TbSync with EAS fails recently

[ToBo69]

Linux Mint 21.2 Cinnamon

TbSync version: 4.8 (latest download) Thunderbird version: 115.7.0 (64 bit)

Expected behavior

Microsoft Outlook account should be synced in Thunderbird so that address and calendar items stay up to date

Actual behavior

since several days, TbSync stopped synchronizing my Microsoft account (using the second required add-on Exchange ActiveSync) TbSync Event Log says: The server does not provide information about the supported ActiveSync versions. Is EAS blocked for this user or this client (TbSync)? You could try to set the ActiveSync version manually.

Steps to reproduce

Try to sync the account

So far I tried without avail:

- Removing and adding the account information in TbSync (server address: outlook.office365.com)

- Uninstalling both TbSync and Exchange ActiveSync add-on and installing them again

- Turning on MFA for my Microsoft account and turning it off again

To help resolving your issue, enable debug logging (TbSync Account Manager -> Help) and send me the debug.log via e-mail (use the title of your issue as subject of the email).

TbSync debug log says:

** Thu Jan 25 2024 11:24:40 GMT+0100 (Mitteleurop�ische Normalzeit) **
    [setSyncState] : State: prepare.request.options, Account: ...@gmx.de

    ** Thu Jan 25 2024 11:24:40 GMT+0100 (Mitteleurop�ische Normalzeit) **
    [Sending] : OPTIONS https://account.live.com/Microsoft-Server-ActiveSync

    ** Thu Jan 25 2024 11:24:40 GMT+0100 (Mitteleurop�ische Normalzeit) **
    [setSyncState] : State: send.request.options, Account: ...@gmx.de

    ** Thu Jan 25 2024 11:24:41 GMT+0100 (Mitteleurop�ische Normalzeit) **
    [setSyncState] : State: eval.request.options, Account: ...@gmx.de

    ** Thu Jan 25 2024 11:24:41 GMT+0100 (Mitteleurop�ische Normalzeit) **
    [EventLog] : InvalidServerOptions

    ** Thu Jan 25 2024 11:24:41 GMT+0100 (Mitteleurop�ische Normalzeit) **
    [EventLog] : InvalidServerOptions

    ** Thu Jan 25 2024 11:24:41 GMT+0100 (Mitteleurop�ische Normalzeit) **
    [setSyncState] : State: accountdone, Account: ...@gmx.de

When trying to open the link from the debug log, https://account.live.com/Microsoft-Server-ActiveSync the website opens with the following message:

    This website is temporarily not available.
    This website is temporarily unavailable because of maintenance. Please try again later.

[RRNYC]

Having the same problem for a month now. Is there anything that can fix this? Oauth for Outlook.com accounts is not an option for TBsync 4.3 on TB 102. Throws errors whenever attempting to use it.

[jobisoft]

Outlook.com seems to be special.

1. Where did you get https://account.live.com/Microsoft-Server-ActiveSync from?
2. have you tried manually setting an EAS version (which is what The server does not provide information about the supported ActiveSync versions. Is EAS blocked for this user or this client (TbSync)? You could try to set the ActiveSync version manually is referring to).
3. How did you create your outlook.com account? Is it an account that was transferred from an even older Microsoft service?

[RRNYC]

Thanks for the quick reply, John!

I'm using the MS Active Sync add on (see image) from the TB add-ons site.

I've tried a variety of attempted fixes, including changing the server (m.hotmail.com; eas.outlook.com; m.outlook,com). Some work for a brief time but eventually start throwing password prompts every few minutes.

I also tried removing and reinstalling both add-ons to no effect. Also, the latest version of TBSync compatible with TB 102 (4.7) throws a java script error and won't allow for the connection of any accounts.

Using TBSycn 4.3, I have two accounts successfully connected via the Oauth MS Office option, and one legacy Hotmail account that used to connect via the Exchange option without issue. That started being problematic on 1/23/24.

And whenever I attempt to use the Oauth MS Office option to connect that Hotmail account, I get error messages such as:

• Could not authenticate, check username and password (HTTP error 401)
• User not found (HTTP error 404)
• Could not connect to server (NS_ERROR_UNKNOWN_HOSTS)
• status.451

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. I don't want to upgrade to TB 115 just yet. The UX is terrible.

[jobisoft]

Did you try to re-create the account using the modern authentication method (OAUTH), which is the third one in the wizard? Everything else will not work. An please at least try in a test profile on TB 115. I do not support EOL versions of Thunderbird.