Overview

This article describes how to set your Microsoft 365 email account up in the Mozilla Thunderbird email program, using the IMAP protocol.

Advice

This article discusses steps for Thunderbird on Windows – the steps for Thunderbird on MacOS may be slightly different.

Instructions

  1. Open Thunderbird.
    • If this is your first time opening Thunderbird, you will already be at Step 3.
  2. Click on the Menu button in the top-right of the window, then choose New -> Existing Mail Account…
setup 365 account in thunderbird
setup 365 account in thunderbird
  1. Fill our your details, then click Configure Manually.
setup 365 account in thunderbird
  1. Enter the below settings, and then click Done;
    • Incoming Server
      Protocol: IMAP
      Hostname: outlook.office365.com
      Port: 993
      Connection Security: SSL/TLS
      Authentication Method: OAuth2
      Username: Your 365 Email Address
    • Outgoing Server
      Hostname: smtp.office365.com
      Port: 587
      Connection Security: STARTTLS
      Authentication Method: OAuth2
      Username: Your 365 Email Address
setup 365 account in thunderbird
  1. A new window will open with the Microsoft sign-in screen.
    Enter your Email Address, then click Next.
setup 365 account in thunderbird
  1. Enter your Password, then click Sign In.
setup 365 account in thunderbird
  1. If prompted to enter your Multi-Factor Authentication details, do so now.
  2. Review the list of permissions that Thunderbird will ask for, then click Accept to confirm and proceed.
setup 365 account in thunderbird
  1. If the account does not immediately show as being added successfully (may say “password wrong” or similar), click Done again to proceed.
  2. You can now access your email account via the Inbox tab at the top of Thunderbird.

Information

Note that since you are only accessing the account via IMAP, your Contacts, Calendars and other 365-specific features will not sync between Thunderbird and Microsoft.

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