Is Mac Outlook Unable to Add Account? Try 7 Effective Tips

Microsoft Outlook for Mac is one of the professional-favored email clients for email management, especially for business collaboration. This versatile email service facilitates users to grow cross-platform compatibility including IMAP, Exchange, POP, SMTP, and even Office 365. Unfortunately, receiving the error of Mac Outlook unable to add account certainly has unfavorable outcomes.

Additionally, users must have technical awareness when it comes to configuring accounts in Mac Outlook. In this troubleshooting tutorial, we will provide the basic to advanced level fixes against the issue of Outlook for Mac unable to add account. So, let’s closely understand the problem.

 

Why Can’t I Add Accounts on Outlook for Mac?

Either unable to add Office 365 account to Outlook Mac or can’t add a different email account on Outlook may happen for many reasons. In the following section, we will list the possible factors behind encountering the issues with Mac Outlook. Now, let’s read them below.

• Cause 1: Wrong Login Credentials

Adding incorrect login credentials unable users to configure their account on Outlook for Mac. In this case, Outlook users must ensure the login details including password, email address, etc to avoid these configuration challenges.

• Cause 2: Faulty Internet Connection

An unstable network connection certainly causes errors when it comes to verifying accounts on Mac Outlook. To get rid of these issues, users should re-check the Internet bandwidth to access the multiple accounts on Outlook for Mac.

• Cause 3: Incorrect Server Settings

Often unknowingly users take the wrong step to configure an account on Mac Outlook. In this case, users can address the problem of Mac Outlook unable to add account. Therefore, it is recommended for users to check all the server settings.

• Cause 4: Outlook Server Outage

The issue of being unable to add or configure an account on Mac Outlook occurs due to mail outage bugs. Typically, if the mail server experiences downtime or temporary maintenance then, it will automatically prevent users from accessing the account on Outlook.

• Cause 5: Outdated Outlook Edition

Despite the above-listed reasons, if you still encounter the issue of being unable to add Office 365 account to Outlook Mac then, check the version of Outlook. Working on the outdated version causes several incompatibility errors on Mac Outlook.

Overall, these are the possible factors behind Outlook for Mac unable to add account including IMAP, POP, Office 365, etc. There are several benefits of configuring the email account on Outlook i.e. backup support and advanced features. Now, searching for ways to fix the error that occurs when adding an account on Mac Outlook, read the below section to learn the tips.

Quick Troubleshooting Tips:-

• Use the updated login credentials of the configured account on Mac Outlook.
• Get connected with a seamless and uninterrupted internet connection.

7 Troubleshooting Guide to Fix Mac Outlook Unable to Add Account

To fix the issues of “unable to add Office 365 account to Outlook Mac” or “Outlook for Mac unable to add accounts”, here is an easy guide. In the following section, we will provide the best troubleshooting tips to resolve this error. Using the below step guide Mac Outlook users can manually fix the issue:-

1. Re-check the Login Details
2. Update Your Outlook for Mac
3. Reset the Outlook Preferences
4. Remove & Reinstall Outlook
5. Verify the Server Settings
6. Use Force Quit Application
7. Restart Outlook for Mac

Let’s learn these effective methods one after another.

Method 1: Re-check the Login Details

To resolve the error of Mac Outlook unable to add account, users should ensure to add the correct login password or email account. It is one of the basic yet robust solutions ways to re-add any account on Mac Outlook. So, re-check the login information before heading to configure the email account.

Method 2: Update Your Outlook for Mac

Updating is yet another simple and effective troubleshooting tip to correct the error of Outlook for Mac unable to add account. Working on an outdated Outlook version disrupts cross-platform accessibility. Make ensure that your Mac Outlook is updated, here are the quick steps to update your Outlook on macOS:-

1. Open your Outlook for Mac.
2. Switch to the Help tab > Check for Updates.
3. Follow the path if there is an available update.

Method 3: Reset the Outlook Preferences

The stored cache file causes inaccessibility and issues such as unable to add Office 365 account to Outlook Mac. Users must clear these corrupted cache files to seamlessly add or access the data. Follow the below steps to reset or clear Outlook Preferences:-

1. Close all the running apps on Mac OS.
2. Switch to Finder and then, Go > click on Go to Folder.
3. After this, copy & paste – ~/Library/Preferences
4. Press Enter and search for “com.microsoft.Outlook.plist” and move it to Trash.
5. Lastly, restart Outlook and try to add a new account.

Method 4: Remove & Reinstall Outlook

There are several instances where temporary Outlook glitches make Mac Outlook unable to add account errors. To mitigate these challenges, users can remove and then reinstall the Mac Outlook application on Mac OS. Now, take the below steps to do so:-

1. First, close the Outlook application.
2. Move to Finder and then, select Applications.
3. After this, drag your Outlook profile to Trash.
4. Now, empty the Trash folder > restart the Mac OS.
5. Lastly, reinstall the Outlook for Mac.

Method 5: Verify the Server Settings

Searching how to fix Outlook for Mac unable to add account? Probably, this problem commonly happens due to misconfiguration settings. In addition, the incorrect server settings lead to this problem. It is equally necessary to enable the IMAP settings if adding an IMAP account on Outlook. Here are quick steps to correct the server settings:-

1. Open Mail > switch to Preferences > tab on Accounts.
2. Choose the account.
3. Move to Server Settings > Outgoing account.
4. Select Edit SMTP server to correct the incoming and outgoing port numbers.

Method 6: Use Force Quit Application

The benefits of using Force Quit enable users to improve the error and simultaneously, resume the services. Follow the below-suggested steps quickly:-

1. Press three keys together: Options + Command + Esc.
2. In the window of Force Quit Application, select Microsoft Outlook.
3. Tab on Force Quit > confirm again by selecting Force Quit.

Method 7: Restart Outlook for Mac

Check out the step guidance for restarting Mac Outlook if facing trouble as unable to add Office 365 account to Outlook Mac. It is one of the simple and secure ways of troubleshooting. Before implementing the below steps, users should first close the running background apps through Task Manager. Now, follow the steps to restart Outlook on Mac:-

1. Press the Start > tab on Task Manager.
2. From Task Manager, click on Microsoft Outlook
3. Move to End Task > restart the app.

After using these guides users can easily fix the issues of being unable to add or verify an account on Mac Outlook. Now, wondering how to re-add your account, read the next section.

How to Re-add Account on Outlook for Mac?

Previously, we have listed all the easy and effective tips to resolve Mac Outlook cannot to add account including IMAP, Office 365, etc. Here are the simple steps to re-add the account on Mac Outlook:-

1. Open Mac Outlook > Tools > Accounts.
2. Select the (+) sign from the left side and then, click on New Account.
3. Now, enter the account credentials (IMAP/ Office 365) and press Continue.
4. Lastly, provide a password and finish the process.

Also, read: the reason behind Outlook for Mac not sending emails.

Concluding Words

Reading this technical troubleshooting guide may help users resolve Mac Outlook unable to add account errors. These tips are free and simple to mitigate the temporary bugs of Outlook for Mac. After using all these tips if you still address the similar issue then, checkout to the support of Microsoft Outlook to get advanced guidance.