Connecting Outlook/Microsoft 365

You can easily connect your personal Outlook.com (including Hotmail, Live) or business Microsoft 365 email accounts to use as senders in BuffSend. The preferred method uses Microsoft's secure OAuth 2.0 protocol.

Connecting via OAuth (Recommended):

  1. Navigate to the Senders section in BuffSend.
  2. Click "Add Sender" or "Connect New Sender".
  3. Select the "Outlook / Microsoft 365" option.
  4. You'll be redirected to a Microsoft sign-in page. Log in with the email address and password for the account you wish to connect.
  5. Microsoft will display a permissions screen asking you to grant BuffSend access to certain information and actions. This typically includes:
    • Send mail as you: Essential for sending campaigns.
    • Access your information anytime: Allows BuffSend to maintain the connection and manage sending tasks without requiring you to log in repeatedly (uses refresh tokens).
    • Sign you in and read your profile: Used to identify your account.
    • (Potentially) Access to read/write emails if reply tracking or advanced bounce handling is supported.
  6. Review the requested permissions and click "Accept" or "Allow". BuffSend does not store your Microsoft password.
  7. You will be redirected back to BuffSend.
  8. The connection will be verified, and the account should appear in your Senders list.

Using App Passwords (Less Common / Alternative):

In some rare cases, particularly with older setups or specific security configurations (like legacy 2-Step Verification without OAuth support), you might need to use an "App Password". This is a special password generated within your Microsoft account settings specifically for use by third-party apps like BuffSend.

  1. If the OAuth method fails or is unavailable, check if BuffSend offers an SMTP connection option specifically for Outlook/365 that requires an App Password.
  2. Log in to your Microsoft Account security settings online.
  3. Find the section for "App Passwords" (often under Security > Advanced security options).
  4. Generate a new App Password. Microsoft will display a unique password – copy this immediately, as it may not be shown again.
  5. Go back to BuffSend and choose the SMTP connection method.
  6. Use the standard Outlook SMTP settings (e.g., server smtp.office365.com, port 587, encryption TLS) but enter your regular email address as the username and the generated App Password (not your regular account password) in the password field.
  7. Proceed with verification.

Note: OAuth is strongly preferred over App Passwords whenever possible due to better security and easier management.

Important Considerations:

  • Microsoft Sending Limits: Microsoft 365 accounts also have sending limits (often higher than free Outlook.com accounts). Exceeding these can temporarily block sending.
  • Security: You can manage or revoke BuffSend's access via your Microsoft Account's app permissions page.
  • Deliverability Records: Just like with Google, ensure your custom domain (if using Microsoft 365) has correct SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.

Troubleshooting:

  • Ensure you logged into the correct Microsoft account during the OAuth flow.
  • Check for conditional access policies or administrator restrictions in your Microsoft 365 environment that might prevent app connections.
  • If using an App Password, double-check the SMTP settings and ensure you copied the App Password correctly.
  • Refer to the general Sender Connection Issues guide.

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