Configure Modern Authentication on Thunderbird

Please note that effective 3/10/25 OU IT has paused the approval of security changes related to authenticated SMTP as the University reviews the risks associated with Thunderbird.

To use Thunderbird, you will need to be running version 77.0b1 or later which supports OAuth2 modern authentication. Please note that some revisions of Thunderbird appear to have issues resolving user name and password authentication, necessitating a down version install of the software.

Please also note that at the present time, these settings will only allow the mailbox to receive mail.

Configure Thunderbird for Microsoft 365

1. To begin, launch Thunderbird. If you have other accounts configured, click on Local Folders on the left hand side. Select Email under the Setup Another Account section in the main window.
2. On the Mail Account Setup window, enter the following:
   • Your name: Enter your name
   • Email Address: Enter your OU email address
   • Password: Your OU email password
3. Click the "Configure manually..." button.
   • For Incoming server set hostname: outlook.office365.com
   • For Outgoing server set hostname: smtp.office365.com
   • Username for both servers: Your OU Email address
   • Leave all other settings blank or on autodetect
4. Click Re-test. The port and connection security settings should change.
5. Change authentication method for both incoming and outgoing servers to OAuth2.
6. For incoming server settings should be:
   • Protocol: IMAP
   • Server name: outlook.office365.com
   • Port: 993
   • Connection Security: SSL/TLS
   • Authentication Method: OAuth2
   • User Name: Your OU Email address
7. For outgoing server settings should be:
   • Server name: smtp.office365.com
   • Port: 587 (default)
   • Connection Security: STARTTLS
   • Authentication Method: OAuth2
   • User Name: Your OU Email address
8. Click Done.
9. If prompted to enter your password, do so.
10. Now click OK.
11. You will be prompted to enter your password on an OU log in page. The page may appear multiple times, and if Thunderbird requests permissions press Accept.
12. You should now be redirected to authenticate through PingID Multi-factor Authentication.
13. After authenticating, your mailbox will now load all your mail. Please note this step may take a while on first configuration.

Additional Configurations

Because Thunderbird has its own configuration methods for mail, you may wish to adjust its options to more closely match how it handles mail if you check your OU mail online or through another client.

1. Right-click on your OU account and select "Subscribe..." from the drop down menu.
2. Place a check-mark within the box for the Drafts, Deleted Items, and Sent Items folders.
3. Click the Subscribe button.
4. Click the OK button.
5. Right click on your OU account and select "Settings..." from the drop down menu.
6. Under your OU account, select "Server Settings".
7. Select "Move it to this folder:" and set it to the "Deleted Items" folder.
8. Under your OU account, select "Copies & Folders".
9. Within 'When sending messages, automatically" option, make sure "Place a copy in:" is checked, select "Other" and select the "Sent Items" folder within your OU account.
10. Make sure "Drafts" folder is selected within your OU account under 'Drafts and Templates'.
11. Click the OK button.
12. Restart Thunderbird

Disable the adaptive junk mail controls

1. Right click on your OU account in the left-hand pane.
2. Click on Settings.
3. Click the Junk Settings option.
4. Uncheck the box for "Enable adaptive junk mail controls for this account".
5. Click OK.