Fix Outlook for Mac Not Accepting Password

If Outlook for Mac keeps saying your password is incorrect even though you know it is right, the fix is usually to clear the saved credentials in your Mac’s Keychain, then sign in again. This article walks through that fix and the other common causes, from expired app passwords to stale autodiscover settings, so you can get back to your mail.

Why Outlook for Mac Rejects a Correct Password

Outlook for Mac stores your email account password in the macOS Keychain, not inside the app itself. When you update your password on the mail server, the old one often stays in the Keychain. Outlook then sends the old credential to the server, the server rejects it, and you see the “password incorrect” prompt even though the new password is correct. This is the single most common reason for the error.

Another frequent cause is that your email provider requires an app-specific password. This applies to any account with two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled—Microsoft 365, Gmail, and many others. Your normal account password no longer works for third-party apps like Outlook; you must generate a separate password from your account security settings.

Less often, the problem lies in Outlook’s account configuration. If the incoming and outgoing server settings are outdated, or if the account uses an old authentication method, the server may reject the login even with the correct password.

Fix 1: Clear the Keychain Entry

This is the first thing to try because it resolves the majority of cases. The Keychain holds the old password that Outlook keeps sending.

1. Quit Outlook completely (press Cmd+Q).
2. Open Utilities from the Applications folder, then launch Keychain Access.
3. In the search box, type Outlook or the email address of the account that is failing.
4. Look for entries named like “Outlook” or “Exchange” or the mail server address. You may see several—one for the incoming server, one for the outgoing server.
5. Right-click each relevant entry and select Delete.
6. Close Keychain Access and reopen Outlook.
7. When Outlook prompts for the password, type the correct one. It will save the new credential to the Keychain.

If you still get the error, also delete entries that mention the mail server’s hostname, not just “Outlook.”

Fix 2: Use an App-Specific Password

If your account has two-factor authentication enabled, your regular password will not work. You need a one-time app password generated from your email provider’s website.

• Microsoft 365 / Outlook.com: Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, then navigate to Security → Advanced security options → App passwords. Create one and use it in Outlook.
• Gmail: Go to myaccount.google.com → Security → 2-Step Verification → App passwords. Generate one for “Mail.”
• Yahoo: Go to account.yahoo.com → Account security → Generate app password.
• iCloud: Go to appleid.apple.com → Sign-In and Security → App-Specific Passwords.

After generating the app password, enter it in Outlook’s password field. It is usually a 16-character code with spaces, which you can type or paste.

Fix 3: Remove and Re-add the Account

If clearing the Keychain and using an app password did not help, the account configuration may be corrupted. Removing the account and adding it fresh forces Outlook to re-detect the correct server settings.

1. Open Outlook, go to Tools → Accounts.
2. Select the problematic account and click the minus (−) button to remove it.
3. Click the plus (+) button and choose the account type (Exchange, Google, IMAP/POP, etc.).
4. Enter your email address and password. Outlook will attempt to auto-configure the server.
5. If auto-configuration fails, you may need to enter the incoming and outgoing server names manually from your provider’s help page.

This process also clears any cached authentication tokens that may be stuck.

Fix 4: Check Server Settings and Authentication Method

Some providers, especially smaller or corporate ones, require specific server ports or authentication methods. If the account was set up years ago, the settings may be outdated.

In Tools → Accounts, select the account and click Server Settings. Verify:

• The incoming server hostname matches what your provider lists today.
• The port number is correct (IMAP usually 993 with SSL, POP 995 with SSL, SMTP 587 with STARTTLS).
• “Use SSL/TLS” is checked where required.
• The authentication method is set to Password or OAuth2, depending on what the provider supports.

If you are unsure of the correct values, check your provider’s official support page. Do not guess—wrong ports or security types will cause login failures even with a correct password.

Common Misconception: “My Password Is Definitely Right”

Many users assume the password is correct because it works in a web browser. That is not always true. Web browsers may use a different authentication flow (OAuth) that does not require the same password. Outlook for Mac may be trying basic password authentication, which your provider may have disabled. In that case, the fix is not the password itself but switching the account to OAuth, which Outlook does automatically when you re-add the account as “Exchange” or “Google” rather than “IMAP.” If you originally set up the account as IMAP, try deleting it and adding it using the provider-specific option (e.g., “Google” or “Exchange”) instead.

When Nothing Else Works

If you have tried all the steps above and still get the error, consider these remaining possibilities:

• Account temporarily locked: Too many failed attempts may lock the account for a few minutes or hours. Wait and try again.
• Outlook is outdated: Go to the Mac App Store and check for updates to Microsoft Outlook. Older versions may have bugs with newer server security protocols.
• macOS Keychain is corrupted: In rare cases, the entire login keychain may be damaged. You can reset it via Keychain Access → Preferences → Reset Default Keychains, but this will remove all saved passwords on your Mac, so only do this as a last resort.
• Provider outage: Check your provider’s status page—if their authentication service is down, no password will work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Outlook for Mac keep asking for my password after I enter it correctly?

This usually means the new password was saved to the Keychain but Outlook is still using a cached old one. Quit Outlook, delete the Keychain entry for the account, and reopen Outlook. If that does not work, the account may require an app-specific password.

Do I need an app-specific password for Microsoft 365?

Only if your administrator has enabled two-factor authentication or security defaults. If you sign in to your Microsoft account in a browser without entering a code, you likely do not need an app password. If you do get a code, generate an app password from your Microsoft account security settings.

Will clearing the Keychain delete my other saved passwords?

No, only the entries you select are deleted. Deleting the Outlook-related entries will not affect your Wi-Fi passwords or website logins. Be careful to delete only entries that mention Outlook or the mail server hostname.

Why does my password work in the browser but not in Outlook?

Because browsers use a modern authentication method called OAuth, which does not send your raw password. Outlook for Mac may be using legacy basic authentication, which some providers no longer support. Re-add the account using the provider-specific option (like “Google” or “Exchange”) to force OAuth.

How do I find the correct server settings for my email provider?

Go to your provider’s official help or support page and search for “IMAP settings” or “server settings.” Do not rely on third-party forums, as they may contain outdated values. Common ones: Gmail uses imap.gmail.com (993) and smtp.gmail.com (587); Outlook.com uses outlook.office365.com (993) and smtp-mail.outlook.com (587).

Can I use my normal password if I have two-factor authentication turned off?

Yes, if 2FA is off, your regular password should work. If it still fails, the issue is likely the Keychain cache or server settings, not the password itself. Follow the Keychain clearing steps first.

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