Mac Mail SMTP issue

Question

Level 1

1 points

Mac Mail SMTP issue

Hello,

Trying to troubleshoot the boss's Mac mail. Before he went on a trip to Japan, it worked fine. Now, when I click on connection doctor, it says that the SMTP can't connect with smtp.gmail and asks to verify username and account settings. We've done so, and it still won't work like it should. It won't receive mail, though it will send it.

What could be the issue?

The gmail account is working fine, so I know it's nothing on that end.

Could it be that it's trying to use the wrong port?

Also, where it asks for the email address in the account information window, he has two email addresses, separated by a comma. I don't think it should be this way, but he insists it's always been this way and that it worked fine before.

Thanks for your help!

I believe Boss's comp is a Macbook Pro running system 10.6.8.

Cheers,

BWP

Posted on Feb 21, 2013 9:40 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Feb 21, 2013 1:28 PM in response to BenjaminWP

Now, when I click on connection doctor, it says that the SMTP can't connect with smtp.gmail

smtp.gmail.com

Reply

Answer 2

BenjaminWP Author

Level 1

1 points

Feb 21, 2013 3:14 PM in response to Linc Davis

I meant smtp.gmail.com

I went in and deleted the second email address from the account information window, and that seemed to make connection doctor happier... But it still doesn't seem to receive messages. Is there a limit on the total number of messages that can be in the application?

Or something with the port connection?

Reply

Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Feb 21, 2013 3:24 PM in response to BenjaminWP

Let's resolve the original problem. Can you send mail now?

Reply

Answer 4

BenjaminWP Author

Level 1

1 points

Feb 21, 2013 3:26 PM in response to Linc Davis

Yes, it's been able to send the entire time, but can't receive. Checked it using Mail Setup Assistant and can't fathom what's wrong!

Reply

Answer 5

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Feb 21, 2013 3:49 PM in response to BenjaminWP

Please follow the instructions on the page linked below. If the issue isn't resolved, post your results.

Mail: Troubleshooting sending & receiving email messages

Reply

Answer 6

Feb 21, 2013 4:36 PM in response to BenjaminWP

And FWIW, the comma-separated list is normal with Mail.app with many users. It's how to operate with multiple return email addresses, and Mail.app has allowed that specification for a very long time...

Reply

Answer 7

BenjaminWP Author

Level 1

1 points

Feb 22, 2013 1:06 PM in response to MrHoffman

Went through the steps in the troubleshooting.

In connection doctor, both gmail itself and the smtp.gmail.com get "green dots". I currently am using the "rebuild" feature, but it all seems to be going well, so I don't know if that will have fixed anything.

I've noticed that, when using the setup assistant, it wants to establish gmail accounts as IMAP accounts, whereas this one is a POP account. Could this difference account for the issue? If so, why didn't it cause a problem before? This wasn't a problem until he got back from his recent trip to Japan.

Reply

Answer 8

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Feb 22, 2013 1:53 PM in response to BenjaminWP

Enabling POP - Gmail Help

Reply

Answer 9

BenjaminWP Author

Level 1

1 points

Feb 22, 2013 2:13 PM in response to Linc Davis

We went to Gmail to check, and it looks like POP is enabled.

Reply

Answer 10

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Feb 22, 2013 2:20 PM in response to BenjaminWP

Inn the Connection Doctor window, click the Show Detail button. A drawer opens. If there's text in that drawer, please post it. If not, click Check Again and post the text that appears. Anonymize any personal information before posting.

Reply

Answer 11

Mar 2, 2013 10:08 AM in response to BenjaminWP

In your "Inbox" of apple mail on the coloumn on the right hand side your POP Account should be first and same for "Sent"

Reply

Answer 12

Penykat

Level 1

10 points

Mar 19, 2013 11:33 PM in response to BenjaminWP

I had this problem too but I fixed it today.

Go to the mail menu preferences.

Click on account in question.

Select the outgoing SMTP mail server (the one offline), this has a drop down list, click on the edit server list.

Click on the advanced button.

Make sure use default port is checked.

Make sure SSL is unchecked (unless your provider requires it, mine does not work with it checked).

Have authentication set to password.

User name should be your email address for that account.

Make sure correct password is entered (for some strange reason my password box was blank on this account).

Push the ok button.

For me the SSL box was checked and the password was missing. This is strange to me considering I have unchecked the SSL Box on the mail preference advance page. Also, I went through the complete set up account when I first created the account, why was my outgoing server password box empty?

I hope this helps.

Here is a link to some visual aids with the steps from my ISP

http://support.knology.net/content/smtpauth/smtpredirect.cfm

Reply