Modify your email configuration to support Modern Authentication


OVERVIEW

Target audience: McGill community members or alumnus using basic authentication to access their McGill email.

Basic authentication, which was before, industry standard for Microsoft platforms, poses significant security risk for cyberattacks and is now being deprecated. For this reason, Microsoft will start disabling basic authentication on its Office 365 products beginning October 1, 2022, to replace it with a more secure modern authentication method.

In this article:

How do I know if I'm affected?

*No matter what, you will not lose your emails. If your application still uses Basic Authentication, you will be unable to access your mailbox temporarily. See below how to correct this situation.

**If you are using the Android platform, it is very likely that you will not be affected. However, if you are on an older device (more than 3 years old) or notice, after October 1st 2022, that you no can no longer send or receive emails, please Contact the IT Service Desk.

If you are on Windows (10 or 11) or iOS (version 11+), you were very likely directed to this article when you received an email from IT Services informing you that you are using basic Authentication. 

It is also possible that, after October 1, 2022, you simply notice that you are no longer able to send or receive email.

In either case, please use the table below to identify the proper solution for the platform and the software you use.

Basic authentication email apps and recommended actions

This list is not intended to be comprehensive. If you are using an email application or version not listed below, we encourage you to replace it with one of the supported email applications or use Outlook on the Web in order to have continued access to your McGill email.

Email app

Recommended solution

Alternative

Mail or Calendar on iOS 10 or earlier

Upgrade to iOS11 or higher, then follow the instructions on how to remove and re-add your McGill email account.

Mail or Calendar on iOS v11+

Replace with one of the apps listed in the “Modern authentication email apps” section below or use Outlook on the Web.

 

 

 

Remove your McGill email account, then re-add it.

Mac Mail on macOS 10.14.6 (Mojave) and above

Gmail app

Remove your McGill account, then re-add it

Gmail

Remove your McGill email account in Gmail:

  1. Open Gmail on your computer.
  2. In the top right, click the Settings Cog icon then select See all settings.
  3. Click the Accounts and import or Accounts tab along the top.
  4. In the Send mail as section, click Delete next to the email address you want to remove.

Thunderbird

** Thunderbird email client is only supported by the IT Service Desk on a best efforts basis.

Setting for incoming and outgoing mail servers are available in the following article: General settings for other apps

  • Outlook 2013 or earlier
  • Mac Mail or Mac OS 10.13 or earlier
  • Yahoo
  • Any email apps not listed here
There is no alternate solution for those applications.

 

Modern authentication email apps

McGill's fully supported and recommended email apps are:

The following apps are supported by IT Services on a best-efforts basis:

Need help? Contact the IT Service Desk.

references

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: