My outgoing smtp servers are off line.

WilmslowBridge wrote:

My outgoing smtp servers are off line. I have checked that all settings are correct. Previous articles suggest deleting the account and reinstalling. This deletes all existing mail and I want to avoid this if possible.

You can contact your mail provider and verify the SMTP server is working on their end.

Use Connection Doctor in Mail on Mac - Apple Support

WilmslowBridge wrote:

Thank you Leroy for your reply. How do I contact my mail provider? I am on Apple Mail POP

Apple Mail is— xxxxxxxxxx@iCloud.com You can check if the there are server issue—

I see no current issue w/ iCloud Mail

Issues would present as 'yellow' alert or 'red'

https://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/

I will add, simply using the Mail.app as your mail client is not the same thing as your provider, other examples;

@comcasrt.com ex contact Comcast Xfinity Technical Support - Comcast Customer Service

@yahoo.com

@Aol.com

@Gmail.com

@Outlook.com

@ ProtonMail

@Zoho.com

@GMX.com

All your servers or just one? I set up three mail accounts with Mac mail: Yahoo, iCloud and Comcast. As of this moment all of them are working. Obviously that doesn't mean yours are, but if more than one is "down" that might be pointing at a local problem.

Maybe check here for server problems: https://downdetector.com