Mac OS X
Q: Cannot setup Google/Yahoo account El Capitan/Corrupt Certificates
Dear smart people,
I have been locked out of my gmail account today. Here's an unfortunately long but exhaustive list of possible related actions and attempted fixes I've taken:
- Google account has been setup on my MacBook Pro Retina (mid 2012) for gmail->Apple Mail, and Google Cal->Apple Calendar. No problems before today.
- I use 2-step verification, and had a handful of application-specific passwords
- Downloaded Pokémon Go to my iPhone last night (sorry I ever did), and had a heck of a time setting it up on my phone using Google login.
- I deleted several old app-spec passwords that appeared to be unused, and tried to create one for Pokemon. That never worked, so I had to wait till I was home to peek at my password via Keychain on my Mac. I got Pokemon setup using 2-step verification (via SMS).
- I didn't check my gmail on Apple Main until this morning, where it said there was a network problem and told me I had to enter the password. That opened up System Preferences>Internet Accounts>my Google acct, but ended up giving me this message:

- Next, I went to the community, and found that people had been having issues with login certificates. Sounds like deleting problematic ones fixed it for most people. I had two suspicious ones that I deleted. The problem is, they keep coming back again and again and again after I attempt to delete them. Here's a picture of them:


- Attempted remedies
- Turned off 2-step verification on google account
- Deleted all related google account login password from Keychain Access.
- Deleted my account and certificates from my computer, and then tried to setup the account again. Same message from no. 3 above.
- Tried to delete certificates in safe mode. No luck.
- Reinstalled system software. No change.
- Logged into a different user on my machine, and I was able to get to the prompt screen to setup an account. That user didn't have ANY login certificates.
- Other considerations
- I have another google account that still works on my computer. It's a Google enterprise account through work. It's never had 2-step verification or application specific passwords, but it hasn't had any issues sending or receiving email today.
- I can still login to my personal google/gmail account via Safari. So, it seems the problem is verification via El Capitan's built in "Internet Accounts" management
Posted on Jul 13, 2016 3:19 PM
by dianeoforegon,Apple recommended
Mac OS X
You could create a new Keychain. Are you using Apple's iCloud Keychain?
Do you have a list of all your passwords?
See these links for help:
Frequently asked questions about iCloud Keychain - Apple Support
Resetting your keychain in Mac OS X - Apple Support
Create a new login keychain
Posted on Jul 16, 2016 11:10 PM
