Microsoft has announced a delay in one of its planned email security changes. If your organization uses Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) to send emails from printers, scanners or older apps, this update matters to you.
In a nutshell, Microsoft is turning off an older email login method (Basic Authentication) in April 2026.
- This affects devices such as scanners, old apps and custom software that send email
- You should prepare now to avoid disruptions
What’s Changing (and When)
Microsoft had originally planned to turn off Basic Authentication in September 2025. That deadline has now been pushed back to March 2026, with the final cut-off happening by the end of April 2026.
Why This Matters
Many businesses use older methods or devices – such as multi-function printers or legacy software – that send emails using Basic Authentication. Microsoft now requires companies to switch to newer methods.
Key Dates to Know
| Date | What Happens |
| March 1, 2026 | Microsoft starts slowly turning off Basic Authentication for sending email. |
| April 30, 2026 | It will be completely turned off for all Microsoft 365 customers. |
After this point, anything still using the old method will stop working.
Not Sure If This Affects You?
Microsoft have begun sending notices to companies still using Basic Authentication. But don’t wait: getting ahead of this could save you a big headache later.
Need Help?
Due to Microsoft’s planned discontinuation of Basic/SMTP Authentication in M365, we no longer officially support it here at SMTP2GO. You may still be able to utilize our service with M365, however, by exploring alternative authentication methods.
Resources:
- Setup Guides: For guidance on various versions of Outlook and Exchange, please refer to our setup guides.
- Microsoft KB Article: This Microsoft article may be helpful.
- Alternatives to SMTP Authentication: Learn about alternative authentication methods here.
