You may be aware that recently Microsoft changed the Authentication Method when it comes to using third party email clients eg: Thunderbird. However, they have also altered what password to use and what email address can use the SMTP. Read on:

1. Your microsoft account and your hotmail/outlook/msn/live account all need to have the same password. So all your microsoft accounts need to be using same password. Info at this link says:

• https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/how-to-sign-in-to-hotmail-c378938b-c0eb-40c1-b99e-338dd9e776a8

Can't sign in to Hotmail or Outlook.com? Notes: Your Hotmail or Outlook.com password is the same as your Microsoft Account password.

You must logon to the webmail account via browser to sort it out. Once all your accounts are using same password.....

2 In microsoft account accessed via a browser If you have more email addresses or hotmail addresses etc , microsoft now regard one is 'primary' and all others are alias to the account. This is not a problem when it comes to receiving mail, but can be an issues when you want to send. When it comes to 'sending' - that is smtp in Thunderbird - it can only send using the 'primary' email address. You can choose what you want to be set as 'primary', but whatever email address you set up as 'primary' - only that email address can be used for SMTP. So if you want to send using hotmail email address then make sure it is set up as the primary email address. But then if you have an outlook.com account as well, it will only be able to send using the hotmail primary email address. So choose the email address which you want to set up as 'primary'.

3. In Thunderbird, Cookies must be enabled in order to set up Oauth.

• Settings > Privacy & Security
• Check under Web Content -
• Select: 'Accept cookies from sites'
• Accept third party cookies' 'Always'
• Click on 'Exceptions' button next to Accept cookies from sites to make sure you are not blocking cookies from Microsoft sites, such as :hotmail.com, outlook.com, office365.com, www.live.com, www.msn.com

4. In Thunderbird....When creating account or if account is created but you need to check server settings: Account Settings must use the following: Server Type: POP Mail Server

• Server Name: outlook.office365.com
• Port 995
• User Name: xxxx@hotmail.com
• Connection Security: SSL/LTS
• Authentication Method: OAuth2

Server Type: IMAP Mail Server

• Server Name: outlook.office365.com
• Port 993
• User Name: xxxx@hotmail.com
• Connection Security: SSL/LTS
• Authentication Method: OAuth2

SMTP:

• Server Name: smtp.office365.com
• Port: 587
• Connection Security: STARTTLS
• Authentication method: OAuth2
• User Name: example@hotmail.com (Please note this must be whatever email address is set up as the 'primary' email address)

Once you have all these settings and got the password sorted.

Restart Thunderbird When you get the Microsoft pop up window asking for password, type it in and click on 'Sign in'. You may then get another window asking to allow Thunderbird access to server - click on 'Accept'

In addition to the above.... 1. If you have a VPN enabled then switch it off because servers do not like VPN - they think someone is trying to hack your account.

2. If you use a program which uses the 'localhost' eg: Apache Xampp then switch it off whilst setting up the Oauth token. You can switch it back on once account is set up and running ok.

I don't get a request for 0Auth2 code !

re :I don't get a request for 0Auth2 code ! I'm assuming you have done everything I advised regarding passwords and setting up the hotmail account as primary.

When you click on 'Done' to create the mail account, you should then get a small window open and it looks abit like a mini Microsoft browser style window - it will ask for your password, which you enter and click on 'Sign in' Do you get that small Microsoft window asking for password ? Then another window should open - where you allow Thunderbird access to server by clicking on 'Accept'.

Once you have clicked on Accept, then an oauth token is created and stored as the oauth password in Thunderbird.

If the above is not happening.....

Check this: Have you enabled POP or IMAP etc access in the hotmail webmail account? Located this info in Microsoft help pages: Enabled Pop or IMAP access in Outlook.com (so it should be the same for all of the microsoft bunch of accounts - hotmail, msn, live, outlook etc) If you want to use POP or IMAP to access your email in Outlook.com, you'll first need to enable access.

• Select Settings > Mail > Forwarding and IMAP.
• Under POP and IMAP, toggle the slider for Let devices and apps use POP or Let devices and apps use IMAP to ON depending on the account you are enabling.
• Select Save.