mailpitcher

Connect Outlook, Hotmail or Microsoft 365

Add an Outlook.com, Hotmail or Microsoft 365 mailbox with Sign in with Microsoft. No password to type, and how to turn on IMAP in Outlook.com first.

Updated · 2 min read · 6 steps

Outlook.com, Hotmail and Microsoft 365 mailboxes connect with Sign in with Microsoft. You sign in on Microsoft’s own page. Mailpitcher never sees your Microsoft password.

  1. Add mailboxChoose Outlook in the Provider list.
  2. Sign in with MicrosoftMicrosoft's page opens.
  3. ApproveAllow reading and sending mail.
  4. Back in MailpitcherThe mailbox is connected.
Outlook and Microsoft 365 connect with Microsoft's own sign-in. Mailpitcher never sees your Microsoft password.

Before you start

  • A paid Mailpitcher plan, and two-step sign-in on in Mailpitcher. See Two-step sign-in.
  • Outlook.com and Hotmail: turn on IMAP first. Microsoft keeps it off until you switch it on (step 1).
  • Microsoft 365 (work or school): IMAP is usually on. If your organisation turned it off, ask your admin. You can skip step 1.

Steps

Turn on IMAP in Outlook.com (Outlook.com and Hotmail only)

  1. Go to outlook.live.com and sign in.
  2. Click the Settings cog, then Mail, then Forwarding and IMAP.
  3. Under POP and IMAP, turn on Let devices and apps use IMAP.
  4. Click Save.
Outlook.com settings (simplified drawing): Settings, Mail, Forwarding and IMAP. IMAP is off until you turn it on.
  1. Let devices and apps use IMAP
  2. Save

Open Add a mailbox in Mailpitcher

Click Add mailbox at the bottom of the sidebar.

Choose your kind of Outlook

Open Provider and pick one:

  • Outlook: Outlook.com and Hotmail for @outlook.com, @hotmail.com and @live.com addresses.
  • Outlook: Microsoft 365 (work or school) for an address your company or school gives you.

The form changes: there is no password box.

Type your address (optional)

Typing it in Email address saves you picking the account on Microsoft’s page. You can leave it empty.

The Add a mailbox window with Outlook chosen. There is no password field.
  1. Provider: Outlook.com and Hotmail, or Microsoft 365
  2. Your address (optional)
  3. Sign in with Microsoft

Click Sign in with Microsoft

Microsoft’s sign-in page opens in the same tab. Sign in, then approve reading and sending mail.

Back in Mailpitcher

You come back to Mailpitcher automatically. A message says Microsoft mailbox connected. Its newest mail is arriving now. The mailbox opens in the sidebar.

If something went wrong, the message at the bottom says what. The most common ones:

  • “Microsoft sign-in was cancelled.” You closed or declined Microsoft’s page. Start again from step 2.
  • The incoming server rejected the sign-in. IMAP is off. For Outlook.com, do step 1. For Microsoft 365, your admin may have turned IMAP off.
  • The outgoing server failed (Microsoft 365). Your admin may need to turn on “Authenticated SMTP” for your mailbox.

Good to know

  • Signing in with Microsoft again on a mailbox that’s already connected just refreshes its access. It doesn’t add a second copy.
  • Microsoft 365 bought through GoDaddy also connects this way: pick GoDaddy: Microsoft 365 from GoDaddy in the Provider list.
  • Set your sender name and signature with the cog next to the mailbox in the sidebar.

Sources