See https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1532768

This doesn't apply to me as I can't even get that far in.

So, you can't add the account as IMAP with the old-style setup wizard? Is this an actual Exchange account, requiring the Owl add-on, or one where IMAP/SMTP is enabled?

I dont even get to the spot where I can change the server settings. I get to where it says email then password.

After you enter your password it should bring you to the spot where you can change the settings but I get the error after I put my password in. It's just a regular hotmail account.

There shouldn't be any issues with a consumer hotmail account, i.e. standard IMAP. I suggest you click Manual config. and enter these settings:

outlook.office365.com, 993, SSL/TLS, OAuth2, email address

smtp.office365.com, 587, STARTTLS, OAuth2, email address

Don't enter the account password - that will be needed in the OAuth authentication window on first connection to the server.

Another way to avoid interference is to add the account Offline (click icon at left end of status bar). Once added, go back online, select Inbox, enter account password in OAuth window.

There is no option for manual enter until after the password is entered and it's on the next screen

There is no option for manual enter until after the password is entered and it's on the next screen

See the attached picture. Go Offline. Start the new account wizard after disabling the account hub in Settings (explained in the link in my first reply). Enter your name and email, omit password. Click Configure manually. Enter settings for hotmail, Done, go back online, open Inbox, complete authentication.

was finally able to take a look at it when i got back home from the cottage. I disablld the Hub, no manual configuration needed and it was added perfect.

thank you so much!

does anyne know why this happens?

was finally able to take a look at it when i got back home from the cottage. I disablld the Hub, no manual configuration needed and it was added perfect. thank you so much! does anyne know why this happens?

Are you asking why a deeply flawed feature is inflicted on users without any adequate testing or explanation of workarounds? Good question.

lol. more so, as to why it would change when setting up on a new pc but not on anything else

I tried to follow the instructions at https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/thunderbird-and-exchange but did not get the option to select Exchange at step 3. I manually deleted all my profiles and tried a "virgin" install of 143.0.1. Still no luck with my outlook.com account. I finally went back to 140.3.1esr and using tbsync.

I'm looking forward to Thundermail becoming available. I will not renew my Microsoft 365 subscription and change to Thundermail. I chose outlook.com because it's probably a little more private than gmail, but Microsoft keeps getting more and more pushy with their ecosystem. I set Firefox as my default browser, but clicking on a link in the new outlook email opens Edge. I've learned that the new outlook is not a client, but a cloud app. Adding my four other email accounts the new outlook gives Microsoft full access to those accounts without my knowing anything about what they're doing with them. I know better than to do private things in email, but I still want to be in charge of it, not turn it all over to god-only-knows-what.