If BlueMail shows “You are not authorized to perform this action. Please contact your administrator.” while you're adding an account, your provider refused to authorize the sign-in. Unlike "bad username or password", this is usually not a typo — the provider is blocking the way you're signing in, because of a security policy on the account. And despite the wording, you usually don't need an administrator: that only applies when the address belongs to a work or school account (point 4 below).
1. Your provider may not allow password sign-in at all
Gmail, Outlook/Hotmail, Office 365, Yahoo and AOL connect through the provider's own sign-in page (OAuth) — BlueMail receives a token, never your password. Pick your provider from the list when adding the account (or tap Continue with Google for Gmail) instead of setting it up manually with a password:
- Setting one of these up by hand as IMAP/POP3 with your normal password is what the provider is refusing. Gmail, for example, cannot be added over POP3 at all — it requires OAuth.
- If the browser sign-in itself fails to open or complete, see Which browser is required for a Google account.
2. Two-factor authentication is on
With 2FA enabled, many IMAP/POP3 providers refuse your normal password from mail apps and require a generated app-specific password instead. How to get one, and which providers need it, is covered in Bad Username or Password and per provider in the Quick Fixes table.
3. The provider is blocking this sign-in as suspicious
- Some services block sign-ins from new devices or locations until you approve them. Sign in to your webmail and look for a security alert or a confirmation prompt about the blocked attempt, approve it, then try adding the account again.
- A few providers restrict mail-app access by network or country — for example, Vodafone/Arcor accounts can be refused from abroad, and TIM (@alice.it, @tim.it) only allows mail apps on TIM's own network. See the Quick Fixes table for your provider. Only the provider can lift a block like this — it isn't a setting in BlueMail.
4. It's a work or company address
Your employer controls what is allowed to connect: third-party mail apps may need an administrator's approval, or may be blocked entirely. See Can't Add a Work or Company Email Account for what to ask your IT department.
Seeing a different message?
- Incorrect username or password — the server rejected the password itself. See Bad Username or Password.
- "IMAP is disabled on this server" — see IMAP Disabled.
- Any other error, or no error at all — Can't Add My Account lists every message and its page.
Still stuck?
The Things to check list in Can't Add My Account covers the shared causes (IMAP/POP3 switched off, SSL/TLS settings, firewalls and VPNs). If none of this fits, the block is on your provider's side — check with them for restrictions on the account, or email support@bluemail.me with your provider and the exact error you see.
