Can not connect to Incoming imap server to receive emails in Outlook

Thanks its driving me crazy.  Nice to have an update, sad it comes from users not Xfinity.

I am having the same basic problem. 3 days ago I changed my password because I was told of the breach and the need to change it. Now. I cannot get any comcast/xfinity emails through my PC Outlook desktop, or on my iPhone while using my home ISP (my PC is direct connect to the LAN, and WiFi does not work for just Outlook when running through my phone). I can access it on the Xfinity website, but that is a major pain, especially when the Outlook app works better for me. I can also access my xfinity email though my phone's mail app, but only when I am off WiFi, or away from home. Not even my phone's Outlook app will allow access when at home. Clearly this is an Xfinity problem with the way Outlook communicates to Xfinity, and clearly this is a direct result of having to make changes since the data breach. I would very much like to know when Xfinity will find a solution. And before Xfinity tells me to make sure the settings are correct,...they are. It is set on imap, the incoming port is 993 and outgoing is 465. Outlook keeps telling me to enter the user name and password, and my phone mail client tells me the user name or password is incorrect (yet only when on my home ISP). Can we fix this communication error please?

This just started happening yesterday....what the heck is going on Comcast?

I am having this same issues. I am a former XFINITY Customer and have used this email for well over 10 years. I have tried chat with customer service to no avail. Whenever I use outlook it keeps asking me for my IMAP password. Xfinity's website reads that FORMER CUSTOMERS can still use the email system as long as we log into the online email service. I do this at least three -five times a year. Today it began asking for my IMAP Password.

I cant even speak to tech support. My three PCs and my smartphone cannot connect to the IMAP server. It's a Comcast network issue. The Xfinity web email is working, and we are still receiving emails. 

What is the issue and when will it get resolved?

I recently changed the password for my Xfinity Account while using my laptop. I noticed that I was not receiving email on my android phone after the change. I checked the Outlook login on my phone and it still had the previous password. So I attempted to update the password on my Samsung android phone. When I hit the checkmark to update the settings on my imap email I receive the following message, "Login Error" "The connection to your mail server timed out. Please check your mail settings". I did this several times And got the same message. I then uninstalled Outlook and reinstalled it but still got the same Login Error message. I was using just a home screen finger swipe for security to unlock my phone. So I changed it to a 6 digit code lock. I then started Outlook and went to setting to add my Xfinity account. The app found my Xfinity email address and I selected it. Next, the two choices popped up in a window, imap or pop3. I chose the imap filled in the account info and after a short time asked if I wanted to add another account. I answered later and my Xfinity email populated the inbox!! I then went back to the phone settings and changed the screen lock back to a finger swipe and still works. I can only think it is a security thing when changing passwords for the mail account. I don't think I saw any information regarding this on a Xfinity site. I hope this may help someone in the future.

I fixed mines.  You need to log into the web email first.  then go to the gear in the top right to get into your settings.  Then click on Security .  Find the settings to turn on 3rd party access security.  Then go back to outlook and try again.  It wont let me upload a pic. but i hope that helps.

I "hopefully" fixed my issue by logging into Comcast email online, then go to Settings, Security, remove checkmark for Third Party email, then recheck. Once I did that, everything downloaded to my Outlook immediately.

Heads up to all........

This problem seems to have roots in the Comcast security breach that occurred in December.

I subscribe to a couple of identity theft monitoring services.

I received notification this week that my Comcast email address and password have been exposed on the dark web.

I suspect this is a result of that breach.   Changing my password should have blocked any damage, however I am going to change my password again in order to be doubly sure that it hasn't been exposed.

Like many of you, i am a a long-time customer of comcast/xfinity. I am having the same trouble connecting outlook to the comcast mail servers. I have tried everything mentioned in this forum's string, including all of the instrucitons found onthe xfinity support site. I can access mail via my iphone and the xfinity app. I am very disappointed in the lack of support we as customers are recieving from comcast/xfinity based on what i am reading in the forum.

I have two routers, one rented and one owned.   When I recently had a recurrence of the inability to send email, I swapped routers.  Both are configured with the same SSIDs so I can do this just by unplugging one and plugging in the other.   This fixed my problem instantly.

This is consistent with a report by someone else that the problem appears to be with Comcast rejecting certain IP addresses.  As I understand it, changing the router's MAC address (by changing routers) forces a fresh IP address to be assigned and avoids the problem at least for a while.  

After a couple of days I swapped the routers back to the original setup and the good performance continued.  Presumably this is because the old IP address was not reassigned to me.

Also, I've seen evidence that Comcast starts rejecting outgoing email if it sees too many failed email password attempts.   If true, the problem with this is that you've got to be very careful to take all your email devices off line first before changing passwords, and then bring them back on line one by one with the updated password.   Otherwise the devices that still have the old password can try repeatedly to use it, and get you kicked off the Comcast outgoing server.

Same exact issue with the same steps taken, this is unacceptable.

Looking at this thread, it appears that this problem has been going on for sometime and not FIXED!  I to have issues with Comcast connecting to Outlook.  On my Phone it sometimes works but mostly says "Updating" and that bar never goes away.  On my computer it wont send my emails and puts them into the Draft File.  Just when I don't think an email was sent, I'll get a response from the intended person I emails and they did get the email???  I have tried many things:

1. Deleted Outlook and reinstalled

2. Reset my Comcast account

3. Did this on both the iPhone and my computer

I know this is a Comcast issues as Outlook works fine with my business email on both my phone and computer.  The only way I get real time updates on my comcast email is if I log into Xfinity online and everything work.  The problem is Comcast's interface with Outlook.

PLEASE FIX THIS AND LET US KNOW WHEN IT"S FIXED@!

Same issue.  I have tried 2 different VPN products, and the same issue happens with both.  So tiresome.  Too bad there is not a solution.

All,

I have an update and insights for your information.

I have a Dell desktop that came preconfigured with 2016 MS Office Home and Business (Version 2403 Build 16.0.17425.20176 64-bit)

My connectivity issue has been ongoing for 9 months. It has only gotten worse in 2024.

I have worked with my third-party ISP (rural - last mile wifi service only), Comcast tech support, MS Windows tech support, and MS Outlook tech support.

Folks point fingers at one another without clear insight into why the issue is happening or how to resolve it permanently.

This worked only for a short time

• Changed Xfinity login password
• Go into the Xfinity web app, go into email settings security, and uncheck the "Third-party Access Security", log out, log back in, recheck the box, log out
• For my 2016 Dell desktop, I run a quick repair, sometimes a full online repair, as my version of Outlook behaves differently than my newer laptop or my smartphone
• Refresh inbox; then I'm good until the next Comcast IMAP access issues surface

Earlier this year while performing a full MS Office online repair, a new version of Outlook was downloaded to my PC. I now have two. The newer version is 1.2024.501.300 (Production) and has been configured with my Comcast email IMAP account.

I now can attest that my older 2016 Outlook application is the problem, as I compare the two inboxes daily, and the new version is always up to date and has no IMAP connectivity issues. At one point, MS Outlook tech support created a new Outlook profile for my older application, and stated the issue was it was corrupted. The new outlook profile solved the problem for two days, then reverted.

To make my 2016 Outlook connect to the Comcast IMAP server, I have to run a quick repair (sometime more than once) and or send an email to myself to kick-start things. I don't see a permanent fix available to us. 

I wish I could remove the 2016 Outlook application and then do a reinstall. I'm told this is not possible.

My 2016 Outlook has 8 different email accounts: (2-Google Gmail, 5-MS O365, and my Comcast IMAP) for business and personal. The new version of Outlook does not support this multi-account model, so I am left working on two applications.

Best of luck to all, and hopefully, someone will come up with a solution.