Q: Mail keeps asking for Yahoo password

If this doesnot solve the problem, you may go to the basic model of yahoo mail, as there is a conflict between the new model and safari.

GO to mail options and select basic in the last option in general.

It should work fine.

It did for me.

This problem seems to have stopped for me (or at least is now very infrequent) after I cleaned out "all" of the bulk mail and any other mail from the yahoo account and then changed the mailbox behaviors for yahoo to the following:

Drafts:  Store draft message on the sever.  Checked.

Sent:    Store sent messages on the server.  Unchecked.

Junk:    Store junk messages on the server.  Unchecked.

Trash:   Move deleted messages to the Trash mailbox.  Checked.

Trash:   Store deleted messages on the server.  Checked.

Trash:   Permanently erase deleted messages when:  One month old.

I periodically (once every couple of weeks) check all of the yahoo mail folders (including bulk mail) and delete everything - and this seems to prevent the problem.

~Scott

I have tried may configurations for mailbox behaviors with no chage in the outcome.  I periodically get a request to provide my password.  I disregard the request and Mail keeps on working.  Thus I consider the problem totally annoying.  I have noticed one curious thing that noone in this or other threads has touched upon. That is,

While I have only ONE imap password for receiving email in my keychain access.app (namely,

imap.mail.yahoo.com

I have TWO smtp password listings for sending email in my keychain access.app (namely,

smtp.att.yahoo.com

smtp.mail.yahoo.com

Why are two smtp servers listed? do I need both? could each one be requiring a password on port 993 (at the same time, perhaps)?

In Mail preferences I have selected  smtp.mail.yahoo.com  only as the outgoing server but like everyone else I get the request periodically to enter my password.  But what am I being asked to add the password for, incoming or outgoing mail?

I note that both smtp servers (each supplying the same password) were generated on the same date and time meaning that Apple's auto configuration has added both smtp servers for my account. 

As you can tell I have questions but no answers.  In fact I wouldn't know how to test to find out if my keychain access.app is causing this problem or it is a timing issue with Mail.  Has anyone looked into this issue?

Tom - I only see one smpt keychain entry for yahoo on all of my Macs - and that is smtp.mail.yahoo.com.

The smtp.att.yahoo.com could have been something that was created in your keychain in the past.  I suspect you can probably delete it.

When the annoying prompt for yahoo pops up - I believe it is asking for the password for the incoming connection on imap.mail.yahoo.com on port 993.  FYI - 993 is used for the incoming imap port over TLS.

Outgoing mail is always sent to an smtp server - in the case of yahoo - the smtp server that should be associated with your Yahoo account is going to be smtp.mail.yahoo.com and that will either be using port 25, 465 or 587.  It's best to avoid port 25 - as many ISPs (such as comcast will block port 25).  You are best off to specifically specify port 465 (preferred) or 587 (less preferred) for each of your outgoing smtp connections.

You should have only one smtp server specified for each of your mail accounts - you must use the smtp server that is specifically for the account being configured.

To verify - open mail - then select preferences - select accounts.  Make sure you are on the account information screen.  Find the area where it says "Outgoing Mail Server" - it should say "Yahoo!"  - but even if it says Yahoo! - click on the arrows to show the list of available smtp servers - then at the bottom of the list - select "edit smtp server list".  In the list that appears - select the Yahoo! account - and then select the advanced tab.  On the advanced tab select "Use Custom Port" - and type in 465 for the port number.  Also make sure that the Use Secure Sockets Layer  (SSL)  box is checked.  Authentication type should be Password - and the user id should be your fully qualified yahoo account johndoe@yahoo.com and the password should be your Yahoo! password.  Click OK. You should then be prompted to save the changes - and might not be prompted until you try to exit the preferences window.

Next - open the pull down menu under "Window" on the mail menu bar.  Click on Connection Doctor - and let it run.  It will show you whether mail is able to connect to all of the incoming pop/imap accounts as well as the outgoing smtp servers for each of your accounts.  You should show a green dot on everything.  If not you need to troubleshoot each connection that is not green.

If port 465 works for you for yahoo - then try setting the smtp connections for your other mail accounts to port 465and be sure to select SSL for each.  Then run the connection doctor after each change.  If a particular account has a problem with port 465/SSL - it will tell you.  In that case - try port 587/SSL instead.

I'm not sure if changing my smtp ports to 465 is what fixed the problem for me or not - I changed all my accounts to port 465 a few months ago - after Comcast sent out an email indicating that they wanted port 465 to be used.

Hope this helps.

~Scott

Sure, your comments help.   I like your thinking about ports.  If I only have one port to navigate then I am less likely to get the pop-up due to a timing issue (my thinking). I also dropped the smtp.att.yahoo.com server from keychain.  The clock starts now for the next pop-up (none today so far).

FYI - my mail account is with pacbell.net (att) who uses Yahoo for its email services.  I was on a DSL line and Mail was configured with a POP account. My DSL account had a download/upload speed of 2.54/0.4 mbps. In Sept 2012 I upgraded to OS10.8.2 (from 10.7.6) and this was my first introduction to Apples' automated Mail account setup. It setup an IMAP account which was totally new to me.  Although I can't swear to this but it was about that time that I started getting the annoying pop-ups. In June I signed on with Comcast.net for greater speed (25/5 mbps).  As noted elsewhere in these threads, my password pop-ups come only from my Yahoo/ATT account. Still annoying thinking about it!

Tom

I'm still thinking that it is my regular cleaning out of the "Bulk Mail" folder that has been the major contributor to fixing the issue.  Also - I forgot to mention that there is a checkbox under the smtp server for each account that says "use only this smtp server".  Make sure that box is checked for each account.  I have noticed that when navigating the account settings - that this box can sometimes become "unchecked".  Since just about every smtp server now requires authentication for outgoing mail - this box should never be unchecked - because the account-specific smtp servers must be used for those specific accounts - otherwise the authentication will fail.

Mail started asking for my Yahoo password. I'd enter it, then it would ask again later.

I deleted the Yahoo account in System Preferences/Internet Accounts, and reinstalled it, with the same problem.

I fixed it finally by going into Mail/Accounts/Edit SMTP servers and deleting the Yahoo SMTP server, which was showing up as offline -

then repeating the "add account" process from System Preferences/Internet Accounts

It seems if there's a Yahoo SMTP server in the Mail servers list, adding the account won't overwrite it. You have to delete it first, then re-add the Yahoo account.

Problem solved.

Thanks for pointing that out.  I discovered that removing "any" email account (via internet accounts) or by removing from Mail / Preferences / Accounts (for accounts that allow deletion via Prefs) - that the associated SMTP server entries are always left behind and need to be cleaned up manually. 

     I am having this problem as well, with the newest OS Sierra!  It is driving me crazy! It happens on my MacBook Pro and my iPhone (running iOS 10).  It seems as if every time I restart either device or wake my device up after an hour or more of not using it I get a prompt to input my Yahoo! password yet again.

     I will try permanently deleting my trash and other emails like the Junk folder and others I do not need and see if that will help. Stay tuned!

You might want to consider starting a new discussion. Since this one is a couple of years old, less people are likely to look at it. A new post would be much more visible. You can link to this one.

Delete the password from Keychain Access (Applications/Utilities).

Keychain Issues - Resolve  see post by Kappy

Did this help.  I am getting this same message on all my devices (MacBook Pro, Ipad Pro, and Iphone 7 Plus) as well.  It is happening multiple times a day and it makes me think that is something is wrong or is this part of their safety plan from their last breach. 

     I do not think this is because of the recent breach because this has been happening to me since before the latest breach.  However, I believe I have solved my/our issue!

     While I am sure we could fix this problem in the Keychain application, which I would not know how to do anyhow, I fixed it by going to my yahoo account page at yahoo.com in Safari and setting up a double security feature.  So when I log into my account anywhere I now get a text with a generated code in which I must input in order to log in.  After doing this I have not had this issue anymore!

     I hope this might help, it certainly has worked for me thus far. I will post again if it does not work.  I will take Eric Root's suggestion and start another discussion if need be. Please let me know if this works for you too, aries7415.

2012 to 2016 and this is still a problem for many users. :-/

I had configured my yahoo account on three macs and my iphone, and this kept occuring on all the machines every time I logged in and once I corrected it I'd get a warning email on all accounts (yahoo and rescue account) which I'd have to delete in several places.

However, I think I've solved the problem. I deleted my yahoo account completely from all devices. If I need my email from that account, I'll filter and forward them to an email account that works properly (such as iCloud, gmail or just about any other mail system) and then log in to my yahoo account on the web if I want to reply.

Yahoo has an app for your iphone if you want to keep it active while on the go.