[4.4.0.72 - 4.5.0.16] Unable to create Microsoft 365 Account - Using a live.com.au domain

Bug Reports
, ,
#1

REPRODUCIBILITY: Always
OS VERSION: 4.5.0.16 / 4.4.0.72
HARDWARE: Xperia 10 III
UI LANGUAGE: English
REGRESSION:

DESCRIPTION:

On attempting to add my live.com.au account (outlook.com / microsoft 365) account i get an error message that says
“Account Error
Could not create account”

Microsoft’s security console reports that the login via the browser is successful sailfish fails to create the account on the next step

PRECONDITIONS:

STEPS TO REPRODUCE:

  1. Go to add account
  2. Select Microsoft 365 and follow the prompts
  3. Login via browser
  4. Get’s presented with the error

EXPECTED RESULT:

For the account setup to complete

ACTUAL RESULT:

An error message is shown
“Account Error
Could not create account”

Microsoft reports that the browser authentication was successful however

MODIFICATIONS:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

I tested on both 4.4.0.72 (and again now 4.5.0.16 is out (i was hoping that would fix it))
I also cleared all browser history to see if that would help

The error message

8
8473×1103 9.76 KB

Please let me know what other debugging information i should upload if that would be useful, this issue is currently preventing my from using sailfish as a daily driver.

Old new user disapointed
#2

Please read: Setup Exchange Account | Sailfish OS Documentation

Is this all familiar to you? Should the authentication of your account possibly rely on the other account variant, Microsoft Exchange?

#3

I have the same issues and always get the Account Error. Rebooting and trying it directly afterwards doesn’t matter.

Using old style Exchange (option) with app password works sometimes… The only issue with that one it doesn’t survive a reboot.

#4

Same poorly informative error message still received when trying to add a Microsoft 365 account with Sailfish OS Sauna 4.6.0.13.

Could it be that the Microsoft account additions (old ‘Microsoft Exchange’ or new ‘Microsoft 365’) only work when you have a business Microsoft account?

In that case, how should one keep on accessing a private Microsoft email account with Sailfish OS after September 16th, when basic authentication will be abandoned and only OAuth2 authentication will be allowed?

#5

I managed to get my personal hotmail.com => live.com => outlook.com account working when my previous Sailfish account (Microsoft Exchange) stopped working - the account type that worked was “General Email”.

I recall that attempting to use the “Microsoft 365” account type was unsuccessful - I think because that account type (Microsoft 365 For Business?) expects connection to a domain matching the email address (like the old Microsoft Exchange account type).

If you want to try General Email ,the setup details are below (taken directly from Live.Com.Au POP3, IMAP and SMTP e-mail settings for your iPhone - MailSettings.net):

Incoming (IMAP) Mail Server Configuration

Server Hostname: imap-mail.outlook.com
Server Port:993
Username: The part before the @ sign of your e-mail address
Authentication:Password
SSL/TLS: Yes

Sending Email (SMTP)

Server Hostname:smtp-mail.outlook.com
Server Port:587
Username:The part before the @ sign of your e-mail address
Authentication:Password
SSL/TLS:Yes

Extra Problems

I saw something in these forums about a looming deadline for Microsoft disabling password only connections using your main account password), these can be replaced by App Passwords (unique passwords which are not your main account password)

  • Configure backup authentication and recovery settings
  • Set up 2-factor authentication
  • Create App passwords

"
App passwords and two-step verification

Applies to: Microsoft account

After you’ve turned on two-step verification, some apps (like the mail apps on some phones) or devices (like an Xbox 360 or Windows Phone 8) will show an incorrect password error because they can’t prompt you to enter a security code when you try to sign in. The solution to this problem is to create app passwords to use in place of your regular password, but only for these apps that don’t support two-step verification. App passwords are long, randomly generated passwords that you only have to provide once.

If you don’t use two-step verification, then you can’t create app passwords. For help with your Microsoft account password, see When you can’t sign in to your Microsoft account.

The steps for generating a new app password are always the same. Repeat these steps to get a different password for every app or device that needs an app password:

  1. Go to the Security basics page and sign in to your Microsoft account.
  2. Select more security options .
  3. Under App passwords , select Create a new app password . A new app password is generated and appears on your screen.
  4. Enter this app password where you would enter your normal password.

"

#6

My live account works with Exchange and app password on my 10 III with Sauna. Only minor problem is notification claiming account is not up to date but mail still syncs. :smiley:

#7

I’m still facing setup problems for a outlook.com account using for mail, contacts and agenda. After got through the explanation on Setup Exchange Account | Sailfish OS Documentation, I tried above mentioned solution for Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Exchange giving error ‘Account error - Could not create account’. Both ways are triggering Microsoft Authenticator app where I’m able to allow the request. For “General Email” it end up with a time out when using my password and with the so called app password it gives ‘problem with authentication’. All server settings are prefilled in automatically and are corresponding above mentioned by Sturton.

Looking forward to find a solution for this.