Why can't I setup iCloud mail on my MacBook Pro?

Question

Level 1

9 points

Why can't I setup iCloud mail on my MacBook Pro?

Context: I had two accounts configured in my Mail.app - an Exchange account for work, and a personal iCloud account. I've had the iCloud account since it was .me, and it has worked fine until recently. It also continues to work fine on my iPad and iPhone and on the iCloud website. So here is what I have experienced...

In August, this account stopped working on my mid-2010 MacBook Pro. I started getting errors telling me my password was not accepted by the account anymore, and no matter what I tried, I could never get the account working on that MacBook after that. I didn't really care that much at the time because I knew I was getting a new one soon, and sure enough I did. I received my MacBook Pro with Retina sometime in September.

On day one, I configured all of my account settings through iCloud and the Mail app, and everything was great. Emails coming in and going out, notes being perfectly synced... it was great. This lasted until Thursday or Friday of last week. I powered up my MacBook and saw my iCloud account was offline in Mail. When I tried to take it online, I received (and still receive when I try to set it up) this error:

"The iCloud IMAP server “p01-imap.mail.me.com” is not responding. Try checking the network connection, and that the server name is correct. Otherwise, the server might be temporarily unavailable. If you continue, you might not be able to receive messages."

I know the credentials are accurate, I know my Internet is fine (and I've done this at multiple locations, home/work/Beaners), and I know I've tried every troubleshooting step I can find for this. I did the signing out of iCloud and rebooting thing, that did not work. I also cannot enable mail or notes through the iCloud preference pane. I know this because when I try, I receive the following error:

"iCloud Mail couldn't be enabled from the iCloud Preference Pane."

It then suggests for me to set it up through the Mail app.

Here we are.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Nov 5, 2012 5:42 AM

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Answer 1

pennbank

Level 4

1,688 points

Nov 5, 2012 6:38 AM in response to rob.m

Have you tried changing your apple id password, then

delete all accounts and re enter them

also system preferences/iCloud

signing out and signing back in

Annoying but worth a try.

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Answer 2

Russbude

Level 1

8 points

Nov 8, 2012 12:19 PM in response to rob.m

I still continue to see no answer to this. I have icloud enabled and working on my iphone and ipad but it just will not work in mail on the Mac

All I ever get is the same message:

The iCloud IMAP server “p01-imap.mail.me.com” is not responding. Try checking the network connection, and that the server name is correct. Otherwise, the server might be temporarily unavailable. If you continue, you might not be able to receive messages.

Trust me, I've followed all the instructions here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4864viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

and here

http://support.apple.com/kb/PH2621

and absolutely NOTHING works!! What is freaking going ON??

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Answer 3

Walgmoon

Level 1

0 points

Nov 9, 2012 4:19 AM in response to Russbude

Did you find a solution?

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Answer 4

Russbude

Level 1

8 points

Nov 9, 2012 6:24 AM in response to Walgmoon

No!

I just went in to the Apple Store. I'm going to take my MacBook in and show them what's going on. So annoying as everything else iCloud - iCal, photo stream etc etc works perfectly between all my devices. Just not Mail!

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Answer 5

Walgmoon

Level 1

0 points

Nov 9, 2012 6:31 AM in response to Russbude

Thanks for answering anyway. It started for me when I changed my password a few days ago. Mail wouldn't accept my new password so I delelted my icloud account (as i have done a few times before).

Now I cant even put my details in using the mail app. I'll have another bash this evening and let you know if i find anything useful.

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Answer 6

rob.m Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 9, 2012 6:38 AM in response to pennbank

I've tried everything in this thread and then some... still nothing. I'm really not looking forward to the prospect of bringing my laptop in for something like this, this is ridiculous. I know these technologies very well, I've been supporting them professionally since high school... I just don't understand why this is happening, or why it happened on my old one. I'll also point out, this account is still working perfectly on my iPad and iPhone... and on Outlook on my desktop and Outlook on my laptop. Just Mail.app in good ol' OS X that isn't working.

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Answer 7

Walgmoon

Level 1

0 points

Nov 9, 2012 6:45 AM in response to rob.m

Same story.

Just another thing. I have two .me accounts. The second .me account works perfectly. (I changed the password on both so I've counted that out of the equation now)

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Answer 8

Russbude

Level 1

8 points

Nov 9, 2012 12:14 PM in response to rob.m

I have a bad feeling about this! Went to the Apple store at lunchtime, the Genius said they could help me if I'm struggling to set up e-mail!! Had to slowly explain that I know what I'm doing - same as you. Got 4 accounts on my iPhone and iPad including my work Exchange account. Outlook calendar synced up etc, all with no problems. I've got Yahoo and GMail accounts synced up fine on the Macbook. The only place iCloud mail doesn't work is in OS X which makes no sense!

I've had my Apple ID since 2005 and everything works except this. It's got to be server side. Is it surprising how many threads like this have received no resolution from anyone at Apple?

Best of luck guys

PS - Whilst typing this I've had a thought.. Can you get a Hotmail account to work in Mail??

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Answer 9

Walgmoon

Level 1

0 points

Nov 14, 2012 8:27 AM in response to Russbude

Sorry for the late reply. Gmail works fine in Mail. I'm still using my phone for emails sadly.

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Answer 10

rob.m Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 15, 2012 7:54 AM in response to rob.m

Suddenly and for no discernable reason, my iCloud account is now working perfectly on my MacBook Pro. I have been trying, every day, the same setup over and over again to see if the error (which I'm assuming is on Apple's end) would go away. I know, that's the definition of insanity.

But!

Today, it worked. It worked immediately, no hang-ups, no lag, instantly pulled everything down using the exact same settings I've been hammering away at since this started about two weeks ago. So, no clue why, but it is working now. So... thanks, Apple. I guess.

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