AC191015 Author

Level 1

6 points

Apple Mail AOL log-in "Unable to verify account name or password"

I've ben using AOL on Apple Mail for years; on an iMac (OS Sierra) and also on iPads (now on a new Mini 5). Yesterday there was a pop-up on my iMac asking me to enter name, AOL email address and password. I did that (with the correct password - I can get email via browser webmail using the same password), but it keeps telling me "Unable to verify account name or password". Neither my iMac nor my iPad are connecting with AOL via Apple Mail. I've done a lot of Googling and tried everything I can find that's suggested on the Web, including removing the AOL account. But when I try to add it again, I get the pop-up, and the same thing happens - "Unable to verify account name or password".

iMac 27″, macOS 10.12

Posted on Feb 11, 2021 6:15 AM

Top-ranking reply

eyephone5c

Level 1

36 points

Posted on Feb 18, 2021 12:43 PM

Hi - I have the answer - and no thanks top AOL tech who just said sorry, we don't support 3rd party apps.

To fix this do as follows, and it cured both of my AOL accounts immediately

1/ Sign in to AOL Mail on the web using your screenname etc

2/ Click on your Username on top right corner

3/ From menu on the left that appears, select "Account Security"

4/ At botom of list you should see "Generate App Password" Click on that

5/ From dropdown box select which system you having probs with (iPad iMac iphone android etc

6/ Follow instructions from thereon

When you get to use the password it will generate, if it doesnt work immediately and you get the same message as before, you will need to remove the AOL account from your device and then add it back in, then use the password they provide as above. On mine it worked immediately on one account I had already removed from my iMac, but on the account I had left on there but just didn't work I had to do the remove and add bit.

Best Regards All

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56 replies

AC191015 Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 18, 2021 5:51 AM in response to AC191015

As I said earlier in this thread, it worked fine for me., and many thanks to eyephone5c.

But the only thing I've just found is that since then, a month ago, my Calendar on my desktop hasn't been syncing to my iPads or the online iCloud.

iCloud is working fine, and my iPads sync to the desktop Calendar fine - it's just that it doesn't work the other way round, from desktop iMac to iPads. After no success with two Apple chat advisors yesterday, I spent a long time on the phone with a senior Apple engineer, who was very helpful and committed and did everything he could, using screen-share etc, and even going back from 2-step to 1-step verification at AOL, but the result was that it appears there's nothing that can be done to make Calendars work that way now - apparently iCloud syncing is done via one's email account, which in my case is AOL, and for some reason it's just not happening in that direction - just from iPads to iMac. It's possible, I suppose, that it'll just come back of its own accord!

AC191015 Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 25, 2021 6:19 AM in response to AC191015

I've just discovered a solution to the Calendar problem, that happened after I'd fixed the Mail/AOL problem thanks to eyephone5c's very clear instructions!

There seems to be some confusion in the Calendar settings because there are several accounts, including AOL, that have blue squares. If when putting a new event into my Calendar on my desktop iMac I change the choice from 'Calendar' (blue square) to 'Home" (orange square), it appears on the iCloud Calendar online, and so on all my devices!

RP1405

Level 1

12 points

Apr 3, 2021 10:36 AM in response to eyephone5c

Wow..Wow..Wow...I had lost hope and was about to give up after months of trying to get AOL mail back up on my MAC.

I deleted AOL for some problem that I cannot even recall now, but when trying to reinstall it, my name and or password would not authenticate.

Thank you very much for posting the solution.

momkitch

Level 1

12 points

Jun 5, 2021 5:02 PM in response to eyephone5c

It sounds like your instructions helped a lot of people. Will they work for a MacBook Air? All of a sudden, I was not able to get into my aol account, and received the "unable to verify account name or password" message.

Jun 6, 2021 1:03 AM in response to momkitch

Hi - Yes it will work on your Mac Air - Follow the instructions as above, when you get to the bit about dropdown box and selecting your device, choose Mac Mail (I'm assuming thats the programme you use) - and off you go!

Worthy of note - if you want other devices as well as your mac air to connect, the password is not universal - you will need to run through the same procedure to sort out your PC/Iphone/Android etc.

Regards

Ian

Yenye

Level 1

8 points

Jul 12, 2021 1:36 PM in response to eyephone5c

Yes!!!!! Finally a solution.... Thank You So Much....... It is an AOL issue for password authentication... I've spent days trying to fix this issue... THIS SOLUTION WORKED FOR ME!!!!! Thank you for Sharing....

mitziken

Level 1

4 points

Aug 10, 2021 9:44 AM in response to eyephone5c

This worked perfectly! Thank you so much. I had been trying EVERYTHING for over the course of two days and finally googled this solution. It took me less than 30 seconds and my mail was back! Such a lifesaver with awesome directions.

Sep 4, 2021 12:48 PM in response to AC191015

I have done this over and over and over again and still am unable to get aol to authenticate my account. This suddenly started.., I have several emails, yet this one won't authenticate. I've even gotten on AOL Chat and they can't help me….no one answers their help line….I've don't these verification steps at least 15 times to no avail….WTH is the problem??? Can someone else help? it's fine on my iPhone…it's only my MacBook Pro that won't let me use this aol account. I've tried removing it and now it won't let me add it back with the same messages…..The chat guy even got upset with me when I said WTH??? Can anyone help???

Feb 16, 2021 12:24 PM in response to AC191015

Thanks for reply - Yes for me its my mac and iphone, but only for this specific aol account - The others are fine. I'll keep trying and if I get anything I'll repost here - All the best

AC191015 Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 17, 2021 4:00 PM in response to eyephone5c

Eyephone5c- please post here when/if you get a reply from AOL! It does seem it's an AOL problem, or at least a conflict between AOL and Apple Mail.

AC191015 Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 18, 2021 3:23 PM in response to eyephone5c

Thanks! I'll give it a try!

Feb 23, 2021 12:32 PM in response to eyephone5c

I tried so many different "solutions" on the internet that failed! This worked for me! Thank you!

Feb 23, 2021 1:02 PM in response to VetteVixxen

Oh thats great! - Yes I was close to giving up and was thinking I was going to have to get a new email with another service. Glad it fixed it for you.

Regards

Ian

Okatsam

Level 1

4 points

Feb 27, 2021 5:53 PM in response to AC191015

Thank you, worked perfectly!

mebtoy

Level 1

4 points

Feb 27, 2021 6:12 PM in response to eyephone5c

Thank you so much! This worked perfectly for me after stressing with it for a couple of hours thinking it was me messing up!

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Apple Mail AOL log-in "Unable to verify account name or password"