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

Èròjà atẹ̀lélànà yii ni a ti fi pamọ́ fọ́jọ́ pípẹ́. Jọ̀wọ́ béèrè ìbéèrè titun bí o bá nílò ìrànwọ́.

Cannot connect the hotmail server recently

  • 13 àwọn èsì
  • 2 ní àwọn ìṣòro yìí
  • 1 view
  • Èsì tí ó kẹ́hìn lọ́wọ́ Toad-Hall

more options

Dear,

I used thunderbird a few years and my current version is 78.6.0 (32bit) now. I set up a few accounts which included yahoo/hotmail and used normal. But early in Nov. my hotmail account cannot receive any email and other yahoo accounts can receive normally.

I checked with Microsoft community and found that I must set up two-step verification on the hotmail account. Therefore I followed the instruction to set up. Then I removed my old hotmail account in thunderbird and re-set up the hotmail account with new two-step verification generated new password in TB. But TB still displayed the message (about cannot access the hotmail server....)

I download the another email software - mailbird and setup hotmail account in that software. I type the same account name, two-step verification generated new password, the same imap/smtp server information. The mailbird can access my hotmail account and receive the email normally.

So, does anybody know what the problem is in thunderbird ? (Because I still want to use the TB for my email software)

Thanks

Dear, I used thunderbird a few years and my current version is 78.6.0 (32bit) now. I set up a few accounts which included yahoo/hotmail and used normal. But early in Nov. my hotmail account cannot receive any email and other yahoo accounts can receive normally. I checked with Microsoft community and found that I must set up two-step verification on the hotmail account. Therefore I followed the instruction to set up. Then I removed my old hotmail account in thunderbird and re-set up the hotmail account with new two-step verification generated new password in TB. But TB still displayed the message (about cannot access the hotmail server....) I download the another email software - mailbird and setup hotmail account in that software. I type the same account name, two-step verification generated new password, the same imap/smtp server information. The mailbird can access my hotmail account and receive the email normally. So, does anybody know what the problem is in thunderbird ? (Because I still want to use the TB for my email software) Thanks

All Replies (13)

more options

Is the 'two-step verification generated new password' an app password? That is what you must use in TB in place of the account password, if two-step verification is in place.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/using-app-passwords-with-apps-that-don-t-support-two-step-verification-5896ed9b-4263-e681-128a-a6f2979a7944

more options

I have already created app password and placed in TB but still not access the hotmail server. I used the same app password in Mailbird setup, it can be access the hotmail password. So I don't know what the problem is ?

Thanks

more options

TRy completely removing the stored password.

  • Menu app icon > Options
  • select 'Privacy & Security'

Under 'Passwords' section

  • click on 'Saved Passwords' button
  • Select the lines for the hotmail/outlook account
  • click on 'Remove'
  • click on 'close'

Restart Thunderbird

Enter the created app password at the password prompt and select the checkbox to remember password. click on OK

more options

I also did the Toad-Hall suggestion but still cannot access the hotmail server.

Then I tried the following. 1. I uninstalled the old thunderbird and install it again. (but still cannot access.)

2. I tried to setup a new hotmail account, set up two-step verification and one time password (but also still cannot access)

I don't know what the problem is ?

Thanks

more options

I just tested another method, I installed Thunderbird to another computer and setup my hotmail account. It can access the hotmail server. It seems that there are some caches/information or .... in my old computer and made it cannot access the hotmail server. Do anybody know what can I do ? (I also to remove caches in TB and Firefox)

Thanks

more options

If it works on one computer but not the other, all things being equal, I would guess there's a difference between the security/antivirus apps. Many of them, like Avast/AVG, Bitdefender, ESET, TrendMicro etc. interfere in some way with secure connections, with 'default' settings. What is the antivirus app, and what are its settings for email?

more options

Dear,

It seems really the anti-virus software problem. I used NOD32 (ESET), I disabled the setting of email protection -> imaps scanner setting. My hotmail account can access the server.

Thanks

more options
more options

sfhowes said

If it works on one computer but not the other, all things being equal, I would guess there's a difference between the security/antivirus apps. Many of them, like Avast/AVG, Bitdefender, ESET, TrendMicro etc. interfere in some way with secure connections, with 'default' settings. What is the antivirus app, and what are its settings for email?

My issue was constant "your connection was reset" popup ever since I updated to Thunderbird 78.7.0 a day ago.

Based on sfhowes tip quoted above, I closed Thunderbird 78.7.0, opened Avast settings, disabled Mail Shield temporarily, and relaunched Thunderbird. A popup box appeared asking me for the password to my Hotmail account. I entered the password and clicked the "remember" checkbox. Mail downloaded as it did before the update. I enabled Mail Shield in Avast again and mail continued to arrive in Thunderbird with no problems.

Thanks for the tip sfhowes! :)

more options

I just started having this issue today. I am on a PC, Win7pro, NOT a phone (I would NEVER use a phone to do email or web things). This is SOLELY a FIREFOX issue! I CAN connect through Pale Moon browser with NO PROBLEM. FIREFOX, get your act together and FIX this problem!!!

Funny how I almost NEVER have issues using other companies' browsers, but my problems 95% of the time winds up being something through YOUR browser! Crashes, refusal to connect, etc. That does not happen with any other browser, so why yours? That tells me that your company is not keeping up with things and is failing your users!

Today I try and retrieve emails through Hotmail and their system tells me they can't retrieve the message right now. So I try refreshing the page, and suddenly it kicks me out of Hotmail and says, "Oops! Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and try again later." I tried several times and no dice; I still get the same message. I have issues periodically getting access to my homepage through your browser too. But again, NO problems through Pale Moon!

This gets highly irritating EXTREMELY quickly!

I am NOT a technological person. I know how to turn my computer on and off, open and close browsers, open and close Paint, Word, etc., and how to open and close games. That's it. I am on the older side, and that is not going to change. I'm not a Techie. I depend on browser companies and computer companies to keep their systems working. I am not going to jump through a thousand fiery hoops to try and make something work. And frankly, I shouldn't have to. That's NOT my job! That is what a Techie is for.

So please get on the ball and FIX your browser's issues!

more options

Delenn said

I just started having this issue today. I am on a PC, Win7pro, NOT a phone (I would NEVER use a phone to do email or web things). This is SOLELY a FIREFOX issue! I CAN connect through Pale Moon browser with NO PROBLEM. FIREFOX, get your act together and FIX this problem!!! Funny how I almost NEVER have issues using other companies' browsers, but my problems 95% of the time winds up being something through YOUR browser! Crashes, refusal to connect, etc. That does not happen with any other browser, so why yours? That tells me that your company is not keeping up with things and is failing your users! Today I try and retrieve emails through Hotmail and their system tells me they can't retrieve the message right now. So I try refreshing the page, and suddenly it kicks me out of Hotmail and says, "Oops! Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and try again later." I tried several times and no dice; I still get the same message. I have issues periodically getting access to my homepage through your browser too. But again, NO problems through Pale Moon! This gets highly irritating EXTREMELY quickly! I am NOT a technological person. I know how to turn my computer on and off, open and close browsers, open and close Paint, Word, etc., and how to open and close games. That's it. I am on the older side, and that is not going to change. I'm not a Techie. I depend on browser companies and computer companies to keep their systems working. I am not going to jump through a thousand fiery hoops to try and make something work. And frankly, I shouldn't have to. That's NOT my job! That is what a Techie is for. So please get on the ball and FIX your browser's issues!

Hi Delenn This is the 'Thunderbird' email client Support Forum. This question is specifically about the issue 'Cannot connect the hotmail server recently' using the 'Thunderbird' email client.

You keep mentioning 'Firefox' and 'Your browser' and 'PaleMoon'. Not once did you mention 'Thunderbird' email client nor whether this is an imap or pop mail account. So, I do not think this is the same issue. When you post a comment in someone elses question, you are specifically sending an email to that person. In this case they are probably wondering why you posted the comment as it is not the same issue nor helpful to the person who created the question.

I suggest you access the 'Firefox' browser Support forum and ask your question, but first make sure you are using an up to date version of Firefox which is version 88.0. Please bare in mind that the Support Forums are often manned by other Thunderbird and Firefox users offering their free time in a voluntary capacity to offer Help. Post info on OS, Version of Firefox, What anti-virus you use (you would be amazed how often AV products can cause havoc). You mention 'Hotmail' so that would be Outlook.com. Basic how to connect info here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/how-to-sign-in-to-or-out-of-outlook-com-e08eb8ac-ac27-49f4-a400-a47311e1ee7e

You may need to follow helpful instructions in order to determine what is causing the issue. I use same Firefox browser and have no issues at all. Sometimes the browser has an issue, but often there is something else causing a conflict and you may be required to jump through a through hoops to help identify what is causing the problem.

more options

I did come to the Firefox forums, and entered a search for Hotmail issues and connectivity, and this thread is what came up. That is why I posted here. I don't know what Thunderbird is. I gave the info on what the problem was. Firefox needs to fix the issue. It is not my antivirus. It IS Firefox.

more options

Delenn said

I did come to the Firefox forums, and entered a search for Hotmail issues and connectivity, and this thread is what came up. That is why I posted here. I don't know what Thunderbird is. I gave the info on what the problem was. Firefox needs to fix the issue. It is not my antivirus. It IS Firefox.

I repeat: You are in the Thunderbird forum - Please stop posting in this question. The person who created this question does not need to get irrelevant emails from you. If you read the question and the earlier comments you would instantly know this question is not the same as your issue. This question has nothing to do with Firefox or browser crashes. Please Go to the correct Forum. Create you own question. If reading this in this Forum question - at the top of webpage Click on 'Get Help' and select 'Ask the community', then select 'Firefox'.

Update: A quick search in Firefox forum located : https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1133183 Go to that question at link and see if the information helps. But please do not repond here as it is the wrong place.

Ti ṣàtúnṣe nípa Toad-Hall