How to fix not being able to add a GoDaddy email account to my Outlook Classic getting HTTP 403 messages

The HTTP 403 is being returned by sso.godaddy.com, so first verify the mailbox in webmail, then clear the Office sign-in state and retry Outlook before changing mail-server settings.

1. Verify the mailbox outside Outlook

Sign in to the GoDaddy-provided Outlook on the web using the same email address and password.

• If webmail also fails: this is an account or GoDaddy authentication issue. Contact GoDaddy and provide the screenshot and the exact message: HTTP 403 from sso.godaddy.com.
• If webmail works: the mailbox and password are functional, and the failure is isolated to the Classic Outlook/GoDaddy desktop authentication handoff. This matches the reported GoDaddy Microsoft 365 scenario in which webmail works but Classic Outlook receives HTTP 403 from the GoDaddy SSO endpoint.^1^

2. Reset the Office sign-in state

1. Close Outlook.
2. Open another Office application, such as Word.
3. Select File → Account.
4. Sign out of every Office account shown there.
5. Close all Office applications.
6. Open Windows Credential Manager:
   • Open Start and search for Credential Manager.
   • Select Windows Credentials.
   • Remove saved entries specifically associated with the affected Outlook, Office, Microsoft 365, or GoDaddy account.
   • Do not remove unrelated credentials.
7. Restart Windows.
8. Open Outlook (classic) and select File → Add Account.
9. Enter the full GoDaddy email address and complete the GoDaddy sign-in window.

GoDaddy publishes a dedicated Outlook-for-Windows sign-in troubleshooting path for its hosted accounts.^2^

If the same 403 remains

Because the refusal is still coming from the GoDaddy SSO host, send GoDaddy support these precise details:

• Classic Outlook for Windows
• GoDaddy-hosted Microsoft 365 mailbox
• Webmail works, if confirmed
• Account setup redirects to sso.godaddy.com
• The sign-in window returns “We can’t connect you” / HTTP 403
• Date, time, and screenshot of the failure

Use Outlook on the web temporarily while GoDaddy checks the account’s SSO provisioning or any service-side incident. The exact matching Q&A case does not currently have an accepted resolution, so there is no supported basis for attributing this specific 403 to a damaged Outlook profile or changing the Windows registry.

Conditional alternative: manual IMAP

Use this only if GoDaddy confirms that IMAP and SMTP are enabled for this mailbox and provides the server names, ports, encryption, and authentication requirements. Manual setup is not available for a Microsoft 365/Exchange connection itself; it works only when POP or IMAP access is enabled.^3^

1. In Classic Outlook, select File → Add Account.
2. Enter the email address.
3. Select Advanced options.
4. Check Let me set up my account manually, then select Connect.
5. Select IMAP.
6. Enter the incoming and outgoing settings supplied by GoDaddy.
7. Enter the full email address as the username and use the password GoDaddy specifies.
8. If GoDaddy requires an app password, generate it through the provider and enter it instead of the normal password.^4^

IMAP provides email synchronization but does not provide the full Exchange experience, such as Exchange calendar and contact synchronization.

References

1. Can’t add my Microsoft 365 (from GoDaddy) account to the Outlook ...
2. GoDaddy - I can't sign in to Outlook for Windows
3. Troubleshoot Outlook email setup | Microsoft Support
4. [Classic Outlook](https://support.microsoft.com/outlook/getstarted/add-an-email-account-to-outlook-for-windows#troubleshoot)