HT204773: If the Mac setup assistant says that your user account already exists

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fourthchakra
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Q: I'm trying to set up a new account in the Mail dialog for Accounts, but get an error message "This account already exists". However, the account does not show up in the dialog, so there is no way to access it. This is on OS X 10.11.

"This account already exists" error message in Mail app.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013), OS X El Capitan (10.11), Internet Accounts

Posted on Oct 6, 2015 9:44 AM

by fourthchakra,Solvedanswer
fourthchakra fourthchakra
Level 1 (0 points)
A:

I've found the problem.

 

The SMTP server entry for my new account was still available as a configuration in the Mail client. I was able to fix the problem by

 

1. Open Mail -> Preferences, and go to the Accounts tab

 

2. Click on an account, then click on Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP) popup, and select Edit SMTP Server List

 

3. Delete the entry for the SMTP server for the account that I'm trying to add.

 

There is a bug here. When you delete an Email account, the SMTP server for that account should be deleted as well. Of course, it's tricky, as the SMTP server might be used by more than one account. So if you are deleting the last account that uses an SMTP server, that server entry should be removed.

Posted on Oct 6, 2015 8:07 PM

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fourthchakra

Q: I'm trying to set up a new account in the Mail dialog for Accounts, but get an error message "This account already exists". Howeve ... more

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  • Helpful answers

  • by jason269,

    jason269 jason269 Oct 6, 2015 1:06 PM in response to fourthchakra
    Community Specialists
    Oct 6, 2015 1:06 PM in response to fourthchakra

    Hello, fourthchakra.  

     

    Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities.  

     

    I understand that you are receiving an error that your mail account has already been configured.  If the email account that you are attempting to add is not already setup, try restarting your computer.  Once this is done see if this mail account is listen in System Preferences > Internet Accounts.  If the account is listed, try deleting the account and then add it back again via the steps in the article below.  

     

    Mail (El Capitan): Set up Mail with your email accounts

     

    Cheers

  • by fourthchakra,

    fourthchakra fourthchakra Oct 6, 2015 1:27 PM in response to jason269
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 6, 2015 1:27 PM in response to jason269

    Thanks, but the account does not appear in the Accounts dialog, even after restarting the Mac. The account in question was deleted months ago, but has now been reactivated. I cannot find entries for the account in the various plist files in the ~/Library folder, either.

  • by fourthchakra,Solvedanswer

    fourthchakra fourthchakra Oct 6, 2015 8:07 PM in response to fourthchakra
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 6, 2015 8:07 PM in response to fourthchakra

    I've found the problem.

     

    The SMTP server entry for my new account was still available as a configuration in the Mail client. I was able to fix the problem by

     

    1. Open Mail -> Preferences, and go to the Accounts tab

     

    2. Click on an account, then click on Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP) popup, and select Edit SMTP Server List

     

    3. Delete the entry for the SMTP server for the account that I'm trying to add.

     

    There is a bug here. When you delete an Email account, the SMTP server for that account should be deleted as well. Of course, it's tricky, as the SMTP server might be used by more than one account. So if you are deleting the last account that uses an SMTP server, that server entry should be removed.

  • by caluko,

    caluko caluko Oct 12, 2015 6:02 PM in response to fourthchakra
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 12, 2015 6:02 PM in response to fourthchakra

    This solution did not help me but I solved my problem as follows:

    Clicked on + to add another Account

    Clicked on "Other Mail Account" and continued.

    In the Name Box I typed the name I had used in "Description" in the original Main Accounts window.

    Voila.

  • by ozpowell,

    ozpowell ozpowell Jan 19, 2016 8:36 PM in response to fourthchakra
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jan 19, 2016 8:36 PM in response to fourthchakra

    This solution worked for me - thanks.

  • by RhodaMcpherson,

    RhodaMcpherson RhodaMcpherson Jan 30, 2016 2:46 PM in response to fourthchakra
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 30, 2016 2:46 PM in response to fourthchakra

    Help Please none of the suggested solutions worked for me.

     

    I deleted my BT Email account. When I view my list of accounts via Mail/Preferences/It has been removed from Mail/preferences/accounts it is not listed.

     

    I try to add it in again via Mail/preferences/accounts click on the plus sign, click on Other Mail Account, add in email address and password, click sign in then I get the message "This account already exists".

     

    Help please need to access my mail ASAP

     

    Thanks

  • by JDfunky,

    JDfunky JDfunky Feb 10, 2016 8:32 PM in response to RhodaMcpherson
    Level 2 (187 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 10, 2016 8:32 PM in response to RhodaMcpherson

    If your iCloud email address (i.e. your Apple ID) is the same as the one you are trying to add to Mail in El Capitan, then you may get this error. I resolved it by deleted my iCloud account, then adding the email account, then creating my iCloud account fresh.

     

    1) quit Mail app

    2) System Preferences > Internet Accounts >  select iCloud account “-“ key to delete account. (say yes to all the warnings)

    3) start Mail app, Preferences > Accounts > “+” button

    4) enter email account info, account gets created in Mail. Quit Mail app

    5) System Preferences > Internet Accounts > “+” to add your iCloud account (tick boxes for which services you wish to have synced).

  • by elteee,

    elteee elteee Mar 4, 2016 11:42 AM in response to fourthchakra
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 4, 2016 11:42 AM in response to fourthchakra

    thanks - just spent an hour with shaw and APPLE - but your email helped me fix it.

  • by Vainona,

    Vainona Vainona Apr 27, 2016 5:46 PM in response to JDfunky
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Apr 27, 2016 5:46 PM in response to JDfunky

    Thanks this fixed the problem but only loaded about 120 emails...any way of getting all back?

  • by Graham7735,

    Graham7735 Graham7735 May 6, 2016 11:35 AM in response to JDfunky
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 6, 2016 11:35 AM in response to JDfunky

    Many many many thanks, i've been messing around for 3 days until i stumbled on this and it resolved it in less than 60 seconds.

     

    Thanks again

    Graham

  • by JDfunky,

    JDfunky JDfunky May 17, 2016 1:16 AM in response to Vainona
    Level 2 (187 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 17, 2016 1:16 AM in response to Vainona

    Vainona wrote:

     

    Thanks this fixed the problem but only loaded about 120 emails...any way of getting all back?

    Sorry Vainona just saw your reply... they all loaded for me. Is your email account an IMAP account? (Meaning all the emails are stored on the email provider's server, and when set up, it simply downloads them from there.) Can you log in to your webmail and see all of them there?

  • by John Procter1,

    John Procter1 John Procter1 Sep 3, 2016 5:12 AM in response to JDfunky
    Level 1 (34 points)
    Sep 3, 2016 5:12 AM in response to JDfunky

    thanks  this just worked for me.....