Unable to log in to Outlook using our comcast.net

Hi. I'm Brian and I'll try to help.

In addition to what the AI suggests, please enable third-party client access in your Comcast mailbox. See https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/third-party-email-access

For a comcast.net account in Outlook for Windows, the error after entering IMAP/POP details usually indicates an authentication or protocol issue rather than a problem with the Outlook.com servers.

Try these steps in order:

1. Verify the account type in Outlook

• In Outlook for Windows, remove the failing comcast.net account from the profile.
• Re-add the account using the automatic setup if available (File → Add Account → enter the comcast.net email and password).
• If Outlook offers a specific “Outlook.com” or “Microsoft 365” option, do not use those for a comcast.net mailbox; use the standard email option instead.

2. Confirm IMAP vs POP choice

• If the comcast.net account was added as IMAP in multiple clients and you are accessing it through Outlook.com as a connected account, IMAP connection limits or security prompts can cause failures.
• If the comcast.net mailbox is connected through Outlook.com and IMAP keeps failing, remove that connected IMAP account in Outlook.com and re-add it as POP, as recommended when IMAP syncing is unreliable for non‑@outlook.com/@hotmail.com/@live.com domains.
• For POP reconfiguration details, follow the instructions from the comcast.net provider.

3. Approve recent IMAP/POP sign‑in (if using Outlook.com as a connector) If the comcast.net account is connected through Outlook.com and you see connection errors when Outlook tries to sync via IMAP:
4. Go to account.live.com/activity and sign in with the Outlook.com/Microsoft account that hosts the connected mailbox.
5. Under Recent activity, find the Session Type that matches the time of the error and expand it.
6. Select This was me to approve the IMAP connection.
7. Try syncing again from Outlook.
8. Check for basic vs modern authentication issues If the comcast.net account is actually an Exchange Online/Outlook.com mailbox being accessed via POP/IMAP in Outlook:

• Outlook for Windows does not support Modern authentication (OAuth) for POP/IMAP profiles against Exchange Online. If Basic authentication is disabled on the tenant, POP/IMAP profiles will not connect.
• In that case, configure the account in Outlook using the native Exchange/Outlook.com profile type (MAPI/HTTP or EWS), not POP/IMAP.

5. If still failing

• Confirm the exact IMAP/POP server names, ports, SSL settings, and app‑specific password requirements with Comcast support, then re‑enter them in Outlook.
• If the account is added as a connected account in Outlook.com and still will not sync after the above steps, remove the connection and re‑add it following the provider’s POP settings.

If additional help is needed configuring the comcast.net account type (POP vs IMAP) or server details, contact Comcast support for their current settings, then apply them in Outlook as described.

References:

• POP, IMAP, and SMTP settings for Outlook.com
• Outlook and other apps are unable to connect to Outlook.com when using Basic authentication
• Can't connect to Outlook by using POP/IMAP and Modern authentication
• Still need help?