Microsoft began disabling Exchange Web Services (EWS) for Exchange Online organizations on October 1, 2026, with full disablement scheduled for April 2027. If Apple Mail relies on EWS to connect to your Microsoft 365 mailbox, it may lose sync as that change rolls out—but Microsoft has not confirmed whether Apple Mail has moved to a compatible alternative. A separate Microsoft-documented Apple Mail disconnection issue is already affecting some Microsoft 365 accounts.
What the EWS shutdown means for Microsoft 365
EWS is a protocol used by applications to connect to Exchange mailboxes. Microsoft’s Exchange Online documentation, updated September 4, 2026, says EWS disablement starts globally in October 2026 and will be complete in April 2027. Microsoft’s 2023 announcement gives October 1, 2026, as the start of blocking EWS requests from non-Microsoft apps. This is a rollout, not a promise that every affected client will stop syncing on the same day.
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The announced retirement applies to Microsoft 365 and Exchange Online, not Exchange Server installed on premises. Microsoft says there are no changes to EWS in Exchange Server. That distinction concerns the server protocol: it does not override the support lifecycle of any particular mail app.
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Apple Mail
Microsoft Support currently reports that Microsoft 365 accounts are being disconnected from Apple Mail, and says Microsoft is working on the issue. That establishes a current connection problem, but it does not establish that every Apple Mail setup is affected or that the EWS retirement has already caused those disconnections.
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Microsoft has not announced in the cited material that Apple has migrated macOS Mail to Microsoft Graph or another method that will preserve Microsoft 365 compatibility after EWS is disabled. So Apple Mail’s post-retirement compatibility is unconfirmed; whether a particular account will continue working depends on how its connection is implemented and on changes Apple or Microsoft may announce.
Legacy Outlook for Mac
Microsoft explicitly says that “Legacy Outlook for Mac uses Exchange Web Services (EWS) in Exchange Online to deliver your email.” Microsoft identifies legacy Outlook’s Exchange Online support as ending in October 2026 and strongly recommends switching to the current Outlook for Mac. Its support matrix lists certain Exchange Server on-premises legacy Outlook scenarios as receiving security updates through October 9, 2029; that date is not an extension of Exchange Online support.
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Microsoft Support reported in 2025 that over 95% of Microsoft 365 users had moved from legacy Outlook for Mac to the new version. That historical figure describes users at the time of the article update; it does not determine whether a specific Mac or organization has completed the change.
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Microsoft’s documented recovery is to re-enter your credentials when Apple Mail prompts you. If that does not restore the account, remove and add the Microsoft 365 account again:
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- In macOS, open Mail and choose Mail > Accounts.
- Select the disconnected Microsoft 365 or Exchange account and remove it. The precise removal control can vary by macOS version.
- In Mail’s account settings, choose Add Account, then Microsoft Exchange.
- Follow the sign-in prompts with your Microsoft 365 credentials and check whether mail sync resumes.
These steps address the disconnection issue Microsoft describes; they do not change the EWS retirement or guarantee continued compatibility after EWS is disabled. If your organization manages the account, check with its administrator before removing or re-adding it, since account policies may affect sign-in.
Choose a client path before EWS is fully disabled
| Path | What is established | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Continue using Apple Mail for now | Microsoft has documented current Microsoft 365 disconnections from Apple Mail. Apple Mail’s post-EWS compatibility is not confirmed in the cited Microsoft material. | Use Microsoft’s recovery steps if disconnected, and monitor statements from Apple and Microsoft about the connection method and compatibility. |
| Move from legacy to current Outlook for Mac | Microsoft recommends current Outlook for Mac and lists it as supported. Legacy Outlook uses EWS for Exchange Online and is affected by the October 2026 retirement. | Confirm you are using the current app, not legacy Outlook. Check whether it supports the mailbox features and organization policies you need. |
| Use another organization-approved client | Microsoft is directing developers and administrators toward Microsoft Graph as a modern alternative to EWS. | Do not assume every client uses Graph or supports every EWS feature. Ask your administrator which clients and sign-in methods are approved. |
What administrators should check
Microsoft recommends identifying EWS-dependent applications, reviewing usage reports, and starting migration work before the retirement completes. Microsoft Graph is the direction Microsoft points developers toward, but feature coverage should be checked against actual workflows rather than assumed to be identical.
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- Review EWS usage reports to identify clients, integrations, and workloads that still make EWS requests.
- Determine whether affected mailboxes are in Exchange Online or Exchange Server on premises; the announced EWS retirement applies to Exchange Online.
- Assess each migration for mail, calendar, contacts, archives, public folders, and any other EWS-dependent capabilities the organization uses.
- Review tenant policy and administrator allow-list decisions. A local configuration exception should not be treated as proof of support or a permanent exemption from Microsoft’s retirement.
- Plan and test replacement clients or integrations before the April 2027 completion date, including sign-in, required features, and user recovery procedures.
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