How to Connect Outlook and Hotmail Accounts via IMAP

Outlook and Hotmail run on the same Microsoft infrastructure, so their connection settings are identical too. This guide walks you through connecting an account to email clients and automation software.

Server settings

• IMAP: outlook.office365.com, port 993, SSL/TLS
• POP3: outlook.office365.com, port 995, SSL/TLS
• SMTP: smtp.office365.com, port 587, STARTTLS
• Username: the full email address (@outlook.com or @hotmail.com)

What is OAuth2 (modern authentication)?

For personal accounts Microsoft increasingly requires OAuth2 instead of a direct password login. With OAuth2 the program sends you to the Microsoft sign-in page, you log in, and the program receives an access token without ever seeing your password. Current versions of Thunderbird, desktop Outlook and the built-in mail apps on phones support it. If you use your own software, make sure it supports OAuth2.

Step by step

• Sign in to the account once in a browser first; if Microsoft asks to verify the new device, use the recovery details supplied with the product.
• Add a new account in your program and enter the server details above.
• If there is an OAuth2 option for the authentication method, choose it.
• If the program opens a Microsoft sign-in window, log in and grant access.

Common problems

"Authentication failed": the program may be trying a password-only login; choose OAuth2. Account temporarily locked: Microsoft asks for verification when it detects unusual activity; unlock it with the recovery details. Frequent locks on bulk accounts: do not log into many accounts in a row from the same IP; space out the logins.

Which product should I choose?

If you will connect accounts to software, pick products with IMAP/POP3 in the name. All options in stock are on the Outlook accounts and Hotmail accounts pages.