March 2026 could be the month your office printer, scanner, or MFP suddenly refuses to work — and it’s not a glitch. Apparently, Microsoft is disabling Basic Authentication for email, which most office devices rely on to send scans and alerts.
If your devices can’t handle the new modern authentication (OAuth 2.0), they’ll stop sending emails altogether. That means no more scan-to-email for invoices, contracts, or important documents — a workflow nightmare waiting to happen.
Here’s how to avoid a printer panic:
- Check your devices now – see which printers, MFPs, and scanners use Basic Authentication.
- Update firmware – vendors like Ricoh, Brother, Toshiba, and Sharp are rolling out updates to keep your devices working.
- Plan for replacements – older hardware may not survive the change.
- Test ahead of time – don’t wait until March 2026 to find out your scanner is dead.
This isn’t hype — it’s real, and it’s coming fast. Take action now, or risk walking into the office in March to find your printers and scanners have gone on strike according to businesscrack.co.uk.
