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Changed mail accounts from Pop to IMAP and now don't receive mail

I was having issues with all of my devices trying to access my email account on the server at the same time so I just changed the accounts in my mac mail client on my iMac from Pop to IMAP. Ever since I made the change, I can't receive any new email (in any of the accounts) unless I either close Mail and then reopen or take the accounts offline and then back online. When I do either of those things, the messages come in. What did I miss when I was setting up them up with IMAP? I didn't have a problem getting any of the mail that was on my server account immediately after setting the accounts up. It's just now I'm not receiving the new mail. Sending is no problem.

iMac (27-inch Late 2009), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jul 1, 2013 5:35 AM

33 replies

Lanny

Level 6

13,183 points

Jul 1, 2013 3:38 PM in response to luannefromsuffolk

Make sure you delete all of the SMTP settings too. Deleting the accounts won't delete the SMTP settings, they are a separate delete.

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Jul 1, 2013 3:40 PM in response to Lanny

According to their website Charter POP and Charter Imap accounts both use the same server, I hope that is correct. 🙂

And they use port 25 so it's open to the whole world, no security to complicate the setup, ugghhh

Jul 1, 2013 3:45 PM in response to luannefromsuffolk

I don't know if you've ever tried to deal with Charter's tech support but I have, way too many times. I'd rather poke myself in the eye with a sharp stick.

Maybe I'll try removing the accounts and adding them again. It doesn't make sense because I'm able to retrieve the mail if I either close Mail and reopen or take the accounts offline and then bring them back online. So the server access is successful.

Jul 1, 2013 3:46 PM in response to Lanny

Where would I delete the SMTP settings separately from the accounts?

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Jul 1, 2013 4:45 PM in response to luannefromsuffolk

Mail>Preferences>Accounts>Outgoing Server (SMTP)

Click the dropdown and delete all the extra servers

Jul 1, 2013 7:55 PM in response to Csound1

Did that but it didn't make a difference. Makes sense since that is the outgoing server and I don't have a problem sending. I also removed the accounts and then created new ones again but that didn't fix it either.

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Jul 1, 2013 8:23 PM in response to luannefromsuffolk

I didn't think it would, but now you know how to.

Jul 2, 2013 4:30 AM in response to Csound1

Strange but today the messages seem to be coming in. They're a few minutes behind (I'm using webmail to time it). They don't come in any quicker if I try manually getting new mail. Yesterday I changed the setting to check for new mail every minute and I know it's taking longer than a minute after I see the new message in webmail so I have no idea what the logic is as to how/when it's happening.

Jul 2, 2013 5:22 AM in response to luannefromsuffolk

Guess I spoke too soon. Nothing that came into webmail since about 45 minutes ago has made it to my Imap account yet.

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Jul 2, 2013 6:18 AM in response to luannefromsuffolk

Once a minute is far to often, try every 5 or even better (assuming Charter provide the service) use Push (check the button that says 'Use Idle Command if the Server Supports it'

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Jul 2, 2013 6:19 AM in response to luannefromsuffolk

luannefromsuffolk wrote:

Guess I spoke too soon. Nothing that came into webmail since about 45 minutes ago has made it to my Imap account yet.

This sadly is a question for Charter, they provide the transport for your email

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Jul 2, 2013 6:20 AM in response to luannefromsuffolk

luannefromsuffolk wrote:

I don't know if you've ever tried to deal with Charter's tech support but I have, way too many times. I'd rather poke myself in the eye with a sharp stick.

Why do you put up with that, there are many more reliable email providers (although no free ones are 100%, you do get what you pay for)

Jul 2, 2013 6:45 AM in response to Csound1

Unfortunately, Charter is the only broadband ISP available in our area so that's why I put up with them. I know I don't need to use their email services and I might need to consider switching. Until now, we haven't had a specific problem with email service. Our problem with Charter is usually just the unreliable internet connectivity.

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Jul 2, 2013 6:49 AM in response to luannefromsuffolk

luannefromsuffolk wrote:

Unfortunately, Charter is the only broadband ISP available in our area so that's why I put up with them. I know I don't need to use their email services and I might need to consider switching. Until now, we haven't had a specific problem with email service. Our problem with Charter is usually just the unreliable internet connectivity.

Yes, you do not have to use their email, and shouldn't, tying your email to your ISP is bad planning, if a better ISP comes along it makes changing to them more complex.

You could choose a new email provider and forward your Charter mail to them, that gives you as much time as needed to get your clients etc using the new address. You can gradually move over and away from Charter then.

Google or iCloud would be my choices. If I wanted a real business email service I would (and do) pay for a hosted MS Exchange provider, then I have a range of services available for my email, just like a real company would 🙂

Jul 2, 2013 6:53 AM in response to Csound1

Who said anything about a business? These are just our personal email accounts that we're having the problems with.

Changed mail accounts from Pop to IMAP and now don't receive mail