Yahoo mail

Dear liz harrah

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A Community. I understand you are having problem with Yahoo Mail not syncing with Outlook. I am happy to assist you. Please kindly try these following steps: 

1. Check Your Yahoo Account Password 

Outlook won’t be able to sync your Yahoo Mail if the password saved in the app is incorrect or outdated.  If you’ve recently changed your Yahoo password, update it in Outlook by going to File > Account Settings > Choose the specific account > Change and re-enter your correct credentials.  Incorrect passwords lead to authentication failure, making it impossible to sync incoming or outgoing emails. 

2. Enable “Allow Apps That Use Less Secure Sign In” in Yahoo 

Some versions of Outlook don’t support OAuth, Yahoo’s newer secure sign-in method.  Go to your Yahoo Account Security settings and enable access for less secure apps.  This allows Outlook to connect to Yahoo servers using basic authentication protocols. 

3. Use an App Password Instead of Your Yahoo Login 

Yahoo may block sign-ins from Outlook due to security reasons, especially if two-factor authentication (2FA) is enabled.  Visit your Yahoo Account Security page and generate an App Password specifically for Outlook.  Use this app password instead of your regular password in Outlook for smooth syncing. 

4. Verify IMAP and SMTP Settings in Outlook 

Misconfigured server settings can prevent syncing altogether. Make sure that you’ve entered the right IMAP and SMTP server details: 

• Incoming Mail (IMAP): imap.mail.yahoo.com, Port: 993, SSL: Yes 
• Outgoing Mail (SMTP): smtp.mail.yahoo.com, Port: 465 or 587, SSL: Yes, Authentication: Required  These settings allow Outlook to correctly fetch and send Yahoo emails. 

5. Update Outlook to the Latest Version 

An outdated Outlook client may lack compatibility fixes or support for Yahoo’s latest security features. 

• Go to File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now to ensure you’re running the latest version. 
• Staying updated improves syncing reliability. 

6. Remove and Re-add Your Yahoo Account in Outlook 

If syncing still fails, remove your Yahoo account from Outlook via File > Account Settings > Remove, and then add it again using the correct settings.  Re-adding the account can reset any hidden issues affecting synchronization.  

7. Disable Firewall or Antivirus Temporarily 

Overly aggressive security software can block Outlook from connecting to Yahoo’s servers.  Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus and check if syncing works. 

• On Windows: Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security to disable the firewall.  If this resolves the issue, add Outlook as an exception to allow normal operation without disabling protection permanently. 

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