Outgoing Email Issue on 3rd party apps

@user_eoco6h​ 

I have the same problem, I have been dealing with it for over 1 month.

Sending messages works correctly when accessing my email in the browser at https://connect.xfinity.com/appsuite

When using any third party email apps on the desktop PC or smartphone, messages fail to send with either an "SMTP Server Connection Timed Out", or a "Invalid username/password for SMTP Server" error message.

I have tried various outgoing server settings. Currently I have it set to:
Outgoing Server - smtp.comcast.net
Port - 587 (have also tried 465)
Security - SSL/TLS

Xfinity please assist.

What email client are you using?

I have tried it in Mozilla Thunderbird on PC, Gmail on Android, Mail app on Android, Mail app on KindleFire. All outgoing messages fail with similar errors, no matter what 3rd party app I use.

IOS Mail on iPhone 13.  I also tried Elgin and Outlook.  

@user_ks1e8 Thank you! Can you please check your "Outgoing" mail server, and see if it's set up correctly? 

https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/email-client-programs-with-xfinity-email 

It is and has been.  I have been through all of those settings with Comcast Email Support and still no resolution.

Thank you for your feedback, user_ks1e8. I believe the reason that you have had so many issues when attempting to contact us regarding your email, is that we cannot troubleshoot Outlook, IOS mail or other 3rd party apps as that is not our product. Please remember that using third-party email clients (e.g., Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird, etc.) to access your Comcast.net email address can potentially expose your Xfinity ID and password to fraud and other risks. We recommend you access your Comcast email by going to Xfinity Connect. 

We also recommend ensuring your Outlook configuration is set to IMAP vs. POP. We recommend only using IMAP configuration for your comcast.net email for the following reasons:

- POP can cause problems when checking your mail from more than one phone or computer because POP removes the mail from our server and delivers it to your device.
- IMAP makes it easier to sync your email on multiple devices because your folders and mail remain on our server until you move or delete them with your device.
- With IMAP, the email changes you make on one device, like your smartphone, are reflected on your other devices, like your laptop.

Additional information about IMAP configuration can be found here. 

As a reminder; any time you change your comcast.net email password you will need to make sure you update Outlook or any other email client with the new password there. The passwords stored in those third-party email clients are not updated automatically and will not allow you to connect to the email servers without inputting the new email password there.

Unfortunately, if you are not having difficulting accessing your comcast.net email by going to Xfinity Connect, then the issue is not related to Comcast and you must contact Microsoft directly for help with their Outlook product and getting your passwords updated there. 

Please let us know if you have any other questions related to your Xfinity services. 

The issue is 100% related to Comcast and not the other mail parties. To imply that every other 3rd party mail app is having the same issue is ludicrous.  

I have a similar issue. Only sends after 7PM EST until sometime the next morning. Using OUTLOOK, provider is not xfinity.  Tried all the steps I could find. Been working fine for years until I changed internet provider. Have spent hours trying to resolve.

With all of the 3rd party apps I get an error at times saying the outbound SMTP password is incorrect...it is not.  And eventually it clears and works.  Then it happens again.  

@XfinityAlex​ Classic Outlook 2024 Home and Business, which I am using, does not have separate locations to change the inbound and outbound password, to the best of my knowledge.  

In addition, when Outlook and Apple Mail (or other email clients) both send intermittently, and then are cut off intermittently, it's likely not a password problem at the user's end -- it's a Comcast software problem. 

The fact that there's a voice message at Comcast Advanced Security acknowledging that Comcast is having problems with sending/receiving with email clients is further evidence that properly-entered passwords are not causing the errors.

@bammo​ You mean CSA?  I think that is generally there due to the third-party option that must be enabled to use third-party clients.  "Comcast Advanced Security" is the web security system that is part of Xfinity-leased modems. (not trying to nitpick, just making sure we're talking about the same thing).  I use Outlook at work (I can't say if it's the same as "Classic"), but I do know it has two places to enter user/pass when using a non-Exchange account. Feel free to DM me with your username, and I'll take a look at the logs.

@user_ks1e8 If you DM me with your username, I can check to see if we're getting "invalid authentication" with your username/ip.

@XfinityAlex​  I mean the "Advanced Security" phone line, 888-565-4329.

It's been working since last night. I'll DM you again next time it goes on the blink?

I have tested out multiple times and multiple accounts and using various port and settings, nothing work. I have been using the legacy Outlook for a long time and it was never a problem until recently. It seems to have a problem connecting to the Incoming and Outgoing server. I been using imap.email.comcast.net as Incoming server and smtp.comcast.net as Outgoing server and was never a problem. Yes, there is a place to put in the Outgoing username and password but that don't seem to matter. I never need to put that in before and it works fine. But I have tested anyway and it does not work. Sometimes, when I tested and it gives me green check for Incoming but not Outgoing. But then when i retest again, both servers ain't working. You guys need to fix your [Edited: "Language"] on the other end. This is not Outlook issue. Unless, you're using a different Incoming or Outgoing server that I am not aware of...

@roots10​ You need to enable third-party client access.  it's currently disabled.

https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/third-party-email-access

@XfinityAlex​ I checked and made sure that third-party client access was already enabled:

https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/third-party-email-access

I tried disabling/re-enabling the setting. I attempted sending test emails and the problem is still constantly occurring.

I tried these settings and it still did not fix the problem for me.

I'll contact the Direct Messaging chat representative today to see if they can help.

@bammo​ Please send me a DM with your username, and if you know it, your IP address when having the issue.

@user_x7o8vy​ Please send me a DM with your username, and if you know it, your IP address when having the issue.

@user_b7l39c​ yes Xfinity doesn’t seem interested in helping.  And like you, I’ve used this email for 17 years so it’s hard to switch gears so suddenly. Comcast/xfinity is getting lots of notice for the 1000s of emails that have been shared over that length of time.  One would think they’d be more interested in a solution.

  I never would have changed my pw had I known it would become such a major inconvenience. Well if anyone discovers a remedy please let me know!   

@user_b7l39c​ You have an Apple device with an incorrect outgoing/SMTP password

@user_p6xjqn​ If you DM me with the impacted Username, I can try to take a look

@user_krzopd​ We send millions of messages per day outbound, about 50% of those come from third-party clients.

What is the error you receive when trying to send a message?  Feel free to DM me if you are not comfortable sharing here, or if that's just your preference.  I am better positioned to take a deep look than most.