How do I configure gmail IMAP in Mail, defaults to POP

Question

Level 2

229 points

How do I configure gmail IMAP in Mail, defaults to POP

Hi, trying to configure a new Gmail IMAP account in Mail (6.3), with Mountain Lion 10.8.3, but it defaults to POP mail.

When I try to enter new account, it automatically starts trying to connect with gmail's POP server. In Google's instructions, it only has information about Mail 3, saying:

Important: please deselect the box next to 'Automatically set up account'

I dare say it is important, however there is no longer that option in Mail 6. So how can I force Mail to setup as IMAP?

(I have enabled IMAP in Gmail settings.)

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Mar 16, 2013 9:43 PM

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Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Mar 17, 2013 2:27 PM in response to JDfunky

First, try adding the account in the Mail, Contacts & Calendar preference pane, rather than in the Mail application.

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Answer 2

JDfunky Author

Level 2

229 points

Mar 17, 2013 6:56 PM in response to Linc Davis

Linc, just tried it (didn't even know that was a possibility), but it just auto set up as POP, with no options anywhere to choose IMAP.

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Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Mar 17, 2013 8:18 PM in response to JDfunky

In Mail's Add Account dialog, enter the account information, then hold down the option key and click Continue. Finish setting up the account manually.

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Answer 4

JDfunky Author

Level 2

229 points

Mar 17, 2013 9:35 PM in response to Linc Davis

Ah, thanks Linc, that worked. So why did they make that so hard to figure out I wonder?

Linc Davis wrote:

In Mail's Add Account dialog, enter the account information, then hold down the option key and click Continue. Finish setting up the account manually.

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Answer 5

rodunn

Level 1

8 points

Jul 17, 2013 4:31 PM in response to Linc Davis

I worked on this for HOURS and finally found your response. What a pain. The odd part is the IMAP account worked for a day after upgrading to ML and then just stopped. It stopped sending mail.

I then tried to add back the account as IMAP and could never figure out how to get it to stop Exchange auto provisioning. Thanks for posting this!

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Answer 6

Jan 28, 2014 5:04 PM in response to Linc Davis

I worked one full day configuring my mail account, adding, deleting it, starting over again but no way I could change account type from POP to IMAP. Tried with my mail service provider and no way. I searched in MacBook Pro's Mail help files and no answers close to this at all. I then searched the forum and found your post and 2 min after I was set-up and running A OK

Thanks a lot

Markobanker

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