Unable to add Exchange email address in Apple Mail on Mac

Question

Unable to add Exchange email address in Apple Mail on Mac

Arshia 25

I am trying to add my Exchange email to Apple Mail on Mac, but I keep getting the same message that says, when going into the sign-in page, "Authentication Failed. Failed to authenticate, please try again later."

I tried to sign in manually to see if that would work, but to no avail; it says, "Unable to verify account name or password."

Is there a working solution that specifically solves this issue?
Screenshot 2025-10-04 at 9.49.30 AM

Screenshot 2025-10-04 at 9.50.00 AM

DJA 35 Reputation points

2025-10-04T21:20:16.76+00:00

Having the exact same issue here, seems to be failing to connect to the MS servers for the initial handshake. Following this post.
Tao-hsiang Chang 10 Reputation points

2025-10-05T13:22:52.98+00:00
I'm also facing the same problem. I got my new laptop and doing the settings, including mail accounts adding to Mail app.

Information to my Microsoft 365 account:

Is a personal account

Is a passwordless account

Two step verification on

Sign in option includes email a code, text a code, send sign-in notification and use a passkey, all properly settled

And there's only Microsoft Exchange option (no outlook.com) when trying to add account to Mac. The sign in option showed exactly the same prompt as Arshia shows: Authentication Failed with "Failed to authenticate, please try again later" and this has been the same for at least two days.

If I use manual sign in, I have no password since I'm a passwordless account. I tried generate an app password but it cannot verify as in Arshia's second picture.

8 answers

Your answer

DJA 35 Reputation points

2025-10-04T21:20:16.76+00:00

Having the exact same issue here, seems to be failing to connect to the MS servers for the initial handshake. Following this post.
Tao-hsiang Chang 10 Reputation points

2025-10-05T13:22:52.98+00:00

I'm also facing the same problem. I got my new laptop and doing the settings, including mail accounts adding to Mail app.

Information to my Microsoft 365 account:

Is a personal account

Is a passwordless account

Two step verification on

Sign in option includes email a code, text a code, send sign-in notification and use a passkey, all properly settled

And there's only Microsoft Exchange option (no outlook.com) when trying to add account to Mac. The sign in option showed exactly the same prompt as Arshia shows: Authentication Failed with "Failed to authenticate, please try again later" and this has been the same for at least two days.

If I use manual sign in, I have no password since I'm a passwordless account. I tried generate an app password but it cannot verify as in Arshia's second picture.

Answer 1

DJA 35

Issue seems to have been resolved. Was able to get the authentication pop up and sign in without issue using an outlook.com email. Shows as Exchange but working fine.

Dave Garratt 25 Reputation points

2025-10-08T13:54:59.1933333+00:00

Yes I can logon now - when I selected exchange after a short delay a small panel showing a Microsoft web login appeared and I was able to confirm my credentials. Phew!!

Answer 2

Sue Hanson 5

Just tried adding in exchange account on both macs and it worked. Used the code option with Microsoft Authentication not password, but not sure that made any difference. Pleased to be back up and running, guess Apple/Microsoft sorted the issue.

0 comments

Answer 3

Hannah Smith 5

After spending the past 6 hours speaking with Apple and Microsoft support staff I can confirm that the issue is with Outlook.com accounts. I'm not sure if this is a new update, and that's why you're accounts may have worked previously, but this is what I was told;

Microsoft does not allow free Outlook.com accounts to be linked through Microsoft Exchange servers. You will be unable to connect your Outlook.com account using Microsoft Exchange, unless you have a Microsoft 365 subscription plan with Exchange Online features.

You might be able to connect your free account through the exchange server, but it may be unreliable, I assume this will depend on wether your subscription is active or not.

Kind of a bummer, but potential work arounds for using macOS apps with an Outlook.com account would be;

Getting a Microsoft Exchange subscription
Forwarding your mail to an alternative compatible service
Temporarily doing either of the above until Outlook.com is added to macOS, although this is not guaranteed.

Other options would be to use Outlook web or Outlook for Mac when on your Mac or MacBook, and use iOS mobile devices to connect to your Outlook.com accounts.

Dave Garratt 25 Reputation points

2025-10-06T15:42:32.69+00:00

Thanks very much for your time - I’ve spent a few fruitless hours taking with Apple - so it’s not related to a change in authentication ? I just connect direct from Mac mail to get msn mail - or I did - but without the outlook option that’s not going to happen ? Will it work if the outlook option is added back by Apple or do I need a pointless subscription as well ?
Hannah Smith 5 Reputation points

2025-10-07T17:05:29.3433333+00:00

Yep, if you want to be able to use your Outlook.com account specifically on your apple desktop device you need a subscription to Microsoft 365. But, you can use Outlook.com accounts with apple mobile devices for free.

I've personally decided to move to google. I currently use a iPhone and iPad and recently got a MacBook so wanted to streamline my system in apples apps instead of having to jump between google (for work) and outlook (for personal), but needing to pay to achieve that? I thought I might as well just transfer to google. so far the transfers been pretty straightforward.

Answer 4

Pavel Poddubny 2,445 Volunteer Moderator

Hello,

My name is Pavel Poddubny, and I will be happy to assist you! ✨

Microsoft have discontinued POP & IMAP "basic authentication" in September 2024

Modern Authentication Methods now needed to continue syncing Outlook Email in non-Microsoft email apps

And personal mail has nothing to do with "Microsoft Exchange", as Microsoft Exchange is for business accounts, not for personal ones. You should select "Outlook.com" instead, see

User's image

If my reply has helped you, please don't forget to mark it as useful using the buttons below 😉

Arshia 25 Reputation points

2025-10-05T00:56:03.6133333+00:00

Outlook.com is not listed here.
Rebecca Hunt 15 Reputation points

2025-10-05T03:42:31.8066667+00:00

I spoke with Apple and troubleshooted this extensively, the issue appears to be with Microsoft as I had no issue connecting new devices earlier this year. Microsoft Exchange is the correct option as well. Outlook.com was removed and it was consolidated into the Exchange option. The pop up for me that portals through to Microsoft is failing to populate.
DJA 35 Reputation points

2025-10-05T15:33:59.49+00:00

Seconding what others have said. This used to work fine selecting Exchange, but something is preventing the log in pop from even loading now.
Sue Hanson 5 Reputation points

2025-10-07T11:54:55.1933333+00:00

Unfortunately Outlook.com no longer appears in the named accounts only Microsoft Exchange and I found trying to add my account manually also didn't work
Dave Garratt 25 Reputation points

2025-10-07T11:58:12.68+00:00

It's been a bad couple of weeks for Apple users, I've resorted to using their Feedback Website to inform apple of these problems.
Grizzly55 85 Reputation points

2025-10-07T15:58:39.6666667+00:00

What macOS version are people using? I am using Monterey on MacBook and the Mail App works fine with Outlook.com. Recently got new MacBook running Sequoia 15.1.1 and did migration from older Monterey MacBook. Mail App with Outlook.com continued working. Then did second migration under Sequoia 15.6 and Mail App would not verify to use Outlook.com, it was disabled. So I deleted my Outlook.com account to try and add it back, which worked in the past with macOS upgrades. Now like described in this thread that fails. Maybe the version of macOS is involved some how?
Dave Garratt 25 Reputation points

2025-10-07T16:29:09.89+00:00

I'm using Tahoe and Sequoia. One of my machines stopped getting mails and then would not let me back in. Others are still working. I suspect there maybe a trust which is letting existing connections work, but I don't recommend deleting and trying to re-add. The current Mac Mail client does not offer outlook as an option - only exchange.
Grizzly55 85 Reputation points

2025-10-07T16:32:35.9866667+00:00

Since Pavel indicated using "Outlook.com" as choice for adding Email account, but it is ONLY available under iOS, I gave it a try. After entering my Email account info the next window is the normal login process for Outlook at outlook.live.com. Entered password and shortly after I had access to my Outlook Email account on my iPhone. So we just need that capability to work under macOS like it had been.
Grizzly55 85 Reputation points

2025-10-07T16:55:16.9333333+00:00

Dave, On my newer Sequoia macOS, the existing Outlook Email account was marked as disabled recently with the circled tilde. I tried several times to reenable it, but the login verification process just kept failing. It behaved just like when trying to add an account: Window overlays where info was entered, then pops up box about verification failed, then another box about try again later. Arshia posted picture of that end state. The Outlook account was useless in that state. So after web research and my own past experiences I decided to delete the Outlook account and try adding it back. Now stuck like everyone else :-(
Dave Garratt 25 Reputation points

2025-10-07T17:04:21.8866667+00:00

I think this is an apple issue and I would recommend posting feedback and also contacting support. I spoke to them, but like so many times these days the suggestion was to re-install macos. Hopefully if we all complain it will be fixed. They cannot open external web pages but you can print this thread to a pdf and upload that on a chat to Apple.
Grizzly55 85 Reputation points

2025-10-07T17:35:00.0266667+00:00

Dave, what is the Apple feedback posting I can follow up in or just start another one? I may try using an external drive to do a fresh macOS install just to see if that actually helps, not that we would all want to start over.
Dave Garratt 25 Reputation points

2025-10-07T17:36:38.18+00:00

You have to start a fresh one - I don't know if they pay much attention to them but it's worth a try.
Dave Garratt 25 Reputation points

2025-10-07T18:57:55.62+00:00

Ok - some encouraging news. I have just spoken to a senior Apple support advisor and they are aware of this issue and working on it. No idea how long it will take for them to fix it however.
Grizzly55 85 Reputation points

2025-10-07T19:40:11.3+00:00

Dave, Good to know about work being done. I'm in the process of poking Apple support about this issue to maybe turn up the heat :-)

You had mentioned using Sequoia and Tahoe with one not working with Outlook. Care to share which one had stopped working for you so I can consider a fresh test install?
Dave Garratt 25 Reputation points

2025-10-07T21:43:23.4566667+00:00

Sequoia stopped initially - found i could not add account back after removing it. So I then updated that same machine to Tahoe in a vain attempt to resolve the problem but it did not help. Eventually it turned out to be a combination of a external change by Microsoft combined with a odd omission from Apple which had presumably gone unnoticed because people could have managed to use the manual method to add accounts whilst the smtp and imap authentication were working at the Microsoft end.
Grizzly55 85 Reputation points

2025-10-07T22:54:31.6433333+00:00

I have talked to Apple support, like you encountered they suggested the less severe idea of updating to the latest version of sequoia, which I will probably try. At this point my new MacBook is essentially a testbed and I will probably wipe it and start over when things are in a better place.

Your latest details about the issue sound encouraging and make sense. On Monterey I may have used the manual method a couple years ago when MS updated Outlook requirements to use Modern Verification eliminating the use of ID+PW. It is hard to tell in the Mail App how the account is currently setup; Outlook, Exchange, Manual. There was a period after that when Apple Mail would randomly ask for login details again, but otherwise it has worked fine. I'm guessing with my migration to and/or macOS updates on the new MacBook that setup got lost. And for sure when I deleted the Outlook account in an attempt to fix access.

With the new details, any better idea as to when this issue may be fixed?
Grizzly55 85 Reputation points

2025-10-08T01:18:39.5366667+00:00

I'm glad to report that at least for my situation, I have now been able to add my Outlook Email account to the Mail App under Sequoia on my new MacBook . It is currently in the process of downloading my Email. The Inbox is up to date with the Web based Outlook and Mail under Monterey on my older MacBook.

Based on Dave's comments I contacted Apple support and described my issue. They had no details about the issue, but did suggest I upgrade to the latest version of Sequoia.

I was running 15.6. So I thought it cannot hurt, so I updated to 15.7.1 after which I immediately tested adding Outlook to Mail. I selected the recommended choice of "Microsoft Exchange" as the provider. I gave my Email address and then clicked on the "SignIn" button like in the past. However, unlike in the past where there was a new window quickly overlayed with popups about failing verification, the window was from Microsoft and wanted info to verify my Email account!!! I filled in the Email address to send a code to, which showed up and I entered into the updated window. That worked and I got a new window asking what services of Outlook I wanted to use. I selected just Email like I had been using. At which point the new "Exchange" account was created in the Mail App. The settings are almost identical to what I had and is still on my old MacBook. Only difference I found is what to do about erasing deleted Emails; Never vs my previous after 1 month.

I just sent an Email from another account and it took awhile, but has now shown up in the Outlook account on all my machines!! I suspect my new MacBook Mail is sluggish since it is still downloading Email. Also the Outlook servers may be busy if other people are in the process of fixing their access to Outlook Email.

Hopefully you all will have the same luck I had it getting Outlook Email access back. I have no idea if my macOS upgrade fixed this or Apple and Microsoft did magical things in the background. Maybe Dave can learn some details from his contacts.

Good Luck and Good Night
Mansoor Ahmed 20 Reputation points

2025-10-08T02:06:03.7833333+00:00

I have Sequoia 15.7.1 and still facing the issue of being unable to add my outlook.com account.
Grizzly55 85 Reputation points

2025-10-08T03:37:01.6266667+00:00

Mansoor, I may have just been lucky. However, the fact that I was able to have it work makes me think something is happening at Apple and/or Microsoft to address this issue, it just may not been complete yet.

If you have not, I would suggest shutting down your machine and restart it. Then try to do the outlook add again. The reboot may help, but I'm mostly guessing here.
Austin-H 8,370 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-08T03:57:39.7133333+00:00

Hi @Grizzly55
Thank you very much for your detailed experience.

I have been on hold for a frew days as I did not know what could have happened as this issue is only happening for Apple Mail.

I tried to update to MacOS Sequoia latest version (15.7.1) and I could confirm that I could access to Apple Mail with personal Microsoft account and "Exchange" option.

For affected users, please try to upgrade to latest version of MacOS Sequoia to see if it could help.
The issue looks strange to me as for the past days, only Apple Mail did not allow me to sign-in with personal Microsoft account while Outlook and other third-party clients I have been testing worked normally so far.
Grizzly55 85 Reputation points

2025-10-08T19:25:00.1766667+00:00

Austin-H, The image you posted is what I saw when it worked for me, which is a good sign. However, it does not seem to be clear that 15.7.1 is the key. Since Mansoor is already there and he still had issues. Also Dave upgraded through Sequoia and then Tahoe, but still had issues.

If other people on this thread have been able to now add Outlook to Mail, please report that so we have a better picture of the status of this issue.

Thanks
DJA 35 Reputation points

2025-10-08T19:30:17.9466667+00:00

I'm running Tahoe and had no issue adding Outlook.com to Mail this morning. Has been working fine all day.

Answer 5

Austin-H 8,370 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Arshia
Thank you for posting question to Microsoft Q&A Forum.

According to this issue, may I know if you have set up Multifactor authentication for your @outlook.com account?
Please head to https://account.live.com/proofs to check on this, this should look like the screenshot below.

User's image

After that you could try to open Apple Mail and select the option Exchange and sign-in again. When adding the account, please avoid typing manually the server settings - you could just try to click on "Sign in" normally and proceed with Multifactor Authentication process. Once the MFA process is done, you should be able to access your email in Apple Mail.

Update: I also noted there are a lot of users facing this issue. However, until now there is no official information about this issue. I will let you know if I have the information.

Note: Follow the steps in our documentation to enable email notifications if you want to receive notification related to this topic.

DJA 35 Reputation points

2025-10-05T15:36:08.5866667+00:00

This used to work fine for me with MFA by just selecting Exchange. Something has changed that prevents the login pop up from even loading now.
Grizzly55 85 Reputation points

2025-10-07T17:26:07.48+00:00

I turned on MFA on my Outlook/MS account and created an App Password. Then on macOS Sequoia tried to add the Outlook Email account to Mail by using the App Password instead of the Outlook password. That failed in the same way as other attempts; user id or password not verified. Then I noticed on my working macOS Monterey Mail that the Outlook Email was disabled. So I quickly turned the MFA back OFF on the Outlook/MS account. Thankfully the Monterey Outlook Email was back to enabled and working again!