Mail.app - default iCloud smtp/imap set to Google

Polakski wrote:

Hey Leroy,

Unfortunately not, already checked all Apple (not really technical) documentation related to Mail.app, and I also tried to find similar threads.. what I'm experiencing is truly a bug from Mail.app or, most probably, macOS. Finding the config or plist file that sets imap/smtp for iCloud (by default) would be great. Because the mentioned values are wrong as shown:

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/3d7814d1-1124-4683-885b-d19489e6ca8d

They should be indeed:

imap.mail.me.com

smtp.mail.me.com

But as they are automatically set for iCloud accounts.. where's the problematic plist/config file?

Thanks!

Add an email account to Mail on your Mac

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204093

Remove the account and add it back in—

if necessary you can always sign out of iCloud on the Mac and sign back in again to sort anomalies:

>System Preferences>AppleID>iCloud

ref: Sign out of iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208242

If the problem persist:

Call Customer Support  (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

Outside the USA—Contact Apple for support and service by phone

See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201232

Polakski wrote:

Hi everyone,

I stopped using Mail.app years ago because of big issues ... now getting back to it after all those years ... new issues! Will you make me love Mail.app again?

To start, I have my apple-id set with a "@gmail" address and I also have an "@icloud" address. Wanting to set up my Mail.app with my multiple mail accounts: "@gmail", "@outlook", all works... But my "@icloud" address can't be set on my Mail.app the easy way (trough my Apple ID > iCloud > Checking box "Mail") because the default IMAP/SMTP for iCloud email is set to... imap.gmail.com / smtp.gmail.com!

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/8d3db84e-94b3-4caf-b0ea-545624639c41

As you can see on the image, even when my primary apple-id username is set to "@icloud" (before it was on "@gmail") it just keeps giving me imap/smtp from Google...

I followed a lot of possible routes: removed all "com.apple.mail" and related directories in /Users/MyUser/Library, reseted other preferences, setting primary apple-id username to "@icloud", deleting all other mailboxes and personal SMTP servers, deleting old Tokens related to the "@gmail" address in Keychain... but this hard-coded iCloud configuration doesn't seem to be affected at all (see below):

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/734c7bdf-704e-4f65-a94f-78aae4d373ae

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/815ff1ff-9ae9-432b-b7dd-3c91937c743a

If anyone knows where the config file for the default iCloud imap/smtp is stored.. I will be happy to ?finally? make this Mail.app work as intended...

PS: Adding the "@icloud" mail manually works.. but why then the iCloud configuration pane? :)

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/0c414201-1515-469c-92b0-29090a55e2ca

Thanks for reading my post and I hope that someone would be able to improve my Mail.app experience!

See if there is anything here:

Create an email address for iCloud Mail - Apple Support

Mail server settings for iCloud email clients - Apple Support

Polakski wrote:

Dear Leroy,

Actually: signing out of iCloud > restarting > signing back in, worked for me. Although, I would've love to know the technical part behind this issue in order to learn to debug similar issues in the future.

Thank you!

Good computing Polakski ! Good report.

It is a computer after all.. 100/1000's/ 10,000's of I/O per operation—

Anomalies are not easily explained away— so do not expect a 'technical part;' I have no further insight here.

The trouble shooting is known to sort iCloud issues.