notification "New accounts added" keep coming after I delete those accounts from the list

Hi, I am on a MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021) with macOS Monterey (12.2.1). Every day, I get the notification "new accounts added", I click on "continue", it opens the "Internet Accounts" screen in Settings. Surprise: I see some old email accounts that I haven't used since many years. I delete those accounts by clicking on the minus "-" sign on the bottom left.


I don't know how Apple "finds" those old email accounts, it's quite annoying in terms of privacy, and what is even more annoying is that this notifications of "new accounts added" keeps coming back every day (and nothing weird has been installed on the computer, it's brand new!)


MacBook Pro (2020 and later)

Posted on Feb 19, 2022 1:29 AM

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Posted on Feb 19, 2022 10:19 AM

Are you using iCloud with your emails? If so, are there other devices (Macs, phones, tablets) where those old email accounts might still be active? Even if you no longer have those older devices, if they are still listed as iCloud devices (you can remove devices that you no longer use) the email account might be trying to reestablish itself because of iCloud. You might log into your iCloud account (icloud.com) directly and see what devices are there and what email accounts are shown there.

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Feb 19, 2022 10:19 AM in response to ingenieurgeneral

Are you using iCloud with your emails? If so, are there other devices (Macs, phones, tablets) where those old email accounts might still be active? Even if you no longer have those older devices, if they are still listed as iCloud devices (you can remove devices that you no longer use) the email account might be trying to reestablish itself because of iCloud. You might log into your iCloud account (icloud.com) directly and see what devices are there and what email accounts are shown there.

Feb 19, 2022 12:37 PM in response to ingenieurgeneral

ingenieurgeneral wrote:

hi leroydouglas, well yes Safari is my default browser. In Mail app I have only the accounts I need, not the ones that keep coming back (I just checked again, nothing to delete under Mail>Settings>Accounts.



Try a SafeBoot  to clear system cache files—How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support



Takes noticeable longer to get to the login screen, does a 5 minute disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, including dynamic loader cache, etc.

Login and test. Reboot as normal and test. Caches get rebuilt automatically.

ly.

Feb 19, 2022 10:09 AM in response to ingenieurgeneral

ingenieurgeneral wrote:

Hi, I am on a MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021) with macOS Monterey (12.2.1). Every day, I get the notification "new accounts added", I click on "continue", it opens the "Internet Accounts" screen in Settings. Surprise: I see some old email accounts that I haven't used since many years. I delete those accounts by clicking on the minus "-" sign on the bottom left.

I don't know how Apple "finds" those old email accounts, it's quite annoying in terms of privacy, and what is even more annoying is that this notifications of "new accounts added" keeps coming back every day (and nothing weird has been installed on the computer, it's brand new!)


https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/9181fdfb-8b4b-4a00-ac18-ed54cb86d1df


Do you likewise delete these account in your Mail>Preferences...?


it may seem like a longshot—however verify you have Safari set as your default browser and test again your removal.


Mail User Guide for Mac - Apple Support


Feb 19, 2022 12:38 PM in response to leroydouglas

hi leroydouglas, well yes Safari is my default browser. In Mail app I have only the accounts I need, not the ones that keep coming back (I just checked again, nothing to delete under Mail>Settings>Accounts.


@steve626 thanks as well for your suggestion. I checked iCloud other devices, I have a Mac, iPad, iPhone, Watch with none of those old accounts on those devices. The old accounts I am talking about haven't been used since years, I had time to have other Apple devices with no such issue meanwhile.


This is the very first time this happens to me, and that really looks like a weird bug on Apple side...

I rechecked:

  • Mail app>Settings>Accounts
  • iCloud
  • each device listed on my iCloud account
  • keychain


I'll had to delete 3 times each of the "new accounts added" in 3 days. I'd like to understand better what triggers this notification and dumb automated task. It looks like an automated task for new devices which is the case of my MacBook Pro, I hope this won't last much more...


Still quite concerned about privacy though...



Feb 22, 2022 12:08 AM in response to leroydouglas

I keep having the issue unfortunately... Those added accounts were never setup on this new Mac, that was not configured from a backup of another Mac. Nothing was imported in fact. To me, this can come only from my iCloud account as I probably used those emails account with Apple Mail 5-6 years ago. Very surprising to have those accounts come "back" to a new Mac after such a long time...

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notification "New accounts added" keep coming after I delete those accounts from the list

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