Outlook / Office 365 IMAP IDLE is broken

[M1966B]

IMAP IDLE of the Outlook IMAP server (outlook.office365.com) is broken, which is clearly illustrated by this logging:

09-02 19:03:25.954 14491 14630 I javamail: email address removed for privacy reasons A11 IDLE
09-02 19:03:26.008 14491 14630 I javamail: email address removed for privacy reasons + IDLE accepted, awaiting DONE command.
09-02 19:04:46.088 14491 14630 I javamail: email address removed for privacy reasons DONE
09-02 19:04:46.175 14491 14630 I javamail: email address removed for privacy reasons * 1 RECENT
09-02 19:04:46.176 14491 14630 I javamail: email address removed for privacy reasons * 1 EXISTS
09-02 19:04:46.176 14491 14630 I javamail: email address removed for privacy reasons A11 OK IDLE completed.

The new message reported as 1 EXISTS was available before issuing the DONE command (confirmed via the web interface).

The normal sequence according to RFC2177 (IMAP IDLE) is:

C: A002 IDLE
S: + idling
...time passes; new mail arrives...
S: * 4 EXISTS
C: DONE

https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2177#page-3

This means push notifications in general are broken and that new messages can be discovered only by constant polling, which defeats the purpose of IMAP IDLE.

Hopefully an engineer can look into this.

[#2]

I can confirm this issue and a quick fix would be greatly appreciated.

[#3]

I can also confirm this issue - a fix would be a great help!

[#4]

We are having this issue as well!

[#5]

The problem has been fixed as of today:

09-19 21:21:27.275 24427 25389 I javamail: xxx + IDLE accepted, awaiting DONE command.
09-19 21:22:36.056 24427 25389 I javamail: xxx * 1 RECENT
09-19 21:22:36.056 24427 25389 I javamail: xxx * 1 EXISTS
09-19 21:22:36.073 24427 25423 I javamail: xxx DONE
09-19 21:22:36.135 24427 25389 I javamail: xxx BT13 OK IDLE completed.

[#6]

Unfortunately, the same problem is back again.

[#7]

I'm getting what appears to be the same issue using MailKit. Are you still experiencing this issue?

[#8]

@Pete_Lawson when I checked yesterday, the issue was still present. It was resolved for a few days, but later it returned.

[#9]

We've been using IDLE for years with no problems, last week (week of Oct 11th) we started seeing IDLE failing, and it is still having the issue. I created new / fresh account today, and it has the same issue.
Has anyone found a workaround for this? Can anyone at MS comment on an ETA for a fix?

[#10]

@edh321Same issue.  I'd be shocked if MS actually responded.

My guess is this will eventually get fixed.

[#11]

@Blood_Letter thanks.

I've also created an official support request through the admin console. I'll update here if I find anything.

[#12]

Seems like we experience the same. Any update to this?

[#13]

This is the last update I have from MS (not fixed yet)

Friday, November 18, 2022 4:25 PM GMT
Hello Ed,

Hope you are doing well.

This is a follow-up email I have involved our seniors on this i will get back to you as soon as i have update.

​Thank you for choosing Microsoft.

[#14]

Almost 3 months later this is still broken. Can this please be fixed? I get it, IMAP is a second-class citizen for Microsoft, but at least fix problems with standard features...

[#15]

Since a few days it seems to work again, I think.
Can anybody confirm?

[#16]

@tex443 it still doesn't work for me.

[#17]

Still not working for me.
Here is the Latest Update I just received from MS Support:

Friday, December 2, 2022 9:13 AM GMT
Hello Ed,

Hope you are doing well.

We have an update on this from our senior team this is known issue and fix will be worldwide in about 2 weeks, I will follow-up if there are any further updates.

​Thank you for choosing Microsoft.​

[#18]

Latest MS Update says this is fixed now. We haven't been able to test it yet, but here is what they sent.

Monday, December 19, 2022 12:07 PM GMT
Hello Ed,

Hope you are doing well.

I am following up with you on this support request #:33xxx, regarding IMAP IDLE not working.

Please check and confirm if the issue is resolved still persists.

Thank you for your patience and collaboration on this support request thus far.

[#19]

@edh321 I've just wasted my time checking if this problem is resolved, and it definitely is not.

[#20]

@edh321 

Ive been watching this thread for a while now with the same IDLE issues and CAN confirm that this issue is fixed for me now. I actually get my notifications on IMAP faster than ActiveSync now as well. For reference i am on server ch1prd0810. All of our 320 devices are working now as they should with IDLE.

Cheers,