Often, Mac users experience certain issues with the Mail app that can prevent them from sending or receiving email messages totally. The issue of Mac mail not working can be critical, if you keep ignoring this problem and don’t inform your email service provider. However, it doesn’t mean that this error is occurring due to the email server and not any other technical issue on your device. The email service can get affected due to critical problems in the mail server or the wireless/Ethernet network. Sometimes, the mail may not work when there is a connection time out or if there is an email service outrage in your locality. So, if you are facing any issues with the email services on Mac, check this article. Here, you will get to learn regarding the underlying causes of not sending or receiving emails while using the Mail server. Also, it covers a few technical methods that can troubleshoot email issues on Mac-based devices.
Troubleshoot Email Issues When Mac Mail Not Working Anymore
Whenever users find out that the Mac mailbox not working for some reasons, it can be really annoying. As you can be in the middle of sending or receiving an important email from someone, which gets paused due to this email error on Mac. Some users may think the issue is occuring due to incorrect mail settings on Mac alone and not on other Operating Systems. So, before troubleshooting this email issue, let’s discuss a few symptoms that you must look for to identify this error. Only then, it will be easier for you to apply the correct solution for fixing the email problem on Mac.
Signs That You Are Experiencing Mac Mail Not Working Issue
Many Mac users don’t even recognize when they face this email issue on their devices. Hence, the following points will cover a few symptoms that can help them to confirm this error before applying the technical fixes.
One of its major signs includes the repeated notification that asks the users to enter the valid password for their email accounts. You will still keep getting this message even if you type your real password several times.
You can also receive a message on the mail server that says your account seems to be offline due to network issues. It also shows you different tabs to choose among stay offline, open connection doctor, and take all accounts online.
Sometimes, the outgoing or incoming emails may take ages to deliver or arrive due to this mail error. It may also be the case that the mail is sent/received on one device whereas, it can take longer to reach another machine.
Often, the sole reason for mail services to not work is due to lack of proper Mac drivers updates on the user’s PC.
Apply These Steps When Mail Not Working On Mac Based Devices
Now that you are aware of the symptoms to identify when email services stop working on Mac, follow these simple solutions. To apply this fix, you will have to follow a few simple steps to troubleshoot mail errors on Mac. So, let’s discuss these steps in details.
Account Verification
Your first task is to double check whether you have entered your email password correctly or not. So, you can sign into your mail account on Mac browser using the webmail client provided by your ISP. In case you are using the email services from a particular provider (say Gmail), make sure to log into your account using the proper mail server (gmail.com). In case, you are using webmail services on Outlook, first, visit outlook.com and then type your correct username and password.
Determine Your Account Type
Now, figure out the type of account you are using on Mac while using the email service. A few common account types are POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3), IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol), and Microsoft Exchange. While working on Mac, you have the Mail app that manages all your emails for all the mail accounts in one place. So, you just have to identify which account you have added to sign into the email services. If you haven’t created an account, follow the next step.
Steps To View Account Info
In case you want to open a new account on Mail app on your Mac PC, choose an email service provider. However, if you have a profile in some other server, select the option of ‘Other Mail Account’.
If you have a mail account that is using an outdated protocol (for example POP3), Mac may cause some email error. The reason is your service provider following an old protocol whereas, you need to have an updated webmail client.
In order to determine your account type, go to the Mail app on Mac OS and click on its icon. Then select ‘Preferences’ and navigate to the ‘Accounts’ tab. On the left side of the window, there is information on added accounts to the Mail app.
You will also see three tabs that will display various details including the ‘Account Information’. So, you can view the type of your account under the profile name in the ‘Accounts’ window and note down if it is Exchange, IMAP or some other type.
Fix Your Mail Client
First, verify your username and password to log into the webmail and check the network and connection settings on Mac. Hence, you must see the configuration for both the incoming server settings and outgoing server settings.
To view these details, open the ‘Accounts’ window by following the steps discussed in the previous section. Then click on ‘Server Settings’ and you can see the Internal as well as External URL for managing incoming and outgoing emails.
For checking the info on IMAP (Incoming Mail Server), you can click on the icon of ‘TEST IMAP’ on the left pane of the ‘Accounts’ window. Here, you can also get the necessary details on the Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP) to view the connection settings.
Apart from the above info, you can also see the server settings parameters including TLS/SSL, Port, and Authentication details. If every information is correct (your username and password), then consult your ISP. Ask them to resolve mail client problems. Also, you can create a new email account by following correct instructions and try to send/receive emails using the Mail app on Mac-based devices.