How to connect calendar / contacts from Outlook.com on Android phone

Question

How to connect calendar / contacts from Outlook.com on Android phone

Bozhidar Gyulmezov 5

Earlier it was possible to add my outlook.com account directly to Android, and not through the outlook app.

The reason - calendar of mobile Outlook is trash (also google calendar is trash) and task reminders disappear 1 hour after the reminder.

Also contacts cannot be edited inside the dealer/contacts app of the phone - to simply add someone who you just talked with.

This option disappeared 1 year ago to increased security.

(back then I checked that it kept working beyond the deadline, thought I'm ok, and afterwards forgot about it, just to now find out that it stopped slightly later, and I had to sync new contacts and tasks in my calendar manually for the past year)

How can I add my account again?

The article here which is supposedly for this issues only tells us to use the Outlook app on Andrioid, and gives no real solution.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/outlook-and-other-apps-are-unable-to-connect-to-outlook-com-when-using-basic-authentication-f4202ebf-89c6-4a8a-bec3-3d60cf7deaef

Using add account / outlook / exchange -> server m.hotmail.com doesn't work anymore - it tells me wrong password (it's not).

It also asks for username - tried with both only the mail name, or full address (with @outlook.com in the end) - not working either way.

I really wanted to keep using my outlook account (including because the integration with my windows desktop), and not switch to giving the totality of my data to Google - and even if this issue has appeared many times during the years, always was able to find solution (until now).

But maybe I will finally give up, and stop using my outlook account for tasks outside mail, and transfer the calendar and contacts to google.

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Kavya Vaghela 0 Reputation points

2026-08-18T16:16:25.8666667+00:00

Most helpfull

1 answer

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Kavya Vaghela 0 Reputation points

2026-08-18T16:16:25.8666667+00:00

Most helpfull

Answer 1

Kal-D 7,375 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Dear Bozhidar Gyulmezov,

Thank you for reaching out to the Q&A.

We understand your frustration with the changes to how you can add your Outlook.com account to your Android device. Microsoft has updated its security protocols, and we can help you navigate this.

Understanding the Change

As you mentioned, it's no longer possible to add your account directly using the older method with m.hotmail.com. This is due to Microsoft's decision to deprecate Basic Authentication in favor of Modern Authentication (also known as OAuth 2.0). This change enhances security but requires a different setup process.

How to Add Your Account Now

To add your Outlook.com account without the official Outlook app, your device's native mail app or any third-party app you use must support Modern Authentication. The process is no longer a simple username and password entry. Instead, the app will redirect you to a secure Microsoft sign-in page to authorize the connection.

Here are the typical server settings you can try for a manual setup:

IMAP Server: outlook.office365.com
IMAP Port: 993
IMAP Encryption: SSL/TLS
SMTP Server: smtp-mail.outlook.com
SMTP Port: 587
SMTP Encryption: STARTTLS

When prompted for a username, use your full email address. When the app initiates the login, it should take you to a Microsoft page in your browser to complete the authentication securely.

If your phone's built-in mail, contacts, and calendar apps do not support this newer authentication method, they will not be able to connect, and you may need to use a third-party app that does. You can try the Gmail app, as it has been updated to support modern authentication for other email providers.

Please let me know how these suggestions work for you, or if you'd like further assistance.

Warm regards,

Kal Duong | Microsoft Q&A Support Specialist

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Bozhidar Gyulmezov 5 Reputation points

2025-08-30T16:20:02.1733333+00:00

Hello Kal,

your answer worked, but did not help with my issue at all.

Adding via GMail app just added my mail account as "personal(IMAP)" account, and it syncs only my mails - which I don't need at all, as I can already do this in my Outlook app, and I have no issues to use it for Mail - my problem are contacts and calendar.

So please describe the steps which I need to take, to reach a location to enter the settings you described above - here are my options to manually add an account. - my expectation is I have to click on Outlook account - but it doesn't work.

Please describe the steps how you would do it on your device
Bozhidar Gyulmezov 5 Reputation points

2025-08-30T16:56:32.8966667+00:00

Here additional info - if I try to add via"exchange" - here is what I get, I tells me to use modern authentication,

if I click it - it cannot reach a server.

if I try via Oulook option

I first get this warning

I don't have 365, so not for me, clicking on Outllook opens the GMAIl app (which is not helping ) - and clicking on "exchange" leads to menu, which is forbidden from screenshots - the fields there are :

mail address *

password *

description (work)

server* (I guess outlook.office365.com - but I don't have 365, is there another server? )

domain

username* (what to put here? my username without @outlook.com or the full address, or something else? )

fields with * are mandatory.

filling the info results with message of wrong password (it's not - because I used the same password earlier to add the account via gmail app)
Kal-D 7,375 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-08-30T21:51:36.9366667+00:00
Hi Bozhidar Gyulmezov,

Thank you for the additional information and for providing the screenshots. This is incredibly helpful and gives me a clear view of the exact situation you're facing. I understand your frustration, and I am here to guide you through this process.

Understanding the Setup

You've correctly identified the Exchange option, which is the necessary protocol for syncing your email, calendar, and contacts. While the Microsoft 365 option is for corporate accounts, your personal Outlook.com account is hosted on the same Exchange Online infrastructure, which is why the server address for both is similar.

The "wrong password" error is a common message that can be confusing. This message often appears when the app you are using is trying to connect with outdated security protocols. As you noted, a key change has been made to enhance security, requiring the use of Modern Authentication.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To get your calendar and contacts to sync, please follow these specific steps on your device:

From the "Choose account type" screen, select Exchange.

On the next screen, you will be prompted for several pieces of information. Please enter them as follows:

Email address: Your full Outlook.com email address (e.g., ******@outlook.com).

Password: Your account password.

Server: Please enter outlook.office365.com. (Please note: Even though you do not have a paid Microsoft 365 subscription, this is the correct server address for all personal Outlook.com accounts to connect via Exchange.)

Username: Enter your full email address again (e.g., ******@outlook.com).

Domain: Leave this field blank.

Once you have filled in the fields, your device should attempt to connect.

If you see an option or a button to "Switch to modern authentication" or a similar phrase, please tap it. This is the crucial step. Tapping this will redirect you to a secure Microsoft sign-in page in your browser to complete the authentication process securely.

If your phone proceeds directly to an error message without offering the "modern authentication" option, this indicates that the specific native mail application on your device does not support the required security protocol for personal Exchange accounts.

If It Doesn't Work

Should the above steps fail and you are not provided with a modern authentication option, your device's native app may be incompatible with the current security standards for Outlook.com. In this case, I have a few recommendations:

Utilize the Outlook App's Sync Feature: The official Outlook app for Android includes a feature to sync your contacts and calendar to your device's native apps. You can enable this by going to the Outlook app's settings and looking for the "Sync contacts" option.

I appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience this transition has caused. These changes are part of Microsoft ongoing commitment to improving the security of your data. I hope these steps resolve your issue.

Please let me know how it goes!

Warm regards,

Kal Duong | Microsoft Q&A Support Specialist
Bozhidar Gyulmezov 5 Reputation points

2025-09-03T17:07:04.9666667+00:00
Hello Kal,

I have already tried this the previous time.

I tried it again - and it again didn't work

from the main menu selecting directly "exchange" and clicking on modern authentication leads to "cannot find server" , even when already entered outlook.office365.com before clicking

clicking first on "outlook" and then "exchange" leads to "wrong password"

And as proven by the Gmail app able to sync my mail with modern authentication - the problem is not my phone incapable of "modern authentication", also not wrong password.

My phone is a last year flagship with the latest android, so definitely not a software issue.

Or maybe Microsoft have disabled the normal way to use exchange, in hope to force us to use the Outlook app ? (which I already do anyway for mail).

In the meantime I found out that enabling calendar sync inside outlook app is now working with the android calendar and I can update my events directly in my (3rd party) calendar, without having to use the awful outlook calendar.

But the problem remains for the contacts - there the data is given to the android system as "read only" and if I want to update / add a contact I have to do it inside the outlook app, which is annoying, and especially if I forget to switch (and do it in the dialer app) - any contact I add will be added only on the phone, and not to my account.

If you want to convince me the problem is in my device - create / use an account in outlook.com, and add it to you phone via exchange, so it syncs.

And provide screenshots of the steps you did to do it.

If you meet the same problems as me - report up the chain of the issue.

In the meantime I will decide do I migrate my main account and data to the Google account, if Outlook account is no longer adequately integrated in Android.