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User profile for user: Michael Bryan
Michael Bryan Author
User level: Level 1
76 points

How do I change or configure SMTP server port number in Mail account setup

When I try to set up and test a new email account addressing an SMTP server that seems to e using a nn-standard port number, how on earth can I even look at the port number assigned by default to a new account in Apple Mail 10.6 setup ?

I might have to trial and error different port numbers but when Mail tries to test the connection to the SMTP server after I enter its address, it just spins and hangs up. I suspect the reason is a wrong port number. How do I change that outgoing port number in Apple Mail ??

There seems to be no obvious way the program will let U do it or even let you view the port it assigns in apparent error.

Intel Imac 2.1 GHz - 20", Mac OS X (10.6.1), 2 Gb RAM

Posted on Dec 6, 2009 12:02 PM

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User profile for user: Douggo
Douggo
User level: Level 4
2,740 points

Posted on Dec 6, 2009 12:58 PM

Your question probably really belongs over in Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard -> Mail & Address Book where you're likely to get a more targeted response than what I'll offer..

Mail.app presumes that SMTP servers will be using standard SMTP ports during the configuration. If Mail absolutely hangs when trying to establish the connection to the SMTP server, there are a few work-arounds. I say " absolutely hangs" because I have seen Mail go SPOD for several minutes while trying to establish connections to SMTP servers..

The quickest workaround is to assign another SMTP server from an existing account temporarily when setting up the account, and then add and assign the proper SMTP server to the account after setup is completed. You can add and change SMTP servers for accounts in Mail->Preferences->Accounts->{account name}->Account Information. At the bottom of that tab is "Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP)" popup list; select "Edit SMTP Server List" from that menu and you can add a new SMTP server there and assign a custom SMTP port to the new server.

-Douggo
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User profile for user: Douggo
Douggo
User level: Level 4
2,740 points

Dec 6, 2009 12:58 PM in response to Michael Bryan

Your question probably really belongs over in Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard -> Mail & Address Book where you're likely to get a more targeted response than what I'll offer..

Mail.app presumes that SMTP servers will be using standard SMTP ports during the configuration. If Mail absolutely hangs when trying to establish the connection to the SMTP server, there are a few work-arounds. I say " absolutely hangs" because I have seen Mail go SPOD for several minutes while trying to establish connections to SMTP servers..

The quickest workaround is to assign another SMTP server from an existing account temporarily when setting up the account, and then add and assign the proper SMTP server to the account after setup is completed. You can add and change SMTP servers for accounts in Mail->Preferences->Accounts->{account name}->Account Information. At the bottom of that tab is "Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP)" popup list; select "Edit SMTP Server List" from that menu and you can add a new SMTP server there and assign a custom SMTP port to the new server.

-Douggo
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How do I change or configure SMTP server port number in Mail account setup

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