Outlook cannot download the RSS content error when subscribing to an RSS feed that needs authentication

Original KB number:   917125

Symptoms

When you subscribe to an RSS feed in Microsoft Office Outlook 2007, Outlook 2010, or Outlook 2013, you may receive one of the following error messages:

Outlook cannot download the RSS content from Web_site_URL because you do not have the required credentials.

Outlook cannot download the RSS content from Web_site_URL because of a problem connecting to the server.

Cause

This behavior may occur if the RSS feed requires authentication. Outlook supports authenticated RSS feeds only in the scenarios that are described in the Workaround section.

Workaround

To work around this behavior, use one of the following methods:

  • Use an RSS site that is a Microsoft Office SharePoint site and that is internal to your domain. In this scenario, Outlook allows the use of NTLM credentials that are passed to the SharePoint site.
  • Add the RSS feed in Microsoft Internet Explorer. Then, let the RSS feed synchronize with Outlook. This scenario requires synchronizing the RSS feeds list between Outlook and Windows.

Outlook 2007

To configure this option in Outlook 2007, follow these steps:

  1. On the Tools menu, select Options.
  2. Select the Other tab, and then select Advanced Options.
  3. Enable Sync RSS feeds to the System Feed List.

Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2013

To configure this option in Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2013, follow these steps:

  1. Select File, then select Options.
  2. Select Advanced.
  3. Enable Synchronize RSS Feeds to the Common Feed List (CFL) in Windows.

Status

This behavior is by design.