Basic Authentication (Basic Auth) is an outdated technology that Microsoft has begun to phase out in Microsoft 365, in favor of more secure methods like Modern Authentication (OAuth 2.0). However, many printers, scanners, and older devices still use SMTP with Basic Authentication to send emails. While this method is no longer recommended due to security concerns, you can still temporarily enable this feature to ensure compatibility with such devices.
Below are the steps to configure the SMTP protocol on Microsoft 365 using Basic Authentication.
- Log in to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
- In the left sidebar, click on "Settings" and then on "Org Settings".
- Scroll down to the "Modern Authentication" section and disable "Block Basic Authentication for SMTP".
- Save the changes.
- Configure your SMTP device or application with the following parameters:
- SMTP Server: smtp.office365.com
- Port: 587 (STARTTLS) or 25 (STARTTLS)
- Authentication Method: Basic Authentication
- Username: your Microsoft 365 email address
- Password: your Microsoft 365 account password
Note: Microsoft is gradually disabling Basic Authentication. If possible, it's recommended to use Modern Authentication (OAuth 2.0).
