cannot add MS Outlook email account on Outlook for Android app on Tablet or mobile phone

Question

cannot add MS Outlook email account on Outlook for Android app on Tablet or mobile phone

Robert Fisher 2 0

Currently use Outlook on PC and Bluemail on Android tablet and mobile phone. I want to try Outlook as alternative on tablet & mobile. Have downloaded Outlook for Android on both. Attempted to establish exiting outlook email account, including incoming and outgoing server details as given in PC Outlook account settings. Attempts to authenticate, but ends "unable to log in". However I get the email from MS "This is an email message sent automatically by Microsoft Outlook while testing the settings for your account". So, I suspect the incoming side MAY be ok, and the outgoing may be frustrating log in?

Can you suggest anything else I can try?

Mukesh D 30 Reputation points

2026-02-18T01:18:00.0533333+00:00
Hi Robert,

It sounds like your account works on PC but isn’t connecting properly on the Outlook Android app, which usually points to authentication issues rather than server settings. A few things to try:

Make sure you’re using the full Microsoft email address as the username. Some apps may default to just the part before the “@.”

If your account has two-factor authentication turned on, you might need to create an app password in your Microsoft account security settings and use that instead of your normal password.

Double-check the server type you’re using. For Outlook/Exchange accounts, just selecting “Exchange” or “Office 365” in the app usually works best rather than manually entering IMAP/SMTP.

Make sure the app is updated to the latest version and try clearing its cache or reinstalling it.

2 answers

Your answer

Mukesh D 30 Reputation points

2026-02-18T01:18:00.0533333+00:00

Hi Robert,

It sounds like your account works on PC but isn’t connecting properly on the Outlook Android app, which usually points to authentication issues rather than server settings. A few things to try:

Make sure you’re using the full Microsoft email address as the username. Some apps may default to just the part before the “@.”

If your account has two-factor authentication turned on, you might need to create an app password in your Microsoft account security settings and use that instead of your normal password.

Double-check the server type you’re using. For Outlook/Exchange accounts, just selecting “Exchange” or “Office 365” in the app usually works best rather than manually entering IMAP/SMTP.

Make sure the app is updated to the latest version and try clearing its cache or reinstalling it.

Answer 1

Chloe-L 10,095 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Dear Robert Fisher 2,

Thank you for posting your question to the Microsoft Q&A. I understand how confusing it is when the test email arrives perfectly, but the app itself says "unable to log in."

The good news is that for Microsoft-owned email addresses (ending in @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com, or @msn.com), the Outlook app is actually designed to bypass those manual server settings entirely. In fact, manually entering those details often triggers the error you are seeing because the app is trying to use a modern authentication protocol, while the manual settings force an older one.

Here is the most effective way to let the app do the heavy lifting for you:

Cancel or Delete the current failed attempt so we start fresh.
Tap Add Account.
Enter your full email address.
Simply tap Continue (or the blue arrow)

Instead of asking for server names (like imap-mail.outlook.com), the screen should change to a modern Microsoft Sign-In page (it will look like a web login page with the Microsoft logo).

Enter your password on that page.
If you have 2-Step Verification enabled, it will prompt you for your code or Authenticator approval.
The app will then configure all the server settings in the background automatically.

By allowing the app to detect the account type on its own, you avoid the manual server conflict entirely.

Please give this method a try and let me know if it successfully logs you in!

Robert Fisher 2 0 Reputation points

2026-02-12T10:11:31.6766667+00:00

Uninstalled & re installed A for A. Did as instructed. After adding my email address I was offered IMAP or POP. Tried both with same result: "unable to log in" and no test emails received. I changed my MS email password in Feb 24 after a hack and hope that is not causing the trouble.
Chloe-L 10,095 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-13T03:56:05.75+00:00
Hello Robert Fisher 2,

Thank you for performing those troubleshooting steps. I am sorry to hear that the "Unable to log in" error is persisting even after a fresh reinstall and trying both manual protocols.

To identify the correct connection method, could you please let me know the specific domain of your email address (the part after the "@" symbol)?

Examples: @outlook.com, @gmail.com, @yahoo.com, @att.net, etc.

Best regards,
Robert Fisher 2 0 Reputation points

2026-02-13T07:17:14.3933333+00:00

Chloe thanks for your help.I have cured the problem by using a different password for my email account. O fr A now operating on tablet and mobile and am now struggling with MS 365 on my PC to sync emails and calendar between all three!
Chloe-L 10,095 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-14T00:42:29.3233333+00:00
Hello Robert Fisher 2,

That is fantastic news! I am so glad to hear that the password update solved the authentication block on your tablet and mobile. It is a relief to have those working again.

Regarding the PC (MS 365) sync struggle:

Since you changed the password to fix the mobile devices, the PC might simply need the new password entered to resume the connection. However, if the Calendar specifically isn't syncing, we are likely dealing with a "Protocol" issue.

IMAP (Most common): If your PC connects via IMAP, it will sync Emails only. The Calendar will stay "local" on the PC and won't talk to your tablet.

Exchange: This is required to sync Email, Calendar, and Contacts across all three devices simultaneously.

To help me guide you to the right settings, could you please let me know the domain of your email address (the part after the "@")?

(e.g., is it @outlook.com, @gmail.com, @yahoo.com, or a provider like Comcast/Bigpond?)

Once I know the domain, I can tell you exactly how to bridge that gap so everything matches perfectly!

Best regards,
Robert Fisher 2 0 Reputation points

2026-02-14T08:31:08.6933333+00:00

Success! Checked my password for Bluemail account emails with iemail servers and re-tried A for A account using that password.
Robert Fisher 2 0 Reputation points

2026-02-14T09:00:46.4266667+00:00

Good morning Chloe from UK. First of all, although I have been subscribing for a family MS365, I had not downloaded it to my PC and was using Outlook & Word & Excel etc from Office 2010 - I suspect! Yesterday I managed do download the MS 365 apps to my PC, but have yet to set them up properly. Festina lente = latin for "hasten slowly".

As for domian name, it is not straightforward. My Internet service provider is Utility Warehouse in UK and my parent email for that service is ******@uwclub.com. I use a service from Names, from whom I rent the domain fisherfam.co.uk to convert all my incoming and outgoing emails from Utility Warehouse and Names servers to ******@fisherfam.co.uk.

I am slightly confused whether my Names email account is IMAP or POP3. IMAP on my account details with them but incoming server in the settings is pop.ukservers.net

I will today try to set up my MS365 apps on the PC while you remain confused by the above.
Chloe-L 10,095 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-02-17T23:39:43.54+00:00
Hello Robert Fisher 2, good morning!

Thank you for your update. Rushing the setup is usually where the glitches happen, so taking your time is the right move.

Moving from Office 2010 to Microsoft 365 is a significant jump. You will find the interface looks quite different, but the core features are much more powerful once you settle in.

Regarding your email confusion (Names / Utility Warehouse):

It sounds like you have a "Personal Domain" setup. Since your settings currently show pop.ukservers.net, your old Outlook 2010 was definitely connecting via POP3.

Here is the difference to help you decide how to set up the new Outlook 365:

POP3 (pop.ukservers.net): This downloads emails from the server to your PC and often deletes them from the server. It’s good for keeping a permanent local archive, but bad if you want to see your "Sent" items on your phone or other devices.

IMAP (usually imap.ukservers.net): This syncs everything. If you read an email on your PC, it’s marked as read on your phone. If you send an email from your PC, it shows up in the Sent folder on the web.

My suggestion for your setup today:

When you add this email to the new Outlook 365, do not just click "Next." Outlook might get confused by the alias setup.

Enter your email address (******@fisherfam.co.uk).

Look for a checkbox that says "Let me set up my account manually" (it might be under "Advanced options"). Check this box before clicking Connect.

You will then see icons for POP and IMAP.

If you want to keep things exactly as they were, choose POP and use the pop.ukservers.net server settings you already know.

If you want to modernize and sync across devices, choose IMAP (you will likely need to check the "Names" support page for the correct Incoming IMAP Server address).

Good luck with the setup today!

Best regards,

Answer 2

If you are experiencing issues adding your Outlook email account to the Outlook for Android app, here are some steps you can try:

Check Authentication Type: Ensure that you are using the correct authentication type. If your account is an on-premises account that does not use hybrid modern authentication, you may need to select Basic authentication in the app configuration settings.
Verify Server Settings: Double-check the incoming and outgoing server settings you are using. Make sure they match the settings provided in your PC Outlook account settings. The incoming server should typically be set to the Exchange ActiveSync externally accessible domain name.
TLS Version: Ensure that your Exchange Server is configured to use TLS 1.2 or later. Outlook for Android requires TLS 1.2 for secure connections. If your server is using TLS 1.1 or 1.0, it may cause authentication issues.
Check Email Account Configuration: In the Outlook app, ensure that you have entered the correct username and password. The username should typically be your full email address.
Network Connection: Make sure that your mobile device has a stable internet connection. Sometimes, connectivity issues can prevent successful authentication.
App Permissions: Check if the Outlook app has the necessary permissions on your device to access the internet and send/receive data.
Update the App: Ensure that the Outlook app is updated to the latest version available in the Google Play Store.
Reinstall the App: If the issue persists, try uninstalling and then reinstalling the Outlook app on your device.

If you continue to face issues, you may want to refer to the troubleshooting guidance for connection issues with the mail server.

References:

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cannot add MS Outlook email account on Outlook for Android app on Tablet or mobile phone

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