# Can't Get Hotmail on Your iPhone? Here's How to Fix It (2025)

If you suddenly can't get into your Hotmail or Outlook.com on your iPhone, it's annoying, but you're not the only one. This happens to many people, usually because Microsoft made security updates. Around late 2024, Microsoft made everyone use **Modern Authentication**, which is safer, and stopped allowing the old Basic Authentication. If you set up your Hotmail on your iPhone a while ago, it's likely trying to use the old way, which causes errors. This guide explains why this is happening and gives you simple steps to fix it and get your email back.

## Why This Is Happening: Basic Authentication Is Gone

The main reason your Hotmail stopped working is that Microsoft got rid of **Basic Authentication**. This old way of logging in used just your username and password, which isn't very secure. Now, they use **Modern Authentication** (OAuth 2.0), which is safer and uses multi-factor authentication (MFA), making it tough for hackers to get in.

If your iPhone's Mail app was set up a long time ago, it probably used Basic Auth. Now that Microsoft stopped it, the app can't log in, and you might see errors like: Your IMAP server doesn't support password authentication or it keeps asking for your password.

## How to Fix It: Step-by-Step

Try these steps to figure out and fix the problem.

### 1. Re-add Your Account the Right Way (Most Important)

This fixes the issue for most people. Don't just delete and add the account again; make sure to use the **Outlook.com** option. This makes it use Modern Authentication.

1. **Delete the Old Account:** Go to **Settings > Mail > Accounts**. Tap on the Hotmail/Outlook account that's not working and tap **Delete Account**.
2. **Clear Old Data:** Old login info saved in Safari can mess up the new setup.
* Go to **Settings > Safari**.
* Tap **Clear History and Website Data**.
3. **Restart Your iPhone:** Turn your phone off and on again. This fixes small system issues.
4. **Add the Account Again (Correctly):**
* Go to **Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account**.
* **Important:** Pick **Outlook.com** from the list. Don't pick Hotmail or put in the info manually using Other.
* Type in your full Hotmail email and password. You'll go to a Microsoft login page where you might need to use MFA.
* Make sure you turn on all the permissions (Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Notes) and tap **Save**.

### 2. Check Apple Mail’s Settings

Sometimes, the Mail app itself can cause problems, especially after an iOS update. Apple might turn on settings that hide some emails.

* Open the **Mail** app and go to your inbox.
* Tap on your email at the top, then tap the three dots (`...`) in the corner.
* Make sure options like **Show Priority** or **Categories** are not checked. These can hide emails.
* Set the view to **List View** to see all emails clearly.

### 3. Check Your Microsoft Account Settings

The problem might be with your Microsoft account, especially if you use two-factor authentication (2FA).

* **App Passwords:** If you have 2FA on and have problems logging in, you might need an **App Password**.
* Log in to your Microsoft account on a computer.
* Go to **Security > Advanced security options > App passwords**.
* Create a new 16-character password and use this instead of your regular password when adding your account to your iPhone.
* **Account Lock:** If you see Too many attempts errors, your account might be locked for a bit. Wait a day or two before trying again, or fill out a form on Microsoft's website to get it unlocked.

### 4. Use the Outlook App

If the Mail app still doesn't work, try the Outlook app for iOS to see what's wrong.

* Get the **Outlook for iOS** app from the App Store and add your Hotmail account.
* If it works right away (which it does for most), it means your account is fine and the problem is with how the Mail app connects to Microsoft.
* Many people find the Outlook app more reliable for Microsoft accounts because it handles Modern Authentication automatically.

### 5. More Tips

* **Update iOS:** Make sure your iPhone has **iOS 17.0 or newer**, as older versions might not work well with Modern Authentication. Go to **Settings > General > Software Update**.
* **Reset Network Settings:** This can fix connection problems. Go to **Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings**. Remember: This will erase your Wi-Fi passwords.
* **Check Microsoft's Status Page:** Check the **Microsoft 365 Service Status** page to see if there are any problems on their end.

## Common Questions

**1. Why do I keep seeing Cannot Get Mail or IMAP doesn't support password authentication?**

This means the Mail app is trying to use the old Basic Authentication. Delete the account and add it again, choosing **Outlook.com** to use Modern Authentication.

**2. Why did my Hotmail suddenly stop working after years?**

Microsoft announced they were getting rid of Basic Authentication a while ago but started making everyone switch in late 2024. If your account was set up a long time ago, it worked until Microsoft turned off the old way on their servers.

**3. Will I lose my emails if I delete my account from the Mail app?**

**No.** Your emails are on Microsoft's servers, not your iPhone. Deleting the account just disconnects it. When you add the account back, all your emails will come back.

**4. The Outlook app works, but I like Apple's Mail app better. What do I do?**

If the Outlook app works, your account is fine. The problem is with the Mail app's settings. Try Step 1 again, making sure to clear the Safari data and restart your phone before adding the account back with the **Outlook.com** option.

**5. I'm stuck in a loop with two-factor authentication (2FA). What can I do?**

If you complete the 2FA but can't add the account, try these:

* Close and restart the **Settings** app.
* Restart your iPhone.
* If it still doesn't work, create an **App Password** in your Microsoft account settings and use it instead of your regular password.

**6. My iPhone is old and can't update to iOS 17. What can I do?**

You can either use the **Outlook for iOS app** (if it works on your iOS version) or use a web browser like Safari to go to **outlook.live.com**.

## In Short

Not being able to get Hotmail on your iPhone is usually because of a good change: Microsoft's move to **Modern Authentication**, which makes your account safer. The fix is usually to disconnect the old, outdated connection and create a new, secure one.

The best thing to do is **delete your old account and add it back by picking Outlook.com**. Don't forget to clear your Safari data and restart your phone. If you like the Mail app, this should fix it. If not, the **Outlook for iOS app** is a solid alternative. By understanding why this happened and following these steps, you can get your email back.

* https://vocal.media/geeks/why-is-hotmail-not-working-on-i-phone-9-ways-to-fix-it
* https://vocal.media/lifehack/how-to-fix-hotmail-email-not-working-troubleshooting-common-issues
* https://vocal.media/longevity/why-is-my-hotmail-suddenly-not-working-z21l3i0381
* https://vocal.media/education/hotmail-does-not-work-on-i-phone-causes-and-solutions
* https://legacystories.org/storyboard/entry/my-hotmail-has-suddenly-stopped-receiving-emails-on-my-iphones-mail-app
* https://legacystories.org/storyboard/entry/hotmail-account-stopped-working-iphone-mac
* https://legacystories.org/storyboard/entry/hotmail-is-not-delivering-all-of-my-emails-through-iphone-ios-mail
* https://legacystories.org/storyboard/entry/why-am-i-not-getting-emails-on-hotmail-quick-fix
* https://legacystories.org/storyboard/entry/why-has-my-hotmail-account-stopped-receiving-emails
* https://legacystories.org/storyboard/entry/why-is-my-hotmail-suddenly-not-working
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* https://legacystories.org/storyboard/entry/how-to-solve-hotmail-email-not-loading-on-iphone-in-2025