Microsoft’s Outlook.com – Quick look at the Problem with Connectivity

The Problem

Recently, Microsoft has acknowledged that Outlook and other apps are unable to connect to Outlook.com. This issue has been reported by users since around January 23, 2024. Users have reported problems connecting with Outlook 2013, Outlook 2016, Outlook for Microsoft 365, Thunderbird, and mobile email apps when connecting with POP, IMAP, and Exchange connections.

Known Issues with Outlook.com Connectivity

Some users have reported that signing in with an App Password works to connect but later goes back into a disconnected state. There are also reports of issues with sending emails with attachments, adding email addresses in Safari, duplicate contacts, email navigation arrows missing, and more.

Status

As of now, the Outlook Team is investigating this issue. They have not yet provided a definitive solution, but they are actively working on it.

Workarounds for Outlook.com connectivity

While Microsoft is working on a fix, there are a few workarounds that users can try:

1. Update the Outlook Application: Ensure that your Outlook app is updated to the latest version.
2. Check Firewall or Antivirus Settings: Check if there are any firewall or antivirus settings that may be blocking Outlook from connecting to the server.
3. Create a New Windows User Profile: Try creating a new Windows user profile and see if Outlook works on that profile.
4. Run Windows Update: Make sure you have the latest updates for Outlook and other desktop apps for Microsoft 365.
5. Use Outlook.com on the Web: In the meantime, users are advised to use Outlook.com on the web.

Here are some additional recent fixes by Microsoft related to Outlook.com:

1. Outlook Desktop Crashes: In December, Microsoft fixed an issue causing Outlook Desktop clients to crash when sending emails from Outlook.com accounts in Version 2311 Build 17029.20068. Users who had disabled auto-updates were advised to click “Update Now” under File > Office Account > Update Options to mitigate the issue.
2. 401 Exception Errors: The Outlook team resolved a bug caused by a configuration issue that was triggering 401 exception errors and breaking email searches for Outlook.com users in July. This issue was resolved by reverting a problematic service update.

Conclusion

Microsoft is aware of the connectivity issues affecting Outlook apps and is actively working on a solution. In the meantime, users can try the suggested workarounds to mitigate the impact.

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