Microsoft no longer supports Basic Authentication (a username and password sent with every email request) for SMTP. Starting with AuctionFlex v9.24 (and v10), the Microsoft OAuth 2.0 connection is available for both cloud and desktop AuctionFlex. If you send email through a Microsoft account, such as Outlook, Microsoft 365, Hotmail, or MSN, AuctionFlex connects using OAuth 2.0 instead.
🔐 Note: Already sending Microsoft email with a password? Your existing setup keeps working after you upgrade. Follow these steps to switch to OAuth 2.0 when you're ready.
🔐 Note: Works with personal Microsoft accounts and Microsoft 365 work or school accounts. You don't need to create anything in Azure or Entra. If your organization uses a business account, your Microsoft administrator may need to approve the connection.
💡 What's the difference? Basic Authentication sends your username and password every time an email is sent. OAuth 2.0 uses a secure sign-in token instead, so AuctionFlex never needs to store or repeatedly send your password.
🔐 Note: Using Gmail or Yahoo instead? See Configuring SMTP Email Server (Gmail or Yahoo) in AuctionFlex.
🔧 Step 1: Set Up Your Email Settings
This setting is also used for the invoices and settlements you email from AuctionFlex.
Go to Miscellaneous ➜ Settings & Options.
Click the Email tab.
In the Send Bulk E-Mail Using section, select SMTP Mail Server (Highly Recommended).
In Username, enter your full Microsoft email address (for example, your Outlook, Hotmail, Microsoft 365, or MSN address).
Click Find SMTP. AuctionFlex fills in the recommended SMTP server settings for you.
🔐 Note: If the settings don't fill in automatically, contact your email provider for the correct server settings.
Click Setup Microsoft OAuth2. A browser window opens so you can sign in to Microsoft and give AuctionFlex permission.
🔑 Step 2: Sign In to Microsoft and Allow AuctionFlex
In the browser window, enter your Microsoft email address and click Next.
Enter your password and click Next. (If Microsoft asks for extra verification, such as a code or an approval in your authenticator app, complete it.
On the permissions page, Microsoft shows what AuctionFlex will be able to do: view your basic profile and email address, send email from your mailbox, read and write your mail, and keep access when you're not using the app. Review the request and click Accept to allow AuctionFlex to send email for you.
🔐 Note: You may see an "unverified" label next to the app name. This is expected. You can review or remove these permissions later at microsoft.com/consent.
Microsoft sends a confirmation email to let you know access was granted to AuctionFlex.
The browser shows "OAuth2 access is granted." You can close the browser window.
Return to AuctionFlex. A confirmation window tells you the sign-in was successful.
🧪 Step 3: Finish and Test
Enter a Sender Name if you'd like. This is usually your company name.
Click Test to send a test email. By default the test email goes to [email protected]. Enter your own email address instead if you want to see the message arrive.
If the test email arrives, you're set. ✅
🖥 Optional: Set Up a Different Email Address for One Workstation
You can also connect Microsoft email on a single workstation. This is useful if you want invoices or settlements to come from a different email address than your global account.
Go to Miscellaneous ➜ Workstation Settings.
Click SMTP.
Follow the same steps as above (Find SMTP, then Setup Microsoft OAuth2, then sign in and test).
🔓 Disconnecting Your Microsoft Email
To remove AuctionFlex's access to your Microsoft email: go to Miscellaneous ➜ Settings & Options ➜ Email tab and click Unpair Email. Clicking Unpair Email removes AuctionFlex's access and ends the active Microsoft session. You can also review or remove permissions at microsoft.com/consent.
🔄 If You Need to Reconnect
Your Microsoft sign-in doesn't expire on its own. You may need to re-authorize AuctionFlex if you change your Microsoft password, an administrator of your Microsoft account ends your sessions, or your Microsoft account is disabled. To reconnect, repeat Step 1 (click Setup Microsoft OAuth2) and Step 2 to re-authorize.
Need help? Contact AuctionFlex Support.