A growing number of Mac users are struggling to sign in to Outlook accounts through Apple Mail. The issue began appearing in early October 2025 after macOS updates. It prevents users from adding Outlook.com, Hotmail, and Live accounts to Apple’s built-in Mail app.
Some users repeatedly see “Authentication Failed” or “Unable to verify account name or password” errors. Others experience no issues at all. Gmail, iCloud, and Microsoft 365 Exchange accounts still work, pointing to a problem specific to Microsoft’s personal email services.
macOS Updates Likely Behind the Glitch
Reports on Apple’s discussion boards and Reddit link the issue to macOS Tahoe 26.0.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.7.1. Because it appears on both versions, users suspect a broader conflict between Apple Mail and Microsoft’s authentication system.
Several users also noticed that the “Outlook.com” option has disappeared from the Mail setup screen. Only Exchange and IMAP options remain for some. This missing option could be causing authentication failures, especially when paired with Microsoft’s Authenticator app.
Temporary Fixes Bring Mixed Results
Some users tried manually configuring IMAP settings using outlook.office365.com and smtp.office365.com. A few succeeded, but many continued to face the same login errors. Apple’s support team advised updating macOS or using Microsoft’s Outlook app. Unfortunately, neither option consistently solves the problem.
Neither Apple nor Microsoft has issued an official statement or fix. The bug affects only a subset of users, but it has disrupted many workflows. For now, the most reliable workaround is switching to Outlook’s standalone app or using webmail.
Minor Bug, Major Inconvenience
While not widespread, this issue highlights how fragile cross-platform integrations can be. Users depend on both Apple and Microsoft to keep systems compatible. Until an official fix arrives, those unable to sign in to Outlook through Apple Mail may simply have to wait — or get lucky.
