hotmail.
Hi christ1. Your help is much appreciated.
From your advice, I realised what had caused the problem, and I have now got my Thunderbird working again.
It was your comment “It's the Microsoft server rejecting your password” that triggered the solution. I had recently received an email from Microsoft suggesting I should change my Microsoft password, which I did. I didn’t even know that “hotmail” is a part of the Microsoft empire, or know where Outlook comes into things, and that they share the same password.
Your comment was much more helpful than Thunderbird’s "Login to server imap-mail.outlook.com failed." It would be better if this message explained “Thunderbird downloads your Hotmail messages from Microsoft Outlook. Your password for Microsoft Outlook registered in Thunderbird is different to your Microsoft Outlook password”
Again, many thanks