Cannot add email accounts to El Capitan

Question

Level 1

21 points

Cannot add email accounts to El Capitan

Every time I try to add any kind of email account (other than my iCloud, which happened automatically), I get this error:

Mail can't verify the identity of the server "mac-services.apple.com".

This happens whether I'm trying to add a google account or a POP account for something else.

Also, if I try to add my google account from the system preferences, I can enter the info, but when I tell it to go ahead and add the account, it just sits there and does nothing, although I can cancel.

Any solutions to these problems?

Thanks!

Posted on Oct 1, 2015 2:52 PM

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Answer 1

theosib Author

Level 1

21 points

Oct 1, 2015 2:57 PM in response to theosib

BTW, I see no expired certificates. This is a brand new machine that I just upgraded. I do see some certs with a yellow triangle, but no red X.

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Answer 2

Oct 3, 2015 3:28 PM in response to theosib

I have been unable to get or send email since El Capitan (not the beta!). It seems that it has changed my email account POP to IMAP, and I cannot change it back - whenever I try to log in to the account to change the settings, it says the account already exists (well of course it does!). After all else failed I have deleter the account altogether - and now I can't set up a new account, because . . .guess what . . . it says the account already exists. So, no email for me with El Capitan. Is it time to go to Wndows after 28 years with nothing but Macs?

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Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

685,305 points

Oct 3, 2015 4:26 PM in response to Anthony Glaser

Manual setup: Delete the account, then add it back. After filling in the 1st screen, hold down the option/alt key while clicking Continue. Fill in the necessary information, then click continue until all screens are filled in.

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Answer 4

theosib Author

Level 1

21 points

Oct 4, 2015 5:13 AM in response to Eric Root

I tried similar things to that. I'm not sure what option does, but deleting and re-adding the account didn't help.

I called AppleCare (since I have a new Mac), and they helped me out. The solution was to fix the user permissions in my home directory. I'm not sure what bug caused this to happen in the first place, but here's what you do:

1. Navigate to the /Users directory in Finder (using Go to Folder...)

2. Select your user directory and press Command-I to get info

3. Click the lock to unlock settings

4. Click the gear and select "Apply to enclosed items..."

5. When the "Are you sure" pops up, click Ok.

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Answer 5

Feb 2, 2016 11:28 PM in response to theosib

The solution that helped meis to change the Trust level from "system default" to always trust. Just click on the Certificate details and change it there.

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