This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Can't send hotmail emails from thunderbird but can receive emails

  • 12 iimpendulo
  • 22 inale ngxaki
  • 1 view
  • Impendulo yokugqibela ngu Neil

more options

This problem started a couple of weeks before Hotmail failed for thousands of people. I had not changed any settings in either Thunderbird or Hotmail and a subsequent re-install of a newer version of Linux Mint did not alleviate the problem. Outlook Support provided me with server settings which are both correct and unchanged. They said it was a problem with Thunderbird. HELP!

The error message reads:

Sending of the message failed. An error occurred while sending mail: Outgoing server (SMTP) smtp-mail.outlook.com is unknown. The server may be incorrectly configured. Please verify that your Outgoing server (SMTP) settings are correct and try again.

SERVER SETTINGS: MAP server name imap-mail.outlook.com IMAP port 993 IMAP encryption method TLS

POP server name pop-mail.outlook.com POP port 995 POP encryption method TLS

SMTP server name smtp-mail.outlook.com SMTP port 587 SMTP encryption method STARTTLS

This problem started a couple of weeks before Hotmail failed for thousands of people. I had not changed any settings in either Thunderbird or Hotmail and a subsequent re-install of a newer version of Linux Mint did not alleviate the problem. Outlook Support provided me with server settings which are both correct and unchanged. They said it was a problem with Thunderbird. HELP! The error message reads: Sending of the message failed. An error occurred while sending mail: Outgoing server (SMTP) smtp-mail.outlook.com is unknown. The server may be incorrectly configured. Please verify that your Outgoing server (SMTP) settings are correct and try again. SERVER SETTINGS: MAP server name imap-mail.outlook.com IMAP port 993 IMAP encryption method TLS POP server name pop-mail.outlook.com POP port 995 POP encryption method TLS SMTP server name smtp-mail.outlook.com SMTP port 587 SMTP encryption method STARTTLS

Isisombulu esikhethiweyo

Try these settings: outgoing server name: smtp.office365.com on port: 587, security: STARTTLS, authentication: normal password, User name: full email address.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Hotmail

Funda le mpendulo kwimeko leyo 👍 8

All Replies (12)

more options

Isisombululo esiKhethiweyo

Try these settings: outgoing server name: smtp.office365.com on port: 587, security: STARTTLS, authentication: normal password, User name: full email address.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Hotmail

more options

Thankyou! This solved the problem though I still don't understand why my original smtp address doesn't work (and suddenly stopped working). Does anyone else have the same problem?

Ilungisiwe ngu flyingspaghettimonster

more options

sorry it didnt work ... it is doing it on a hotmail account and its random ... sometimes it will and the next it wont and its happing on more than 1 email

could it have something to do with using it alot as the last while we have been sending and receving more emails then usual

more options

also it looks like its sending out 2 emails for 1 reply

more options

I've also noticed that (when I'm "live" - not using Thunderbird) Hotmail is slow to render and "overlays" folders sometimes when I move mailboxes. I'm not a conspiracy theorist but I remember vaguely when broken links were (deliberately) put out by Internaff Exploiter or something else Windows.Could this be another attempt to make me go all cloudy, upgrade to "Premium" and follow The One True Path? Mind you, I also remember Lynx (a TEXT-based browser), downloading Linux onto 3.5"floppies via narrowband, 8mg hdds and children playing outside so maybe technology's just leaving me behind? I also downloaded and ran CLAMAV but no problems. I'm running Mint 18.2 "Sonya" and whatever version of Thunderbird comes with it and update at least daily and this workaround was perfect. Could it be software you're using? I still lean towards Microsoft fault...

more options

integra22 said

sorry it didnt work ... it is doing it on a hotmail account and its random ... sometimes it will and the next it wont and its happing on more than 1 email could it have something to do with using it alot as the last while we have been sending and receving more emails then usual also it looks like its sending out 2 emails for 1 reply

Check that you don't have a security program scanning outgoing mail, as these can often interfere, especially with secure connections. Most mail providers have limits on the number of messages sent or received per hour, day etc., but it's usually a matter of it being in the hundreds.

Hotmail/outlook automatically copies sent messages to the Sent folder, so you should uncheck 'Place a copy in...' under Copies & Folders in Account Settings.

more options

ok ill check that im using free avg right now and ill uncheck the box for copies thanks

more options

Outlook Support have just told me it's DEFINITELY a Thunderbird problem. So any ideas why changing smtp server solved the problem?

more options

integra22 said

ok ill check that im using free avg right now and ill uncheck the box for copies thanks

There was another user who had similar problems until they removed Avast (AVG is owned by Avast); start your computer in Windows safe mode to test if AVG is a factor.

more options

flyingspaghettimonster said

Outlook Support have just told me it's DEFINITELY a Thunderbird problem. So any ideas why changing smtp server solved the problem?

I don't know exactly why changing the server solves the problem, a problem that first appeared April, 2017, but I don't think anyone can definitively point the finger at TB - incompatible security programs are a more likely culprit.

more options

'</blockquote> ...incompatible security programs are a more likely culprit. </blockquote>

I'm using Linux, not Windows but (unless there's some security in TB, FF or Linux I don't know about) using no AV or firewall made no difference to mail delivery. A fresh install of TB (under Mint "Rafaela") with a clean profile worked a few times sending mail then refused. Again, AV and firewall weren't used for test.

Ilungisiwe ngu flyingspaghettimonster

more options

I'VE FIXED THE PROBLEM I've been having the same problem. Receiving emails from my hotmail account but NOT being able to send. I have two hotmail accounts. With little help from Microsoft tech support or any working solutions from Thunderbird support - I'VE JUST FIGURED IT OUT AND IT WORKS!!! Leave SERVER SETTINGS at it was imap-mail.outlook.com Port 993 TLS at the bottom of the list 'OUTGOING SERVER SETTINGS' edit settings to use smtp.outlook.office365.com Port 587 STARTTLS and make sure that under 'ACCOUNT SETTINGS' relfect same smtp settings - if not select from the drop down list! All is working fine both in and out now - Hope this helps others :)

Ilungisiwe ngu Neil