can't successfully add a microsoft email account to android phone

Question

I have two (android) phones. One's got email and authenticator apps connecting fine to my microsoft/hotmail account. I used to have the same going on the second phone (same account. i only have the one microsoft account). After a complete (phone) reset I'm now unable to connect with the 'newer' phone. I try to add an email account to the email client, i enter the login, then it tells me which number to choose on the authenticator app (on the old phone where everything is working fine), I choose the same one and press on 'approve' but then I get the error message (on the newer phone, the one attempting to connect) 'that there have been too many attempts' which gets replaced almost right away with another one 'unable to log in, please try again later'. If I retry the same entering the password manually instead, it then tells me I've entered the password wrong too many times (which isn't true) and it asks me to enter the password plus the letters from some 'are you human' type image. I enter both, the correct ones, and it just reopens the same page again asking for password+letters deciphering.. It seems to have blacklisted my newer phone somehow. If I go into my account details and devices, there's nothing there. And so I don't know how to get unstuck .. please help :D

Answer 1

Follow these steps on the newer Android phone and with your existing Authenticator setup on the old phone:

1. Wait out the lockout
   • The “too many attempts” and repeated CAPTCHA loops indicate a temporary protection/lockout on sign-in.
   • Do not keep retrying immediately; wait at least several hours before the next attempt so the protection timer can clear.
2. Use the official Outlook for Android app
   • Install and open the Outlook for Android app.
   • Go to Menu → Settings → Add Account → Add an email account.
   • Enter the Microsoft/Hotmail address and select the Continue check mark.
   • When prompted, approve the sign-in on the Authenticator app on the old phone.
   • If multi-factor authentication is enabled, complete the MFA prompt as requested.
3. Make sure Authenticator and device settings allow sign-in On the old phone (where Authenticator works):
   • Ensure push notifications are enabled for Microsoft Authenticator.
   • Ensure the device has network connectivity when approving the sign-in.
   On the newer phone:
   • Turn off any aggressive power-saving mode that might interfere with sign-in flows.
   • If using Outlook for Android, make sure it is allowed to run and open other apps.
4. If using a built‑in mail app instead of Outlook
   • Prefer Outlook for Android as above. If still using the default mail client, ensure the account is added as a Microsoft/Outlook/Hotmail account type (not as a generic POP/IMAP account) and then follow the same sign-in and Authenticator approval steps.
5. If the problem persists after waiting
   • Sign in to the Microsoft account on a browser (PC or mobile browser) where it still works.
   • From there, review security info and sign-in activity and ensure there are no additional challenges or blocks being requested.
   • Then repeat the account-add steps in Outlook for Android on the newer phone.

If, after the lockout period and correct Authenticator approval, the newer phone still cannot sign in while the account works elsewhere, contact Microsoft Support for further investigation of the sign-in protection on that device.

---

References:

• Failed to add Microsoft 365 account or cannot sync new messages with your existing Microsoft 365 account?
• Add your Outlook.com account to another mail app or smart device
• Set up email in the Outlook for Android app
• Outlook for Android Help
• Troubleshoot problems with Microsoft Authenticator
• How to add your accounts to Microsoft Authenticator