Mail shows 'Configured by a Profile' with no profiles installed on MacBook Pro

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Level 1

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Mail shows 'Configured by a Profile' with no profiles installed on MacBook Pro

I bought myself a new MacBook Pro-- it's mine and not connected to my work or school in any way. When I attempt to open Mail, it gives the message, "Choose a Mail account provider...", followed by the message, "These settings have been configured by a profile." I checked Device Management in settings and there are no profiles defined.

Just to be clear, my Apple ID is NOT my work email address-- it is a separate personal address on a different provider. And that is the mail account I want to connect to on this MacBook.

What's going on here? Is it possible that my Apple ID has somehow become attached to my work email address and as a result, it believes this Mac should be restricted by my work profile?

Any help on how to resolve this would be greatly appreciated!!

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: unable to configure email

MacBook Pro 16″

Posted on Jun 6, 2025 4:53 PM

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Answer 1

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MrHoffman

Level 10

146,593 points

Jun 9, 2025 3:37 PM in response to drhender

drhender wrote:

That worked. (I am baffled as to why it worked, but it did.)

Thank you!!

Usually because one of those mechanisms were set to block access to the particular feature.

That block shows as a “profile” error (because Apple uses the same mechanism internally as is underneath profiles), but it’s configurable blockage.

Settings > Parental Controls > Content & Privacy Settings > Accounts

Use parental controls on your child's iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Screen Time, Parental Controls, and Focus are wonderful and powerful tools, but incautious usage can derail things in sometimes unintuitive or unexpected ways.

Which leads to the suggestion that should something go weird, shut them off and check again.

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