In July 2026, Spark updated the way it connects to Microsoft accounts — from the legacy Exchange Web Services (EWS) protocol to Microsoft Graph, Microsoft's modern authentication standard. This change affects Outlook, Hotmail, and Microsoft 365 accounts.
This is a required update to make sure Microsoft accounts continue to work smoothly in Spark after the deprecation of EWS in Exchange Online.
Every third-party email app that connects to Microsoft accounts will eventually need to migrate to Microsoft Graph.
As part of this update, you may be prompted to sign in to your Microsoft account once. This is expected and only happens one time.
How to reconnect your Outlook or Hotmail account
If you see a sign-in prompt in Spark, select Log In and complete the sign-in. Your account will reconnect and continue working as before.
How to reconnect your Microsoft 365 account
If you see a sign-in prompt in Spark, select Log In and complete the sign-in.
If you close the prompt or run into an error, your account will fall back to the Legacy connection (EWS). Microsoft is retiring EWS in October 2026 — after that date, Legacy connections will stop working across all email apps.
Work or school account — "Admin approval required"
Some Microsoft 365 accounts require IT administrator approval before third-party apps can connect using the new authentication method. If you see this message, your account will not reconnect until your admin grants access.
How to request approval
Spark generates a shareable approval link after a failed sign-in attempt. Your admin can open the link and approve access in a couple of clicks — no additional setup needed on their end.
This approval is for the updated version of the same Spark connection your organization previously approved under EWS. Microsoft Graph meets modern enterprise security standards.
Can't complete the sign-in? Use the Legacy connection
If your organization can't grant approval, or if the new sign-in fails, you can connect using the Legacy option.
- Receive the Authorization Error or an Authentication Error pop-up for your Microsoft 365 account.
- Select the Log in option and continue signing in.>
- If the sign-in fails, select Legacy from the account type selector.
- Complete the sign-in.
Microsoft accounts in Spark Classic
If you are using Spark 2.x on your Mac, this version does not support the new Microsoft Graph connection yet.
If your Microsoft account shows "Update required" in Spark Classic, you have these options:
- Move to Spark Desktop — your Microsoft account will reconnect using the new standard. This is the recommended path, especially ahead of the October 2026 deadline.
- Remove the account from Spark Classic only — this removes the account from this device only and does not affect your setup on other devices.
- Stay on Spark Classic — remove the Microsoft account from any other Spark devices, then re-add it to Spark Classic. This keeps it working on Classic until October 2026, when EWS is retired by Microsoft.
If you continue to experience issues with adding your account in Spark, feel free to reach out to our Support Team.