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Hotmail Not Working on Mac Mail – Fixed

  Mark Regan
Mark Regan
Published: June 4th, 2025 • 8 Min Read

When you open your Hotmail account in your Mac Mail, But the screen is loading and nothing works. If that is the case, then here we are providing you solutions to solve for Hotmail not working on Mac Mail.

Table of Contents Hide
  1. Quick Fixes to Resolve Hotmail Unable to Load in Mac Mail
  2. Why Is Hotmail Not Working on Apple Mail?
  3. 5 Ways to Fix Hotmail Not Working on Mac Mail
  4. Use Professional’s Suggested Technique
  5. Conclusion
  6. Frequently Asked Questions

Hotmail is an old email service which was acquired by Microsoft. After that, the company rebranded Hotmail as Outlook.com but still all users can access their account. Mac Mail or Apple Mail is the default email client on all Apple devices. It usually works on Mac OS, and users can manage multiple email accounts like Hotmail, Outlook.com, etc. Because of its great features like smart mailboxes and search filters. People prefer Apple Mail and integrate their account.

However, many of you encounter Hotmail not working on Mac Mail problems. This glitch leads to significant user frustration and causes some major challenges, such as;

  • Users will be unable to access their Hotmail account via Mac Mail.
  • It will lose daily productivity for professionals who use Hotmail as mainstream.
  • The Mac user will start missing some important emails.
  • They will be unable to send and receive emails on their Macbook via Hotmail.

Sometimes, this problem is caused due to our own mistakes, so, try these quick fixes to see if the problem is solved or not.

Quick Fixes to Resolve Hotmail Unable to Load in Mac Mail

  • Check Internet Connection: Sometimes bad internet connection can be hindrances in login of your account.
  • Restart Apple Mail: Close and reopen the Mac Mail can solve the minor glitches.
  • Verify Account Details: Check the email address and password of your account. This is the most common factor of this issue.
  • Check IMAP Settings: In addition to the above, see if the IMAP settings you have added when syncing your account is correct or not.

If the problem is not solved even after following the above solutions. Don’t worry, there are other methods that can help you which we explain below. But, first let’s see the reasons behind Hotmial not working on Mac Mail.

Why Is Hotmail Not Working on Mac Mail?

Here are the most common and basic reasons why is Hotmail not working on my Mac:

  • Incorrect Account Settings: Apple Mail requires proper and correct IMAP and SMTP server details to configure a Hotmail account. If you fill in an incorrect server address, port, or authentication details then it can cause syncing issues and may not work.
  • Outdated Password or Two-Factor Authentication: In case you have changed your Hotmail password but have not updated it in your Apple Mail account then the access will be blocked. The two-factor authentication security feature requires an app-specific password for Apple Mail to connect.
  • Outdated Apple Mail App: Another reason why Hotmail is not working on Apple Mail is an outdated version of MacOS and Apple Mail that can cause compatibility issues. Users must update the software to match the latest Hotmail protocols.
  • Blocked Access by Microsoft: When Microsoft detects unusual login attempts, it blocks access from Apple Mail. This issue often occurs when you log in from a new device or location.
  • Server Outages: Sometimes users may encounter Hotmail not working on Mac Mail issues when the server is temporarily down. It can cause connection issues.
  • Firewall or Antivirus Interference: Moreover, the firewall and antivirus software installed on your device can also block the connection of Apple Mail with Hotmail servers.
  • Account Storage Limits: If your Hotmail account has already exceeded the maximum storage limit, then the new emails will not sync to Apple Mail.

How to Fix Hotmail Not Working on Apple Mail? 5 Simple Ways

After discussing all the major causes behind Hotmail email not working on Mac, now we will learn the best practices to fix it. Try the top 5 troubleshooting tips and techniques explained below to quickly resolve Hotmail not working on Mac Mail.

  1. Update Mac Mail App
  2. Verify IMAP & SMTP Settings
  3. Re-add Account on Apple Mail
  4. Clear All Mail Cache Files
  5. Re-check Auto-Forwarding Settings

All of these methods to fix the Hotmail not opening on Mac Mail problem are explained below step-by-step.

Update Mac Mail App

In most cases, users start facing glitches and errors in their system of Outdated applications. If your Apple Mail app is not up to date, you can encounter a Hotmail Not Working on Mac Mail error. So first and foremost, it is best to keep your Apple Mail app up-to-date and fix any issues.

  1. Go to the Apple Menu >> System Preferences.
  2. Click on Software Update to check for updates.

However, still, if you cannot resolve the problem, they check the IMAP and SMTP settings and make sure they are correct.

Verify IMAP & SMTP Settings

If you want your Hotmail to work properly on Mac Mail, make sure that you are provided with proper IMAP and SMTP server details to configure your Hotmail account. Check if it’s wrong and fill in the correct server settings to stop facing synchronization issues and resolve Hotmail not loading on Mac.

  • IMAP Server: imap-mail.outlook.com, Port: 993.
  • SMTP Server: smtp-mail.outlook.com, Port: 58.

Hence, after verifying the IMAP and SMTP settings, if you think the server details are correct and it’s not causing the Hotmail Not Working on Mac Mail problem, then you can try re-adding the Hotmail account in Mac Mail again.

Re-add Account on Apple Mail

If nothing works, the simplest way to fix the Hotmail not working on Apple Mail issue is just to remove the current Hotmail account from Mail and add it again. Here are the steps to do it:

  1. Go to Settings > Accounts.
  2. Click on the Hotmail account and tap the (-) icon to remove it.
  3. Tap the (+) icon to add the account back.

If you do want to remove your current Hotmail account, or you think that it will not fix the problem then try clearing the cache data from your browser.

Clear All Mail Cache Files

Sometimes, the problem could be outside the Hotmail app also. Consequently, after visiting any website, our browser stores some cache data that starts hindering web browser productivity and can cause errors like Hotmail Not Working on Mac Mail. If you want to resolve this problem, make sure you have cleared all the mail cache files in your web browser.

  1. Open Finder > Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Type ~/Library/Preferences/ and press Enter.
  3. Find “com.apple.mail.plist” and move it to Trash.
  4. Restart your Mac and reconfigure your account.

Re-check Auto-Forwarding Settings

Auto-Forwarding Settings can help to prevent emails from syncing correctly. Re-check these settings to fix Hotmail not working on Mac Mail.

  1. Check the Spam Folder, blocked email addresses, email filters, and IMAP settings.
  2. Ensure there are no misconfigurations.

Use Advanced Solution to Fix Hotmail Not Working on Mac Mail Quickly

If you have already tried the above methods but are still unable to fix Hotmail not loading on Mac error, then use the BitRecover Outlook.com Backup Tool. It is the one-stop solution that easily resolves several errors in Hotmail like Hotmail not working on Mac with quick and simple steps. The software helps users to smoothly access their Hotmail data on Apple Mail even if they are facing several errors and glitches.

Conclusion

Hotmail not working on Mac Mail is a frustrating error and we want to resolve it. But before beginning to resolve such issues, it is important to understand the causes behind them. However, we have explained the 5 troubleshooting techniques that may help you to fix Hotmail not working on Apple Mail. Furthermore, we have also the most effective tool for quick resolution in case the other techniques fail to work.

Also Read: How to Export Hotmail Folders to Apple Mail

FAQs – Hotmail Not Working on Mac Mail

Q 1: Why does Hotmail not work on my Mac?
Following are the reasons why why is Hotmail not working on my Mac:

  • Incorrect Account Settings.
  • Outdated Password.
  • Two-Factor Authentication.
  • Outdated Apple Mail App.
  • Blocked Access by Microsoft.
  • Server Outages.
  • Firewall or Antivirus Interference.
  • Account Storage Limits.

Q 2: How Do I Resolve Hotmail not working on Mac Mail?
Following are the 7 tips to fix Hotmail email not working on Mac:

  1. Use the Pro Tool.
  2. Update Mac Mail App.
  3. Verify IMAP & SMTP Settings.
  4. Re-add Account on Apple Mail.
  5. Clear All Mail Cache Files.
  6. Re-check Auto-Forwarding Settings.
  7. Check Login Credentials.
  8. Force Quit Mail & Restart App.

Q 3: Is Hotmail Still Active or Not?
Hotmail is now Outlook.com, which means users can access their Hotmail account via www.outlook.com.