Apple mail Sierra keeps deleting my SMTP details

In my case, "can't send mail because outgoing mail server isn't set" started on my iPhone first. After I upgraded MacOS to Sierra, the same problem started on my Mac, too. The slolution by dianeoforegon Oct 3, 2016 4:31 PM may work but I am not trying at this stage. In my opinion, it shouldn't have been really necessary, if Apple did all the right things. I tried to reset the outgoing servers or "Outoging Mail Account" in Mail.app on my Mac, but it kept blanking my input. The only way worked was when I resellected the outgoing servers (they were't deleted after all) from a pop-up dialog box, that appeared when I tried to send emails from Mail.app. The dialog box said someting like "The mail can't be sent because an outgoing server isn't set for this account". It comes up with the list of outgoing mail servers and I was able to choose one from the list. After I did this. the Mail.app's Preferences->Acconts->(each email accress) now shows the "Outoging Mail Account" no longer blank.

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เมื่อ 7 ม.ค. 2017 เวลา 08:07 Apple Support Communities Updates <discussions-updates@apple.com> เขียน:

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yoichi.takayama has posted in the macOS Sierra community.

Apple mail Sierra keeps deleting my SMTP details

In my case, "can't send mail because outgoing mail server isn't set" started on my iPhone first. After I upgraded MacOS to Sierra, the same problem started on my Mac, too. The slolution below may work but I am not trying at this stage. In my opinion, it shouldn't have been really necessary, if Apple did all the right things. I tried to reset the outgoing servers or "Outoging Mail Account" in Mail.app on my Mac, but it kept blanking my input. The only way worked was when I resellected the outgoing servers (they were't deleted after all) from a pop-up dialog box, that appeared when I tried to send emails from Mail.app. The dialog box said someting like "The mail can't be sent because an outgoing server isn't set for this account". It comes up with the list of outgoing mail servers and I was able to choose one from the list. After I did this. the Mail.app's Preferences->Acconts->(each email accress) now shows the "Outoging Mail Account" no longer blank.

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This is frustrating. I had a same issue with my college email account. My solution that I came across is to check if you have a third parity security software installed in you Mac. If it is the case, delete it and set up SMTP details again. For me, I toggled off the automatic setting option and set up everything manually by myself. It works for now. Just make sure you have the right port number which often can be different from the default. Hope it helps many like me.

I came here hoping someone could verify this was to do with icloud syncing. My suspicion was that since I have an account on my iphone / ipad, that connects through activesync and the same account on Sierra, (because Sierra mail doesn't support activesync), that these two are getting each other confused.

For the record, I initially deleted all mail etc to get it going, however it worked for two weeks roughly then same problem occurs again. I'll try this now that someone else has had it took. Good tip.

Remove the account in Mail > Preferences > Accounts.

This will take you to System Preferences > Internet Accounts

Remove the account (not just uncheck Mail)

Go to your User's Library.

Scroll down to Containers

Delete the com.apple.mail folder

Restart your Mac

Open System Preferences > Internet Accounts

Add the account back.

Does it stick now?

If this is a POP account you will need to export your Inbox, Drafts and Sent POP folders.

Thanks for this, I have exactly the same issue mentioned but unfortunately in my case the fix procedure you proposed didn't work 😟

What else should I do?

Thanks

Testing in a new User will quickly tell you if the problem is system wide or if it's your User's folder that contains the problem.

You can use the Guest User or create a new User for testing.

CREATE A NEW USER

Go to System Preferences --> Create a New User in Users & Groups.

Switch to the New User by logging out/in or use Fast User Switching.

Only default Apple apps will be in the Dock in the new User. Go to Applications to open other apps you might want to test.

You can skip signing in with your Apple ID unless you want to test any iCloud features.

Do you still see the issue?

If yes, then the problem is global.

If no, then the problem is in your User's folder.

Hi Diane,

I have been looking for a fix for this same issue for days now.

Thanks for this suggestion. 1 question before I try this, does deleting com.apple.mail delete all accounts? In other words can I try removing one account, delete and add 1 account back?

Thanks for you help.

I Logged out, then in as Guest, opened Mail, created Yahoo account on Guest profile and still it doesn't work 😟

On SMPT servers list, the "Yahoo!" automatically created is blank, I created a new one with Yahoo.com SMPT address and neither it works (but in this case it says there is an authentication issue).

Anyway, I guess we now know that the problem is Global, so what do we do to fix it?

Thanks again Diane for your support!

Also I can add that I just tried to log on Yahoo account on Outlook for Mac and it keeps on asking me the username and password so it seems something is KO on authentication side

My Yahoo is working successfuly in Outlook 2011 and Outlook 2016.

Have you changed your password recently after the Yahoo security breach announcement. I highly suggest you change your password and add two step authentication for Yahoo.

How to protect your Yahoo account with two-step verification (2SV)

You'll need an app specific password for Outlook.

Steps for creating an app password are:

Visit https://login.yahoo.com/account and sign in to your Yahoo account.

Look for "App passwords", and click "Generate password".

Use your app password to sign in again.

Is it possible you need an app-specific password for Yahoo.

Log into your Yahoo account in your browser.

Go to your Settings > Account Security

Is two-step turned on?

If yes, under Manage app passwords you can get an app-specific password to enter.

HI Diane, unfortunate I already changed the password and activated the two factor authentication on Yahoo but it still didn't work. Moreover, the procedure explained by Yahoo to generate and insert the password is not applicable on Mac Mail (please note that my main problem is Mail, I just wrote about Outlook to give you more info about the problem but I don't need Outlook). This is because I generate the app password in Yahoo, but Yahoo says to insert it clicking on "details" in the account window of Mail but I don't have the password field in there, there are only name and email!!! Where should I insert the app password then?

Many thanks again for your support!

Remove the Yahoo account in System Preferences > Internet Accounts.

When you add it back in Internet Accounts it will give you the option to add the app-specific password.