Emsy2012 Author

Level 1

9 points

Mountain Lion Update - Mail (SMTP) Offline Ever Since

I have been struggling with an issues for about four days that seems to be a known problem. Ever since I installed a Mountain Lion update the other day, my email servers have been offline (SMTP). I have re-inputted all my settings, have checked them and double checked them. I am completely lost. I can see that other people have struggled with this issue and initially the advice was that perhaps it was a problem with the email supplier. However, after doing my research I can see it seems to be a known problem with Mountain Lion, but I cannot find a fix anywhere.

I have an Apple Care call scheduled for tomorrow but given that I cannot find any definitive answers about this on these forums, I don't think Apple can supply me with one.

Has anyone had the same problem and successfully resolved? I have tried changing the ports (all three numbers mentioned in other posts), I have re-inputted the details, I have tried the workarounds that have been suggested. I'm not remotely techie but have tried everything I have read. I cannot get either Tiscali or my work email servers back online. I certainly don't want to change to Outlook or anything other than Mail.

Any ideas? If Apple Care can help then I will of course post the outcome here 😁

ps iPad and iPhone do not have the same problem - most bizarre, I can send emails from those devices, just not my Macbook with Mountain Lion!

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Dec 9, 2012 3:31 PM

27 replies

dccpawa

Level 1

0 points

Oct 21, 2013 4:05 PM in response to Emsy2012

got the same problem here with 10.8.5...

i tried everything i saw here ... same issue ... i wasn't able to send mail ...

until i changed this:

-> systeme preferences

-> sharing

-> computer name (edit button)

-> write your name, no space, no -, juste your computer's name (exemple: david ... and not david-4)

it worked great for me...

Nov 13, 2013 6:03 AM in response to dccpawa

Ok... as odd as it sounds, this did the trick for my mac, after an hour of help, which did not work, from a MAC Senior Advisor

I've sent him a link to this thread in the hope that apple add it to thier diagnostic processes.

Oh... and I'm on Mavericks

Apr 14, 2014 8:22 AM in response to Mac User Since 1993

Thank you to Mac User Since 1933! I changed my password on gmail and began having problems with my mail account on the cloud - this fix solved the problem after quite a bit of frustration on my part trying to figure out what was wrong.

ampyjoe

Level 1

4 points

Aug 24, 2016 2:43 PM in response to Emsy2012

Tried most of the suggestions here. After failing and spending way too much time doing so, I chose the approach I recommend for all. Download Thunderbird and install it. It's an excellent email client, and downloading, installing, and setting up an account took me about 15 mins (a *lot* shorter than the time I spent trying to fix the problem with Apple's Mail app).

Eric Root

Level 10

685,221 points

Jun 26, 2013 11:42 AM in response to Mac1701

Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem solved sooner. Use the link below or the one in Mail.

Feedback

Dec 12, 2012 9:38 AM in response to Emsy2012

I have had the same problem for about 4 days.

Mac User Since 1993's fix seems to have worked for me.

Thnks very much.

Apr 30, 2013 8:11 AM in response to katmcd1

Call Apple Support. That's how I got my problem solved originally. It's really worth it. Or it was for me, anyway.

T Dog

Level 1

4 points

Jun 21, 2013 10:32 AM in response to rompi

Rompi - Thank you for the solution! This worked like a charm.

rompi

Level 1

8 points

Jun 27, 2013 4:44 AM in response to Mac1701

@Mac1701: have you tried my solution with SSL and port 465? It worked for me on all my 3 macs and TDog also confirms it worked for him.

Jul 20, 2013 9:53 AM in response to Emsy2012

I found that by changing my iMac's name from Irene-Noads-iMac to iMac., the problem went away. Someone told me ML does not like spaces in the name.

Mac1701

Level 1

4 points

Nov 13, 2013 8:53 AM in response to Emsy2012

None of the suggestions on this thread solved my issue. The only thing that fixed the fault was upgrading to Mavericks

Jun 26, 2015 9:47 AM in response to rompi

Rompi's solution worked for me. The others did not.

Thank you Rompi!

Dennis

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Mountain Lion Update - Mail (SMTP) Offline Ever Since