My Gmail app, suddenly not accepting my Hotmail email

Question

My Gmail app, suddenly not accepting my Hotmail email

Camille D 175

This is not outlook, I don't know which other tag to use, but the server settings use outlook. I use the Gmail app for my Gmail account and I have had my Hotmail account added for many years. Hotmail account is 20+ years old! I suddenly received notifications that say credentials needed for Hotmail email. Okay I enter them, get the security code text, keep me signed in, etc, server settings (sync options) box pops up. Says validating server settings, password incorrect, but it's definitely the correct password, as I logged in to test on the Chrome browser. What is happening?

Nina 40 Reputation points

2026-01-22T21:00:31.9066667+00:00

Same thing here I've been trying to fix it for couple of hours, I'm able to log in my email through my Microsoft account but not it's not updating through Gmail just keep asking for credentials SMH
Anonymous

2026-01-22T21:03:07.44+00:00

I am having the same issue. It seems to have started for me around 3 or 3:30PM EST.
Nolan 15 Reputation points

2026-01-22T21:07:06.1766667+00:00

Gmail just updated, it no longer accepts POP accounts, apparently it accepts IMAP but upon using the IMAP settings you still can not sync hotmail to your android/google account, it keeps saying password is incorrect, which is not true. Please get us the correct IMAP server settings to be able to add hotmail IMAP to gmail accounts.
Nolan 15 Reputation points

2026-01-22T21:08:19.2733333+00:00

Gmail just updated, it no longer accepts POP accounts, apparently it accepts IMAP but upon using the IMAP settings you still can not sync hotmail to your android/google account, it keeps saying password is incorrect, which is not true. Please get us the correct IMAP server settings to be able to add hotmail IMAP to gmail accounts.
Ryan Christian 30 Reputation points

2026-01-22T21:18:39.7366667+00:00

I am having the same issue. Made me reset my password twice before realizing its simply the Gmail app not able to validate server settings. Trying to make me think it was my fault!
Brian Camacho 10 Reputation points

2026-01-22T21:18:42.8933333+00:00

Wow, idk why but I'm surprised these forums are still active. Literally have the same problem on my mobile gmail app. Works fine on my computer though, pretty annoying.
Artin G 10 Reputation points

2026-01-22T22:02:10.14+00:00

Same issue here.
Helal Naeem 15 Reputation points

2026-01-22T22:10:18.8+00:00

Same issue for couple of hours ..so terrifying. Made all solutions same issue and problem
Helal Naeem 15 Reputation points

2026-01-22T22:11:48.3433333+00:00

Same problem for couple of hours . So stressed
TheDriven 20 Reputation points

2026-01-23T00:07:23.02+00:00

Regarding the comments about POP/IMAP. All my outlook accounts were set up as IMAP in the Gmail app and all stopped working a couple hours ago. Have not been able to log back in successfully and using the pw fails. I've tried removing an account and adding it again but keeps failing at the "Validating server settings..." where it results in "username or password is incorrect" back on the Set up email page. The same happens after I cleared Gmail data and cache. I even tried clearing the device cache and continues to fail. So right now I can't even add my accounts back. This is bad.

The accounts are working fine in Outlook in Windows and I can log in fine in a browser so it looks like an issue with the Gmail app for whatever reason.
Billy S 0 Reputation points

2026-01-23T00:21:05.3533333+00:00

Same exact problem. My hotmail has worked fine on my gmail app until today. So, I called them. I actually finally got through to a person at microsoft on the phone today. I had to pretend that I had a business account and that I wanted to purchase 1,000 Microsoft Surface tablets in order to speak to a person. That person said that maybe if I purchased a subscription to Microsoft 365 it would fix it. I told him that I'm deleting everything Microsoft and switching to iMac which I'm now in the process of doing.
Bob S 0 Reputation points

2026-01-23T00:29:48.65+00:00

I am having the same problem. I also noticed that I am not getting all my Emails from my Hotmail account. as it now has focus and other. I have only been getting the other for a long time.
TheDriven 20 Reputation points

2026-01-23T00:49:12.2266667+00:00

Quick follow up. I was able to re-add a couple of the accounts and download the emails. However, it was short lived as on the next sync cycle they failed again and I received the "credentials needed" Gmail notification. The other accounts I still can't add due to the "failing" creds. Don't know WTF is going on but very frustrating to say the least. This has got to be affecting millions of users I would think.
Jared Judecki 10 Reputation points

2026-01-23T01:15:34.7333333+00:00

Same. Had a chat with MS support. The said the Gmail app didn't support OAuth. Have to use Outlook app. I had issues with that app. It wouldn't show the email bodies due a long time. Had to update Chrome to get newest WebView. Had to turn on backgroud data, no sleep battery setting, etc. Eventually it all synced up. The app has ads that look like emails, just like the Windows version. It's terrible.

8 answers

Your answer

Nina 40 Reputation points

2026-01-22T21:00:31.9066667+00:00

Same thing here I've been trying to fix it for couple of hours, I'm able to log in my email through my Microsoft account but not it's not updating through Gmail just keep asking for credentials SMH
Anonymous

2026-01-22T21:03:07.44+00:00

I am having the same issue. It seems to have started for me around 3 or 3:30PM EST.
Nolan 15 Reputation points

2026-01-22T21:07:06.1766667+00:00

Gmail just updated, it no longer accepts POP accounts, apparently it accepts IMAP but upon using the IMAP settings you still can not sync hotmail to your android/google account, it keeps saying password is incorrect, which is not true. Please get us the correct IMAP server settings to be able to add hotmail IMAP to gmail accounts.
Nolan 15 Reputation points

2026-01-22T21:08:19.2733333+00:00

Gmail just updated, it no longer accepts POP accounts, apparently it accepts IMAP but upon using the IMAP settings you still can not sync hotmail to your android/google account, it keeps saying password is incorrect, which is not true. Please get us the correct IMAP server settings to be able to add hotmail IMAP to gmail accounts.
Ryan Christian 30 Reputation points

2026-01-22T21:18:39.7366667+00:00

I am having the same issue. Made me reset my password twice before realizing its simply the Gmail app not able to validate server settings. Trying to make me think it was my fault!
Brian Camacho 10 Reputation points

2026-01-22T21:18:42.8933333+00:00

Wow, idk why but I'm surprised these forums are still active. Literally have the same problem on my mobile gmail app. Works fine on my computer though, pretty annoying.
Artin G 10 Reputation points

2026-01-22T22:02:10.14+00:00

Same issue here.
Helal Naeem 15 Reputation points

2026-01-22T22:10:18.8+00:00

Same issue for couple of hours ..so terrifying. Made all solutions same issue and problem
Helal Naeem 15 Reputation points

2026-01-22T22:11:48.3433333+00:00

Same problem for couple of hours . So stressed
TheDriven 20 Reputation points

2026-01-23T00:07:23.02+00:00

Regarding the comments about POP/IMAP. All my outlook accounts were set up as IMAP in the Gmail app and all stopped working a couple hours ago. Have not been able to log back in successfully and using the pw fails. I've tried removing an account and adding it again but keeps failing at the "Validating server settings..." where it results in "username or password is incorrect" back on the Set up email page. The same happens after I cleared Gmail data and cache. I even tried clearing the device cache and continues to fail. So right now I can't even add my accounts back. This is bad.

The accounts are working fine in Outlook in Windows and I can log in fine in a browser so it looks like an issue with the Gmail app for whatever reason.
Billy S 0 Reputation points

2026-01-23T00:21:05.3533333+00:00

Same exact problem. My hotmail has worked fine on my gmail app until today. So, I called them. I actually finally got through to a person at microsoft on the phone today. I had to pretend that I had a business account and that I wanted to purchase 1,000 Microsoft Surface tablets in order to speak to a person. That person said that maybe if I purchased a subscription to Microsoft 365 it would fix it. I told him that I'm deleting everything Microsoft and switching to iMac which I'm now in the process of doing.
Bob S 0 Reputation points

2026-01-23T00:29:48.65+00:00

I am having the same problem. I also noticed that I am not getting all my Emails from my Hotmail account. as it now has focus and other. I have only been getting the other for a long time.
TheDriven 20 Reputation points

2026-01-23T00:49:12.2266667+00:00

Quick follow up. I was able to re-add a couple of the accounts and download the emails. However, it was short lived as on the next sync cycle they failed again and I received the "credentials needed" Gmail notification. The other accounts I still can't add due to the "failing" creds. Don't know WTF is going on but very frustrating to say the least. This has got to be affecting millions of users I would think.
Jared Judecki 10 Reputation points

2026-01-23T01:15:34.7333333+00:00

Same. Had a chat with MS support. The said the Gmail app didn't support OAuth. Have to use Outlook app. I had issues with that app. It wouldn't show the email bodies due a long time. Had to update Chrome to get newest WebView. Had to turn on backgroud data, no sleep battery setting, etc. Eventually it all synced up. The app has ads that look like emails, just like the Windows version. It's terrible.

Answer 1

Juggernut De 30

Microsoft is having an outage today on the 22nd. It's affecting multiple services. Don't change anything on your phone. Just let it sit until tomorrow to see if the issue is fixed.

Alix 0 Reputation points

2026-04-26T10:07:59.6033333+00:00

Same problem with Hotmail account and Just resolved it by 'Add another account' and then 'Other' instead of Outlook, Hotmail and Live. And it worked so hope it does for others

Answer 2

Ryan Christian 30

I am also having the same issue, this is beyond infuriating. Gmail is not accepting my Hotmail password either. I can sign in on the browser no issue, but my phone is not accepting it.

The above answer was also not helpful, I am not reaching out to Gmail , so I downvoted it.

Latest version downloaded, also I am on a google phone so I cannot "un-install" the gmail app when its literally built in. What I can do is get an Iphone next time.....

tcipps 5 Reputation points

2026-01-23T00:59:53.5733333+00:00

yup same here been using gmail app for all 3 of my hotmail accounts all of them today jan 22nd around 3ish est all required login. i've managed after several tries to get them to work just for it to ask again min later.

Answer 3

hello
i just received a new Android phone , trying to add my hotmail and outlook accounts back to Gmail.
No one is working , after i choose Microsoft SSO to add the account ( Outlook Hotmail Live )
whatever security method i use ( password , code to email, Outlook app code ) at the end i get
'impossible to authenticate'.
I can add my accounts to Outlook mail app on Android.
I can add these accounts to iPhone mail app or MacOS.

Issue seems with Gmail app on Android... maybe connected accounts still works

but if you have to add a new one...

Answer 4

Jeremy C 5

The outage appears to have recovered - I have just been able to add my Hotmail account back to the Gmail app.

Jared Judecki 10 Reputation points

2026-01-23T01:45:27.6666667+00:00

Same here. I guess all that stuff MS told me about the Gmail app no longer supporting their authentication was incorrect.
Blackmoor Associates Inc 0 Reputation points

2026-01-23T13:53:30.8966667+00:00

I just added my Hotmail account back to the Gmail app, so far so good. 🤞

Answer 5

It seems that you're experiencing issues with your Hotmail account in the Gmail app, where it is not accepting your credentials despite them being correct. This could be related to several factors:

Authentication Issues: Sometimes, changes in security settings or authentication methods can cause issues. Make sure that your Hotmail account is set up to allow access from third-party apps like Gmail.
Server Settings: Ensure that the server settings for your Hotmail account in the Gmail app are correct. You may need to verify the incoming and outgoing server settings.
App Passwords: If you have two-factor authentication enabled on your Hotmail account, you might need to generate an app password specifically for the Gmail app. This is different from your regular password.
Temporary Glitches: Sometimes, the issue could be a temporary glitch in the app or server. Try removing the Hotmail account from the Gmail app and adding it again.
Updates: Ensure that your Gmail app is up to date, as updates can fix bugs and improve functionality.

If the problem persists, you may want to check the official support resources for further troubleshooting steps specific to your account settings.

References:

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My Gmail app, suddenly not accepting my Hotmail email

8 answers

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