Cannot create email account as an identical already exists

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Level 1

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Cannot create email account as an identical already exists

We have 2 iPads and 2 iPhones. My wife's email account (hotmail) stopped to function on her iPad, so I followed the advice given and deleted the hotmail account to create it anew. However, I got the message that it could not be created as an identical account already exists. As the situation is right now, I have access to her account on my iPad, while she cannot get to it on her iPhone or on her iPad. We have access to her account on both our PCs, so it seems to be an Apple problem.)

She would like her mail account back. What must we do?

iPad, iOS 8.2

Posted on Oct 3, 2015 8:17 AM

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Answer 1

Lyssa

Level 8

41,327 points

Oct 3, 2015 5:23 PM in response to Antiochene

I think what you're meant to do is delete the account from the iPad, then just go through Settings>Mail, Contacts & Calendars and re-add the details of the account.

Is that what you're trying to do?

~Lyssa

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Answer 2

Antiochene Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 3, 2015 10:26 PM in response to Lyssa

This is exactly what I did on my wife's phone and iPad. When I try to set up the account again I get the message above.

RIght now we only have her account on my iPad. I am afraid to delete and reset it there for fear it disappears from all our phones and pdas.

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Answer 3

Lyssa

Level 8

41,327 points

Oct 4, 2015 8:55 AM in response to Antiochene

Have you reset her iPhone and/or iPad? It sounds like the device doesn't think the account was deleted. Resetting it might help.

~Lyssa

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Answer 4

Antiochene Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 4, 2015 10:08 AM in response to Lyssa

I have thought of doing this, but how much of the data do we lose? And which reset option should be used?

thanks for your assistance.

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Answer 5

Lyssa

Level 8

41,327 points

Oct 4, 2015 3:19 PM in response to Antiochene

A reset itself just restarts the device - you press and hold the power and home buttons till the screen goes blank, ignoring the Slide to Power Off notice, then release the buttons. Then, you press and hold the power button to boot the phone up.

There's also reset network settings, which wouldn't change anything here, and, finally, there's Reset all content and settings, which removes all data from the phone.

That would be a last resort, though.

~Lyssa

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