Users with Personal Mobile and Desktop Devices using Mail/ Calendar Applications | User Guide

Microsoft has replaced basic authentication protocols for Exchange Online with modern connectivity that enables additional layers of security. The NHSmail team has put in place a strategy to separate out the retirement of these protocols into a new schedule before June 2023 to reduce any potential impact or disruption to organisations and their users.

The below table provides an overview of this schedule:

Protocol	Retirement date
EAS	27th April 2023 (evening)
EWS, POP, IMAP	25th May 2023 (evening)

This means that some users using personal mobile, or desktop mail or calendar applications integrated with Exchange Online using basic authentication will stop sending and receiving emails.

A series of communications will be sent out to organisations and users appearing in our reporting to raise awareness and guide them through the process.

Upgrade to modern authentication

NHSmail recommends using Microsoft Outlook Mobile as it supports modern authentication.

Move to Outlook Mobile App

Download Instructions

Users can follow the below instructions to restore access to their NHSmail mailbox if their device has lost connectivity with Exchange Online, because of the removal of basic authentication for Exchange Active Sync (EAS).

Operating System	Device	Instructions
iOS	iPhone or iPad	Download
Android	Mobiles or Tablets	Download
Windows	Desktops, Laptops or Tablets	Download
MacOS	MacBook or iMac	Download

Move to the Outlook Mobile App

NHSmail recommends using Microsoft Outlook as it supports modern authentication.

iPhone or iPad (iOS) users.

Step 1: Install Outlook App on your device:

1. Open Apple Store
2. Tap on Search at the bottom right corner.
3. Type in Outlook in the search bar and choose it from the drop-down list.
4. Tap on Get >
5. Type in your Apple ID and Apple password, then tap on Sign in.
6. Wait for the installation to complete.

Step 2: Add your NHSmail account:

1. Open Outlook app.
2. Enter your net email address and tap on Add Account.
3. On the NHSmail login page, type in your password, click on Sign in
4. If you have MFA or FIDO2 enabled, complete the authentication process.
5. Select OK to restart the app to continue.
6. Open Outlook app again.
7. Select OK on the data protection notification.
8. Create a 4 number security PIN for Outlook and other Office apps.
9. Accept any prompts for permissions you may receive.
10. Outlook will now begin syncing your Mail, Calendar Items and Contacts.

Android mobile users.

Step 1: Install Outlook App on your device:

1. Open Play Store
2. Tap on Search for apps at the top of the screen.
3. Type in Outlook in the search bar and choose it from the drop-down list.
4. Tap on
5. Wait for the installation to complete.

Step 2: Add your NHSmail account:

1. Open Outlook app.
2. Tap on Add New Account.
3. Enter your net email address and tap on Continue.
4. On the NHSmail login page, type in your password, click on Sign in
5. If you have MFA or FIDO2 enabled, complete the authentication process.
6. Outlook will now begin syncing your Mail, Calendar Items and Contacts.

Windows and Apple MacBook/iMac desktop users.

Please contact a Local Administrator at your organisation for more information.

Native Mail/Calendar Apps for iPhone or iPad (iOS)

To update your personal mobile applications to use modern authentication, delete your current email account from your device’s mail and calendar applications and create a new Office 365 account.

Step 1: Remove current email account:

1. Open Settings app for iOS.
2. Tap on Mail > Accounts.
3. In the Accounts section tap on the nhs.net account you want to delete.
4. Tap Delete Account at the bottom of the page.
5. Tap on Delete to remove the account from your app.

Step 2: Add your NHSmail account:

1. Open Settings app for iOS.
2. Tap on Mail > Accounts > Add Account > Exchange.
3. Enter your nhs.net email address and tap on Next.
4. Tap on Sign In.
5. On the NHSmail login page, type in your password, click on Sign in
6. If you have MFA or FIDO2 enabled, complete the authentication process.
7. If a Permissions requested notification is displayed, tap on Accept.
8. Leave Mail, Contacts, Calendars, and Reminder toggles on and tap on Save.
9. Open Mail app for iOS.

Mail app will now begin syncing your Mail, Calendar Items and Contacts.

Native Mail/Calendar Apps for MacBook/iMac (MacOS)

To update your personal desktop applications to use modern authentication, delete your current email account from your device’s mail and calendar applications and create a new Office 365 account.

Step 1: Remove current email account:

1. Click on Systems Preferences at the top menu bar.
2. Click on Internet Accounts.
3. Select the net account you want to delete.
4. Click the – button at the bottom left corner.
5. Select Delete to remove the account from your app.

Step 2: Add your NHSmail account:

1. Click on Systems Preferences at the top menu bar.
2. Click on Internet Accounts.
3. Select Exchange from the left-hand side list.
4. Enter a friendly name in the Name
5. Enter your net email address in the Email Address field and click on Sign in button twice.
6. On the NHSmail login page, type in your password, click on Sign in
7. If you have MFA or FIDO2 enabled, complete the authentication process.
8. Leave all options selected and click on Done.
9. Open Mail app.
10. Mail app will now begin syncing your Mail, Calendar Items and Contacts.

Outlook for iPhone or iPad (iOS)

To update your personal mobile application to use modern authentication, delete your current email account from your device’s mail and calendar applications and create a new Office 365 account.

Step 1: Remove current email account:

1. Open Outlook app for iOS.
2. Tap the Account icon at the top left corner of the screen.
3. Tap the Gear icon at the bottom left corner of the screen.
4. In the Mail Accounts section select the net account you want to delete.
5. Tap Delete Account at the bottom of the page.
6. Tap on Delete to remove the account from your app.

Step 2: Add your NHSmail account:

1. Open Outlook app for iOS.
   1. If this is the first account you are adding an account, enter your nhs.net email address and then tap on Add Account.
   2. If not, tap on Account icon > Gear icon > Add Mail Account and enter your nhs.net email address and tap on Continue.
2. On the NHSmail login page, type in your password, click on Sign in
3. If you have MFA or FIDO2 enabled, complete the authentication process.
4. Select OK to restart the app to continue.
5. Open Outlook app again.
6. Select OK on the data protection notification.
7. Create a 4 number security PIN for Outlook and other Office apps.
8. Accept any prompts for permissions you may receive.
9. Outlook will now begin syncing your Mail, Calendar Items and Contacts.

Outlook for Apple MacBook/iMac (MacOS)

To update your personal desktop applications to use modern authentication, delete your current email account from your device’s mail and calendar applications and create a new Office 365 account.

Step 1: Remove current email account:

1. Open
2. Click on Tools at the top menu bar.
3. Select
4. Select the net account you want to delete.
5. In the Accounts dialog, click the – button at the bottom left corner.
6. Select Delete to remove the account from your app.

Step 2: Add your NHSmail account:

1. Open
2. Click on Tools at the top menu bar.
3. Select
   1. If this is the first account you are adding an account, select Add Email Account.
   2. If not, click on + icon at the bottom left corner of the dialog box and select New Account.
4. Enter your net email address and click on Continue.
5. On the NHSmail login page, type in your password, click on Sign in
6. If you have MFA or FIDO2 enabled, complete the authentication process.
7. Click on Done.
8. Outlook will now begin syncing your Mail, Calendar Items and Contacts.

Outlook for Android

To update your personal mobile application to use modern authentication, delete your current email account from your device’s mail and calendar applications and create a new Office 365 account.

Step 1: Remove current email account:

1. Open Outlook app.
2. Tap the Outlook icon at the top left corner of the screen.
3. Tap the gear icon at the bottom left corner of the screen.
4. In the Email Accounts section select the net account you want to delete.
5. Tap Delete Account at the bottom of the page.
6. Tap on Delete to remove the account from your app.

Step 2: Add your NHSmail account:

1. Open Outlook app.
   1. If this is the first account you are adding an account, tap on the Get Started
   2. If not, tap on the Outlook icon > Gear icon > Add Email Account > Add an email account.
2. On the Add Account screen, enter your net email address and tap on Continue.
3. On the NHSmail login page, type in your password, click on Sign in
4. If you have MFA or FIDO2 enabled, complete the authentication process.
5. Outlook will now begin syncing your Mail, Calendar Items and Contacts.