Is it true that the New Outlook is removing IMAP/POP for external email providers?

It is partially true — but the situation is more complicated.

Here’s what is confirmed from official and credible sources:

The New Outlook for Windows has already dropped or restricted IMAP/POP support for many users

Multiple Microsoft Q&A posts confirm that:

• The new Outlook recently stopped supporting POP/IMAP, causing non‑Microsoft email accounts to stop syncing for many users.
  [learn.microsoft.com]

• Users report that external IMAP accounts cannot be added, or existing ones stop working.
  [learn.microsoft.com]

• Microsoft employees have said:
  “the new Outlook support IMAP accounts, but the interface is different,” yet many users cannot add them or the function is hidden/inconsistent.
  [learn.microsoft.com]

Conclusion:
IMAP is technically “supported”, but functionality is unreliable, restricted, or removed for many users — especially after recent updates.

Microsoft is retiring Basic Authentication (username/password) for IMAP/POP

This is 100% TRUE.

Microsoft is retiring Basic Auth for:

• IMAP

• POP3

• SMTP AUTH

Timeline:

• Final retirement deadline: April 2026 for IMAP/POP Basic Authentication across Exchange Online.
  [getmailbird.com]

This means:

❗ After April 2026:

• IMAP/POP accounts must use OAuth 2.0

• If your mail provider ( Titan, cPanel, etc.) does NOT support OAuth, Outlook will reject the connection

• Many third‑party hosted mailboxes will stop working in New Outlook

This is the reason New Outlook is already blocking many IMAP/POP setups.

External providers (Titan Email, cPanel-based email etc) DO NOT SUPPORT OAuth

This means: After Microsoft enforces Modern Authentication:

• Titan or other 3rd party email cannot authenticate in New Outlook

• Only providers with OAuth integrations (Google, Yahoo, iCloud, Exchange Online) will work

This is why users are already seeing:

• Folders missing

• Sync stopped

• “Authentication failed” errors

• Can’t add new IMAP accounts

This behavior matches Microsoft’s transition timeline.

Full rejection of IMAP/POP in Outlook by April 30, 2026?

This exact statement is NOT officially announced, but the underlying mechanism makes it effectively true.

Here’s why:

• Microsoft is retiring Basic Auth for IMAP/POP by April 2026
  [getmailbird.com]

• Most external email providers cannot support OAuth

• New Outlook already removed/limited POP/IMAP account setup

• Microsoft is forcing all users to New Outlook starting April 2026 (Opt‑Out phase begins)
  [directions...rosoft.com]

Combined effect:
Even if Microsoft hasn’t explicitly said “New Outlook will fully reject IMAP/POP by April 2026,” the technical changes make this the practical outcome.

So yes:
By April 2026, New Outlook will effectively stop working with Titan/other non‑Microsoft IMAP accounts
Unless those providers implement OAuth, the accounts will fail to connect

Will Classic Outlook continue to support IMAP/POP?

Classic Outlook supports IMAP/POP today, but:

• Microsoft will start forcing users to New Outlook in April 2026
  [directions...rosoft.com]

• Classic Outlook will be removed from Microsoft 365 Apps by 2028
  [directions...rosoft.com]

So IMAP/POP may work in Classic Outlook until then, but NOT in the New Outlook.

Final Answer (Clear Summary)

✔ Yes — New Outlook has already limited or removed IMAP/POP for many users
✔ Yes — Microsoft is retiring IMAP/POP Basic Authentication entirely by April 2026
✔ Yes — This will break Hostinger/Titan/Gmail IMAP setups in New Outlook
✔ Yes — After April 2026, New Outlook will effectively reject all non‑OAuth IMAP/POP accounts
✔ Classic Outlook will work for some more years, but will be phased out

❌ But NO — Microsoft has NOT officially stated “New Outlook will fully reject all IMAP/POP by April 30, 2026”
➡️ This is simply the practical result of their authentication and client changes.