Microsoft Outlook won’t connect to online file at .MSN

Create a new Classic Outlook profile and add the full @msn.com address through automatic setup so Outlook configures it as an Outlook.com account with modern authentication, rather than manually as POP/IMAP.

1. Check whether the MSN mailbox itself works

Sign in to Outlook on the web and test sending a message to yourself.

• If webmail sends and receives: the mailbox is working; continue with the new Outlook profile below.
• If webmail also fails: check Microsoft’s Service Health Status site. Also check whether Microsoft cloud storage is full, the password recently changed, or the account was temporarily blocked because of unusual sign-in activity. Any of these can stop sending and receiving. ^1^

Microsoft’s known-issues page does not currently identify a general MSN/Outlook.com outage matching this symptom. ^2^

2. Create a fresh profile without deleting the old one

Since removing and re-adding the account in the existing profile did not restore it, create a separate profile:

1. Close Outlook.
2. Hold Shift while starting Outlook.
   • Alternatively, press Windows+R, enter Outlook.exe /profiles, and press Enter.
3. In Choose Profile, select Options.
4. Enable Prompt for a profile to be used so the existing profile remains available.
5. Select New.
6. Enter a name such as MSN-New, then select OK. ^3^

3. Add the MSN address automatically

In the account setup window:

1. Enter the complete address, such as [Email].
2. Select Connect.
3. Complete the Microsoft sign-in prompt and approve any authentication request.
4. Select Finish, then open Outlook with the new profile.
5. Send a test message and verify that existing folders begin synchronizing.

An @msn.com mailbox must be added using the Outlook.com account flow; do not choose Exchange, Microsoft 365, or manual POP/IMAP configuration for this recovery. Microsoft documents automatic setup for @msn.com, @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, and @live.com addresses. ^4^

If Outlook rejects the password or cannot connect

• Repeated password prompts: If two-step verification is enabled, complete the Authenticator prompt. Microsoft’s account-addition guidance also documents using an app password when required by the Outlook configuration. ^4^
• Older Outlook version: Outlook.com modern authentication is supported by current Microsoft 365 Outlook versions and Outlook 2021 LTSC build 11601.10000 or later. Outlook 2007, 2010, 2013, Outlook 2016 MSI, Outlook 2019 LTSC, and builds below 11601.10000 do not support this Outlook.com OAuth configuration. Upgrade Outlook or use the new Outlook for Windows if one of those versions applies. ^5^
• POP/IMAP was previously used: Do not recreate that configuration. Classic Outlook does not support OAuth for Outlook.com accounts configured through POP or IMAP; automatic Outlook.com setup creates the supported OAuth connection. ^5^
• Webmail works but fresh-profile setup still fails: Run Microsoft’s Classic Outlook connectivity and authentication troubleshooters. ^6^

If the @msn.com address itself was removed as a Microsoft-account alias, rather than merely removed from Outlook, that is a different condition: a removed alias is permanently deleted and cannot be added back. ^7^

References

1. Can't send or receive email in Outlook.com | Microsoft Support
2. Fixes or workarounds for recent issues on Outlook.com
3. Create a profile in classic Outlook for Windows
4. Add your Outlook.com account in classic Outlook for Windows | Microsoft Support
5. Outlook and other apps are unable to connect to Outlook.com when using Basic authentication | Microsoft Support
6. Classic Outlook troubleshooters | Microsoft Support
7. MSN email issues - Microsoft Q&A