Q: Repeatedly being asked for password for mail.

Question

Popacatapetl

Level 1 (8 points)

Notebooks

Q: Repeatedly being asked for password for mail.

I have changed my e-mail password with my provider. I have used the same password for outgoing and for incoming mail on Apple Mail (and 'saved' etc) - that is, I have followed all the requirements and instructions given. However, I still cannot receive mail (pop3.live.com) and get the repeated request box to confirm the password (when given there is no effect); I can send e-mails. What next?

Posted on Jul 4, 2016 3:00 AM

I have this question too

Solved

chris_g1

Community Specialists

A:

Hi Popacatapetl,

Based on what you've described, it sounds like you're repeatedly being asked for a mail account password and each time you put it in, it doesn't seem to take the request. I'd be glad to assist with some recommendations for this issue.

Before you begin, I'd recommend that you export the mailbox associated with this account. This will allow you to keep a backup of your POP account mailbox.

Export mailboxes

Select one or more mailboxes, then choose Mailbox > Export Mailbox.

Choose a folder or create a new folder, then click Choose.

Mail exports the mailboxes as .mbox packages. If you previously exported a mailbox, Mail doesn’t overwrite the existing .mbox file; it creates a new .mbox file, such as My Mailbox 3.mbox.

Once you're finished exporting this data, I'd recommend temporarily removing the account using the steps listed here:

Remove an account
When you remove an email account from Mail, the account’s messages are deleted and no longer available on your Mac. Copies of messages remain on the account’s mail server and are still available (from webmail, for example).
Important: If you’re unsure whether messages you want to keep are still on the mail server, move or copy them to a mailbox stored on your Mac (the mailbox appears in the On My Mac section in the Mail sidebar) before you delete the account in Mail.

Choose Mail > Preferences, then click Accounts.

Select an account, then click the Remove button .

Once the account has been removed, choose Mail > Add Account, select an account type, then enter your account information. Once you have re-added the account, test to see if the issue has been resolved. You can also follow these steps to import the mailbox that you exported previously:

Import mailboxes

Choose File > Import Mailboxes.

Select the email app you want to import messages from.

If you’re importing a mailbox exported from Mail, or a folder (such as POP-eharrold@mail.example.com) from the ~/Library/Mail/V2 folder on another Mac, choose Apple Mail.

Follow the instructions that appear.

Make sure the app you’re importing from is active, because some of the options require it.

If you’re importing messages from a Windows or UNIX computer, select “Files in mbox format,” then locate the folder containing the files.

If the email app you’re switching from isn’t listed, click Cancel. Consult the documentation for the other app to learn how to export messages in mbox format (most email apps can). Then import the mbox files.

Reorganize the imported messages, if you like.

The messages are in a new mailbox called Import in the Mail sidebar. You can drag folders and messages from the Import mailbox to new or existing mailboxes, then delete the Import mailbox.

Mail (El Capitan): Import or export mailboxes

Mail (El Capitan): Set up Mail with your email accounts

Regards.

Posted on Jul 6, 2016 9:31 AM

Q: Repeatedly being asked for password for mail.

All replies

Helpful answers

by Popacatapetl,

Popacatapetl Jul 5, 2016 8:10 AM in response to chris_g1
Level 1 (8 points)

Notebooks

Jul 5, 2016 8:10 AM in response to chris_g1

Many thanks for this; sadly I'm very low level computer literate so tried your suggestion, but fell at the first hurdle. I tried to create a new folder in documents (was that a poor choice?), clicked 'choose' - and nothing happened.

Please allow me to give the details I see when I try to access mail; it may (or may not) help.

Firstly I receive an alert on Inbox - Alert: there may be a problem with the mail server or network. Verify the settings for account "hotmail.co.uk"or try again. The server returned the error: The attempt to send data to the server "(null)" failed.

Secondly on checking Mail Doctor and checking details of attempted login, I read - Err.Authentification failure: unknown username or bad password.[Error="ProxyNotAuthenticated" AuthResult=0 Proxy=VI1PR10MB0286.EURPRDIO.Prod.OUTLOOK.Com:1995:SSL]

Furthermore when checking the accounts through system preferences I receive the following request - Internet Accounts Preferences can't connect to the account "hotmail.co.uk"
Iam asked for my password (which I took to be thae one for mail, although I also later tried my apple password with which I log in to the laptop; message received each time 'Unable to verify account name or password.

I have also asked Outlook / Hotmail to help and was told there seemed to be no problem at their end (they checked test e-mails I sent from myself to myself on the Safari access to hotmail and certainly they worked fine). I was advised by outlook/hotmail help to use 'first aid' on Utilities/ Disk Utilities, but the check revealed there are no problems on the disk.

Please forgive my being long-winded. I would be happy to attempt the Export Mailbox process again but am concerned that I would repeat whatever mistake I made on my first attempt. I am also conscious that all this wise advise is available from support pages and from Google and fear I am wasting your time, but if there is a solution I would welcome further help
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by chroot,

chroot Jul 6, 2016 9:31 AM in response to Popacatapetl
Level 4 (1,099 points)

Jul 6, 2016 9:31 AM in response to Popacatapetl

chris_g1's instructions were very in-depth. Check https://checkcoverage.apple.com . If your computer is eligible for technical support try calling AppleCare for your region. Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Open the ~/Documents folder (or the folder the mailbox was exported to) in Finder then check if it has the mailbox.

To import select File for the Mail app then Import Mailboxes. It should appear in the On My Mac section.
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by Popacatapetl,

Popacatapetl Jul 6, 2016 9:36 AM in response to chroot
Level 1 (8 points)

Notebooks

Jul 6, 2016 9:36 AM in response to chroot

cheers chroot! - the combination of your reassurance and chris-g!'s original post worked; I now have a couple of mbox/ imports (pressed import twice for 'sent' folder; doh), but am so relieved to have mail back working again
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by Popacatapetl,

Popacatapetl Jul 6, 2016 9:37 AM in response to chris_g1
Level 1 (8 points)

Notebooks

Jul 6, 2016 9:37 AM in response to chris_g1

hullo chris-g1; many thanks, I got there eventually!
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Accepted Answer · Jul 6, 2016 9:31 AM

chris_g1

Community Specialists

Jul 6, 2016 9:31 AM in response to Popacatapetl

Hi Popacatapetl,

Based on what you've described, it sounds like you're repeatedly being asked for a mail account password and each time you put it in, it doesn't seem to take the request. I'd be glad to assist with some recommendations for this issue.

Before you begin, I'd recommend that you export the mailbox associated with this account. This will allow you to keep a backup of your POP account mailbox.

Export mailboxes

Select one or more mailboxes, then choose Mailbox > Export Mailbox.

Choose a folder or create a new folder, then click Choose.

Mail exports the mailboxes as .mbox packages. If you previously exported a mailbox, Mail doesn’t overwrite the existing .mbox file; it creates a new .mbox file, such as My Mailbox 3.mbox.

Once you're finished exporting this data, I'd recommend temporarily removing the account using the steps listed here:

Remove an account
When you remove an email account from Mail, the account’s messages are deleted and no longer available on your Mac. Copies of messages remain on the account’s mail server and are still available (from webmail, for example).
Important: If you’re unsure whether messages you want to keep are still on the mail server, move or copy them to a mailbox stored on your Mac (the mailbox appears in the On My Mac section in the Mail sidebar) before you delete the account in Mail.

Choose Mail > Preferences, then click Accounts.

Select an account, then click the Remove button .

Once the account has been removed, choose Mail > Add Account, select an account type, then enter your account information. Once you have re-added the account, test to see if the issue has been resolved. You can also follow these steps to import the mailbox that you exported previously:

Import mailboxes

Choose File > Import Mailboxes.

Select the email app you want to import messages from.

If you’re importing a mailbox exported from Mail, or a folder (such as POP-eharrold@mail.example.com) from the ~/Library/Mail/V2 folder on another Mac, choose Apple Mail.

Follow the instructions that appear.

Make sure the app you’re importing from is active, because some of the options require it.

If you’re importing messages from a Windows or UNIX computer, select “Files in mbox format,” then locate the folder containing the files.

If the email app you’re switching from isn’t listed, click Cancel. Consult the documentation for the other app to learn how to export messages in mbox format (most email apps can). Then import the mbox files.

Reorganize the imported messages, if you like.

The messages are in a new mailbox called Import in the Mail sidebar. You can drag folders and messages from the Import mailbox to new or existing mailboxes, then delete the Import mailbox.