If Outlook displays the message ‘Destination principal name is incorrect’ when you open the programme or set up a mailbox, the solution is relatively simple.
The problem with the incorrect destination principal name is often caused by an incorrect root folder path in the email account that has been set up.
Outlook - Fixing ‘Destination principal name is incorrect’
To resolve the error, proceed as follows:
- Open the Outlook email client and go to the advanced settings for the affected mailbox.
- Select the ‘Root folder path’ text box in the folder settings and enter ‘INBOX’ here.
- Then confirm the settings by clicking OK/Next.
Please note that the names and locations of the settings may vary depending on the version of Outlook.
Outlook - Destination principal name is incorrect - Possible error
If the error message “Destination principal name is incorrect” continues to appear in Outlook, it is possible that the incoming or outgoing mail server has not been specified correctly.
- Please check the server configuration here in accordance with your hosting/mail server.
You can find the email settings for your mailbox on our servers directly in the Web Hosting Control Panel (KeyHelp) via the ‘View connection details’ button in the email addresses configuration.
Alternatively, our support team will be happy to assist you.
"Destination principal name is incorrect" in Outlook - Background
The error message “Destination principal name is incorrect” in Microsoft Outlook usually refers to security and authentication issues when connecting to a mail server. This message appears when there is a discrepancy between the name on the mail server’s security certificate and the name that Outlook uses to connect to the server.
The principal name is part of the security certificate that servers use to prove their identity and enable secure communication. For example, if the server is using a certificate issued for “mail.example.co.uk”, but your Outlook settings are attempting to connect to “smtp.example.co.uk”, Outlook recognises that the names do not match and displays this error message.
Possible causes of the “Destination principal name is incorrect” error include:
- Incorrect server settings: The server names configured in Outlook do not match the names for which the server’s security certificate was issued.
- Certificate issues: The server’s certificate has expired, has been revoked, or there is a problem with the certification authority that issued the certificate.
- Network or DNS issues: Sometimes, network or DNS configuration problems can cause Outlook to attempt to connect to the wrong server, resulting in a name conflict.
To resolve the issue, you can try the steps above.
It is also important to ensure that your Outlook and operating system are up to date, as updates often contain security enhancements and bug fixes that can resolve such issues.