Email Sync Problems

How to Fix Outlook Connected Account Email Sync Permission Errors

WPS Editor Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Outlook.com fails to retrieve emails from an external connected account due to authentication, permission, or credential errors.

How to Fix Outlook Connected Account Email Sync Permission Errors

Product: Outlook.com
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Syncing an external email account with Outlook.com to manage all emails in one place.
Observed behavior: Outlook.com displays an error stating it cannot retrieve email from a connected account and shows an outdated last successful synchronization time.

Before you start

Verify that your external email provider is currently online and ensure you have the correct, most up-to-date password for the connected account.

Solution 1Recommended

Reauthenticate and Update Account Settings in Outlook

Updating your account credentials and permissions in Outlook.com is the most direct way to resolve sudden synchronization failures.

Email providers frequently update security policies or require periodic password changes. When this happens, Outlook.com loses access until you manually provide the updated credentials.

Access Outlook Settings

Log in to your Outlook.com account via a web browser. Click the gear icon in the top right corner to open Settings, then select 'View all Outlook settings'.

Navigate to Connected Accounts

In the Settings menu, go to the 'Mail' tab and then click on 'Sync email' to view your connected accounts.

Update Credentials

Under 'Manage your connected accounts', locate the account experiencing sync issues. Click the edit icon to re-enter your updated password and verify your IMAP/POP server details, then save the changes.

Reauthenticate and Update Account Settings in Outlook

App Passwords Required for 2FA: If your external email account (like Gmail or Yahoo) uses Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), you must generate an App Password from that provider's security settings and use it instead of your standard password.

Solution 2

Remove and Reconnect the External Email Account

If updating the password does not resolve the permission error, completely removing and re-adding the account can clear corrupted sync configurations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my Outlook connected account suddenly stop syncing?

This usually happens when your external email provider requires a password change, updates its security protocols, or temporarily locks the account due to suspicious activity.

How do I check if IMAP is enabled for my connected account?

You need to log into the original email provider (like Gmail or Yahoo) directly, navigate to their respective settings menus, and look for an 'IMAP/POP Forwarding' tab to ensure IMAP access is enabled.

What should I do if I no longer need the connected account?

To stop the recurring sync error notifications, go to Settings > Mail > Sync email in Outlook.com, locate the obsolete account under 'Manage your connected accounts', and delete it.

Outlook & Email Problems