What do I need to do about the "Microsoft Legacy Authentication Retirement" email?

You may have recently received an email from OTS about needing to take action regarding "Microsoft Legacy Authentication".

Your email account was identified as using a device that logs into your university email account using a method that Microsoft will cease supporting at the end of 2022.

The simplest way forward is to use the latest Microsoft email clients on both desktop and mobile devices. However, if you wish to continue to use the native Mail clients on iOS and Android, you will need to remove and add your Towson email on your phone:

• Steps for Apple (iOS) Devices
• Steps for Android Devices
  • Steps for removing and adding an email account using the Gmail app on Android
  • Steps for removing and adding an email account using the built in mail app on Android

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iOS (iPhone and iPad) Mail App

Check your iOS version and upgrade if necessary. Here are recommendations by operating system to get the latest version and avoid losing access: 

• For an older device that isn’t compatible with iOS 12: download and use the Outlook app.  
• iOS 11: delete and re-add your TU email account on your device or start using the Outlook app. 
• iOS 12 or newer: delete and re-add your TU email account

Note: OTS recommends using the Outlook app for iPhone and iPad. The steps below are to remove and add your TU email account using the built-in Mail app. 

 

Steps for deleting and adding an email account on iOS

Delete your account from iOS Mail 

1. Go to Settings.

• In iOS 14+, select Mail > Accounts. 
• In older versions of iOS, select Passwords & Accounts.

2. Tap you TU email account (Exchange), then hit Delete Account. If asked to confirm, repeat this step. If Delete Account is greyed out or not available, deselect all apps that are using this data and try again. 

 

Add your account to iOS Mail  

1. Go to Settings.  
2. Select Passwords & Accounts, or select Mail > Accounts. 
3. Tap Add Account. 
4. Tap Microsoft Exchange. 

5. Type in your TU email address in the Email field. 
6. Type in a name for the account (i.e., TU email) in the Description field. 
7. Tap Next.
8. Tap Sign In. 
9. Enter your TU email address and password, then tap Sign in. 

10. You should receive a Duo prompt to approve. This prompt will confirm you’re using the new (not legacy) authentication. 
11. Select the services you would like to sync with your device. To access email, Mail must be selected. Selecting Contacts will allow searching in the Global Address Book, as well as the syncing of your Outlook contacts to your device. Save your selections. 

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Android Mail Apps

Depending on your phone provider, you may be using the Gmail app or some other email app to retrieve your Towson email. The instructions below are for two common apps used on Android. 

Note: OTS recommends using the Outlook app for Android.

Steps for removing and adding an email account using the Gmail app on Android

Gmail supports Microsoft 365 email accounts, and comes pre-installed on all Android devices.

Remove your account from Gmail 

1. Open the Gmail App
2. Tap the hamburger menu (three lines) and scroll to settings
3. Tap the 3-dot menu
4. Tap Manage Accounts
5. Tap Exchange and tap Remove Account

Now that the account has been removed, you can add it back with modern authentication.

Add your account using Gmail 

1. Open your device's Settings app. Tap Accounts. If you can't see 'Accounts', tap Users & accounts.
2. At the bottom, tap Add account.
3. Tap Exchange.
4. Enter your @towson.edu email and credentials.
5. If prompted, log in in with your TU NetID and password. You will also be prompted to authenticate with Duo. 

Your TU email should begin to appear in the Gmail app. 

 

Steps for removing and adding an email account using the built in mail app on Android

These instructions are to set up TU email on an Android device using the built in email app. Note: different Android manufacturers may have slight differences in Settings.  (This is not for Gmail.)

Remove your account from the built in email app

Before setting up TU email on your device, you must delete any previously existing Exchange email accounts:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Accounts (or, depending on your device, Users & accounts).
3. Tap the account you want to remove, and then select Remove account.
4. If you are removing the only account on your device, you'll need to enter your device's security pattern, PIN, or password.

Add your account to use the built in email app

To set up your TU email account on your Android device:

1. Go to your device Settings.
2. Tap Passwords & Accounts, Accounts, Users and Accounts, or Accounts and Sync (depending on your device).
3. Select + Add account.
4. Select Exchange, Exchange ActiveSync, Microsoft exchange, Corporate, Office 365, or Outlook. If you see multiple options from this list, select the one with the icon matching the email app that you would like to use.
5. Enter your TU email address and password.  Tap Next.
6. If prompted, enter your TU NetID and password.  Tap Sign in.
7. You will be prompted to authenticate with Duo.
8. Tap Accept & continue.
9. If prompted, choose your selected sync options.

Set up is now complete. You can open your device's default Email app and you should see your TU email there now.