How to Set Up macOS Mail App for Microsoft 365 Exchange on Your Mac

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to Set Up macOS Mail App for Microsoft 365 Exchange on Your Mac. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Setting up your Microsoft 365 Exchange account in the macOS Mail app allows you to send and receive business emails directly from your Mac. This guide walks you through the configuration process using modern authentication, ensuring your mail, calendar, and contacts sync correctly with your Microsoft 365 organisation.

Quick Fix Steps

1. Open the Mail app on your Mac.
2. Select Mail > Add Account... from the menu bar.
3. Choose Microsoft Exchange and click Continue.
4. Enter your full Microsoft 365 email address and click Sign In.
5. Complete the Microsoft login and multi-factor authentication prompts.
6. Select the apps you want to sync (Mail, Contacts, Calendar) and click Done.

Detailed Instructions

Before You Begin

• Ensure your Mac is connected to the internet.
• Have your Microsoft 365 email address and password ready.
• If your organisation uses multi-factor authentication (MFA), have your phone or authenticator app available.

Add Your Exchange Account

1. Open the Mail app from your Dock or Applications folder.
2. If this is the first time opening Mail, the setup window appears automatically. Otherwise, click Mail in the top menu bar and select Add Account...
3. From the list of account providers, select Microsoft Exchange.
4. Click Continue.
5. Enter your full email address (for example, [email protected]) in the sign-in window.
6. Click Sign In. You will be redirected to the Microsoft login page.
7. Enter your Microsoft 365 password and click Sign in.
8. If prompted, complete the multi-factor authentication step using your registered method.
9. Review the permissions requested by macOS Mail and click Accept or Allow.
10. Select which apps to use with this account. Ensure Mail is checked. You may also select Contacts and Calendar.
11. Click Done to finish setup.

Verify Account Settings

1. In the Mail app, click Mail > Settings... (or Preferences... on older macOS versions).
2. Click the Accounts tab.
3. Select your Exchange account from the list on the left.
4. Confirm the email address is correct and the account type shows as Exchange.
5. Check that Enable this account is ticked.
6. Close the Settings window to save changes.

Troubleshooting

Account Fails to Sign In

• Double-check that you entered your full email address, not just your username.
• Ensure your password is correct. If you recently changed it, update the saved password in Mail Settings.
• Verify that multi-factor authentication is completed on your phone or authenticator app.
• Check your internet connection by opening a website in Safari.

Emails Are Not Sending or Receiving

• Click Mailbox > Get All New Mail or press Shift + Cmd + N to force a sync.
• In Mail Settings > Accounts, select your account and ensure Enable this account is checked.
• Restart the Mail app and check for new messages.
• Confirm there is no service outage with Microsoft 365 by checking the Microsoft 365 admin centre or your organisation's IT portal.

Account Keeps Asking for Password

• Open Keychain Access from Applications > Utilities.
• Search for your email address or exchange.
• Delete any old or expired password entries for your Microsoft 365 account.
• Restart Mail and sign in again when prompted.

If you continue to experience issues with your Microsoft 365 Exchange setup, Open a Ticket with our support team.

Still Having Issues?