This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hello -
When I attempt to add my outlook.com email account to any iOS device I recieve the error "Unable to verify account information".
I see this problem on my iPhone 4s and iPad and all devices are running iOS5.01 with no additional updates available.
I followed these steps to setup my account
-settings, add new mail account
-selected Hotmail
-entered my outlook.com address (full SMTP address - eg ******@outlook.com) and my password
-after several seconds I recieve the error "Unable to verify account information"
Power cycling the devices doesn't help. Everything works fine from the web.
Any ideas?
--Tom
Managing personal Outlook.com account settings, security, and privacy
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
LOOK! I FOUND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING! THERE'S A **** ERROR BY MICROSOFT RELATED WITH YOUR MOBILE NUMBER! SO, SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT THROUGH WEB BROWSER AND GO TO SETTINGS! THEN DISABLE ANY MOBILE NUMBER YOU HAVE LISTED THERE! DISABLE 2 STEPS OF SECURITY AS WELL AND IT'S DONE! NOW EVERYTHING IS GONNA WORK FINE!!
LOOK! I FOUND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING! THERE'S A **** ERROR BY MICROSOFT RELATED WITH YOUR MOBILE NUMBER! SO, SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT THROUGH WEB BROWSER AND GO TO SETTINGS! THEN DISABLE ANY MOBILE NUMBER YOU HAVE LISTED THERE! DISABLE 2 STEPS OF SECURITY AS WELL AND IT'S DONE! NOW EVERYTHING IS GONNA WORK FINE!!
sign in to what account on the web browser?
Just upgraded to iOS8.0.1 and had exactly the problem described. I went into Outlook through a browser, disabled my phone and turned off 2 step security and boom... It worked just like you said. MICROSOFT - you need to fix the bug!!!
Thank you!!!! So helpful.......problem solved instantly :)
Although oliveiradani94's suggestion will work, it is NOT the correct solution to this issue!
The correct solution is that posted by Joy V on 9/23/13, and is explained in detail on page Joy V posted. Unfortunately the link is faulty which may be why the solution hasn't been given points. However, a quick Google search yields the following link for the page:
Correct Solution:
App Passwords and Two-Step Verification
To resolve the error, simply follow the link and follow the three steps listed on the page. If you want to better understand the issue, read on.
The issue with signing in on devices such as the iPhone is NOT a bug. Two-step verification is an extremely effective security feature which requires the device signing in to request a security code which Microsoft generates and will send to any other method of contact associated with your account (i.e. another email address or a telephone number). This issue is that apps like the iPhone Mail app and other device apps don't know that they have to ask for this security code, so your Microsoft account does the correct thing and prevents it from accessing your account at all. This is not a bug, this is a security measure. If anything, the fault lies with Apple for not allowing for two-step verification within its Mail app.
So long story short, this sign-in error is not a bug, it's simply due to some useful security features that Microsoft allows you to put in place. You can disable them and the error will go away (but your account will be more vulnerable), or you can generate an App Password as described in the link above, keep your account more secure, and still sign in on your device. Hope this helps!
exact error:
"cannot get mail
the connection to the server failed"
getting crazy to get back my emails