Outlook is prompting for password even after adding the O365 account with IMAP in windows settings

Question

I was trying to add O365 accounts that supports IMAP, POP and exchange ActiveSync in email tab of windows settings. Now I am being prompted to enter the passwords of those accounts I have added on windows setting when I try to access the mailboxes from outlook.

Is this the expected behavior ? If so, What are the uses of adding the accounts on email tab of windows settings ?

Appreciate any insights you can share.

Answer 1

Dear @Flcty ,

We understand you're seeing repeated password prompts in Outlook after attempting to add your Microsoft 365 (O365) account. Let us explain why this happens and help you set up the account correctly. 

While Microsoft 365 supports IMAP, POP, and Exchange ActiveSync, these protocols behave differently in Outlook for Windows: 

• IMAP: Fully supported in Outlook, but it's limited to email only (no calendar or contacts sync). 
• POP: Supported, but not recommended. It does not sync across devices and lacks modern features. 
• Exchange ActiveSync (EAS): Not supported in Outlook for Windows. It's intended for the built-in Mail app on Windows or mobile devices. 

For the best experience, including mail, calendar, contacts, and enhanced security, we strongly recommend setting up your Office 365 account in Outlook using the Exchange protocol, if supported by your organization. 

To stop Outlook from repeatedly asking for your password, the most reliable and feature-rich way to set up your O365 account is by adding it directly within the Outlook desktop application. This will configure it as a Microsoft 365 or Exchange account. 

Please follow these steps: 

1. Close Outlook completely. Make sure the application is fully shut down. 
2. Add the account directly in Outlook:  

Open Outlook.  You can add an account using one of these common paths, depending on your Outlook version:  

For Classic Outlook (Legacy UI with File menu):  

Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings... 

In the Email tab, click New... 

For New Outlook (Microsoft 365 / Outlook 2021+ with "New Outlook" toggle enabled):  

Click the Settings icon (gear) in the top-right corner. 

Select Accounts > Email Accounts > Add account. 

Enter your O365 email address and click Connect. 

Let Outlook auto-discover and set up your account. This is the recommended method, as it will typically configure it automatically as a Microsoft 365 or Exchange account. This uses modern authentication and offers the best experience with full O365 features.

If You Need to Use IMAP or POP (Less Recommended): For your reference, you can find more details on these settings in Microsoft's official documentation: POP, IMAP, and SMTP settings for Outlook.com (Note: The server names and ports generally apply to Microsoft 365 IMAP/POP configurations as well). 

Following these steps should get your O365 account working smoothly in Outlook without constant password prompts. We highly encourage the Microsoft 365 / Exchange setup for the best experience. 

Please let us know if you need any further assistance with these steps, or if you're unsure whether your account requires an App Password. We're here to help. 

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