Mail cannot connect to my account.

I have suffered from this from time to time, and at some point I asked for help from the IT department at the University where I work. I was unable to connect, even though the password was correct and I could access the same e-mail on iPhone and on other Macs, but not mine.

It turned out that I had some old and obsolete password for SMTP, and the system was at times refusing my connection.

Going through the SMTP server options in Mail->Settings and removing the offending password, and (knock on wood!) the problem has not reoccurred (and it has been a while, maybe a year now, since it last happened).

Maybe your problem is similar.

Ian R. Brown wrote:

I did change all my passwords (with BT) a couple of weeks ago because they locked my accounts believing someone was trying to hack them. I don't believe that was the case and think that my VPN must have given the impression of unusual traffic.

Your provider (BT) does give you web access, right? If you can access your mail via a web browser but not via Mail, that will essentially confirm my suspicions.

Go to Mail->Settings,

(NOTE: do NOT choose Mail->Accounts, which would take you to System Settings!

then click "Accounts", select the problematic account from the left column, and choose "Server Settings":

Open the popup and choose Edit SMTP Server List.

See the options you have there. It is very likely that you have two or more options for the same SMTP server (I'd guess it may be called something like smtp.bt.co.uk). Delete the old one(s).

However on the countless other occasions I have done no such thing as well as having no VPN.

I need the VPN to keep my online activities secure from government and law enforcement.

Signed . . . Al Capone.

There have been plenty of explanations about the merits or lack thereof of using VPN, but let's just say: it's a sad state of events if one mistrusts the government but has no qualms about sharing one's data with a shady company from Belarus or something...

Hi Ian, I suspect it may have to dp with the new Auth2 requirement, se if these gmail & other privers infom help. they are IMAP not POP???

Mail and Google's OAuth 2.0 policy

Mail and Google's OAuth 2.0 policy - Apple Community

Fix…

https://code2care.org/macos/fix-mail-authorization-error-400-invalid-request/

Mac's Mail App is not as modern as iOS's Mail app, Many eMail providers now require a separate App Password different from your eMail password…

If it's an IMAP account, delete it in Sys Prefs Internet Accounts then use "Other" instead of gMail choice to add it.

Most likely biggest factor is using Other in Mail setup, then using a Browser that doesn’t have gMail PW stored init to get the App PW.

Unable to add Gmail to MacOS mail - Apple Community

Thanks to Bob Sabiston…

iMac says Connection Insecure. Failed to … - Apple Community

Thanks to Webmb…

Sonoma can’t connect to gMail…

I'm no longer receiving mails on my iMac … - Apple Community

GC mac

User level:

Level 1

4 points

Nov 1, 2023 10:12 PM in response to Maggiellv

I also spent hours trying to solve this issue until I followed this video... It worked and my Gmail accounts are back on Mac Mail.

Give it a shot and good luck! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0WPw2TsTAY

It might just need an App Password separate from the gMail password…

The process to add a gmail account to my … - Apple Community

https://support.google.com/a/answer/9003945?hl=en#apple-mail&zippy=%2Cset-up-gmail-with-mail-on-a-mac

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254920541?answerId=259158920022#259158920022

https://support.google.com/mail/answer/185833?hl=en-GB

Apple Mail won't sign in to Google account - Apple Community

my iMac has OS Yosemite 10.10.5 Does this… - Apple Community

my iMac has OS Yosemite 10.10.5 Does this… - Apple Community

gmail on mail Version 11.5 (3445.9.1) - Apple Community

gmail on mail Version 11.5 (3445.9.1) - Apple Community

Just to add to the extensive info from @BDAqua

You may have already read what BT has to offer

Thought it prudent to supply it again incase they BT have made some changes

https://www.bt.com/help/email/manage-email-account/manual-settings/what-are-the-settings-for-outgoing-and-incoming-bt-email-servers

@ BDAqua my friend

Notice 2 ⬆️ votes to your original reply

Normally, as I understand the voting system brought in Dec 2024

This should constitute a " Top Ranked " designation

Which as of this writing, does not occur

That is, unless they have changed things I have missed ?

@ Ian R. Brown

Re VPNs

No judgements from this user

Live and Let Live

If it work for your needs, so be it

🦉

Have a look see at this one

Not even 1 single Visual Upvote

Major slow down & overheating issues afte… - Apple Community

Something has changed , just do not know what ?