AOL email issues
To AOL mail users whom may find this useful:
I lost access to some AOL mail accounts using Apple native mail app, as well as issues on Android.
Not only due to the fact that one of my accounts has been changed by AOL from .com to .co.uk, but also the below which I found was sent by AOL the day an account was locked out;
“Hello
We noticed you've accessed your AOL email, calendar or contacts using a mobile app or computer program that isn't the AOL app. We're emailing you because the security settings this app or program uses to connect to AOL may be out of date. You need to take action to continue using your AOL email without interruption.
If you've already taken action, there's nothing else you need to do. If you haven't yet made changes, your action is required by June 1, 2021 to avoid interruption with your AOL Mail service.
What's changing?
To help protect the security of your account, starting on June 1, 2021, AOL will stop allowing connections from some third-party apps and programs unless you take action. Examples of third-party desktop programs include Thunderbird, Outlook, Apple Mail and Windows Mail, and third-party mobile apps include the iOS Mail app, Gmail app and Samsung Mail app, among others.
What do I need to do?
You have 3 options to continue sending and receiving AOL email:
Option 1. Use our free AOL app for iOS and Android to access your email, calendar and contacts, or use AOL webmail at mail.aol.com.
Option 2. Remove your AOL account from your third-party app or program, then add it again. This will update the app or program's connection to your AOL account to meet our security requirements. Make sure you know your AOL password before removing and re-adding your account. If you can't remember your password, go here for help with resetting it.
Use the links below to get help for common email clients and apps:
Option 3. Generate a unique app password that gives your third-party app or program permission to log in to your AOL account, then update your app or program settings to use this password. Go here to get step-by-step help with creating and using app passwords.
Remember: If your third-party email app or program ever stops working, you can always access your AOL email, calendar and contacts using the AOL app or at mail.aol.com.
Your account security is important to us. To get more help with making these updates, please visit our help page.
Sincerely,
The AOL Team”
I hope this is of use to some of you, I spent 6 hours trying to sort this out with some help from Apple support.
When I relayed this to them today they had received quite a few contacts from other AOL mail users having issues who were also unaware of the above.