Mac Mail FAQs and Troubleshooting

If you're having issues with Mac Mail setup or delivery, this troubleshooting guide can help. It covers everything from configuring your account to updating server settings. Learn how to manage your email effectively, leave messages on the server, switch between email protocols, and subscribe to all folders in your IMAP account.

In this article, we will discuss:

• If I configure my account as POP, will Mac Mail download messages from Webmail? How can I leave copies on the server?
• After a Mac update, my email stopped working and the system says the SMTP server is offline. What happened?
• When I send a message, it remains unsent in the Outbox and the outgoing server is offline. How do I update the settings?
• How do I switch from POP3 to IMAP if my account is already set up?
• I'm using IMAP, but not all folders appear. How can I subscribe to all folders?
• Review

If I configure my account as POP, will Mac Mail download messages from Webmail? How can I leave copies on the server?

1. Open Mail.
2. From the main toolbar, click Mail and then click Preferences.
3. Click the account for which you are making the changes.
4. Click the Account Information tab.
5. Uncheck the option: Remove copy from server after retrieving a message.
6. Close the window and click Save Changes if prompted.

 

After a Mac update, my email stopped working and the system says the SMTP server is offline. What happened?

Sometimes during updates, certain settings will revert to their default values. Since you have customized your settings, it may be necessary to update some of your custom settings after the update.

1. Open Mail.
2. From the mail toolbar, click Mail and then Preferences.
3. Click the account for which you are making the changes.
4. Click the Server Settings tab.
5. Verify the Incoming & Outgoing Mail Server Settings are correct according to the table in step 4 in How Do I Set Up Email on My Mac?

 

When I send a message, it remains unsent in the Outbox and the outgoing server is offline. How do I update the settings?

This issue usually arises from incorrect settings for your outgoing mail server. Make sure you've used your full email address as the username and the correct password established during mailbox setup. Also, verify that the outgoing server details are accurate by referring to the table in Step 4.

To update and verify the outgoing Server Settings, perform the following steps:

1. Open Mail.
2. From the main toolbar, click Mail and then click Preferences.
3. Click the account for which you are making the changes.
4. Click the Server Settings tab.
   
5. Click the Account drop-down list, then select the Edit SMTP Server List option.
   
   
   


6. Use the information in step 4 in How Do I Set Up Email on My Mac to verify that the information is correct.

 

How do I switch from POP3 to IMAP if my account is already set up?

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to switch from POP3 to IMAP. You will need to set up the account again using the above steps, selecting IMAP instead of POP during Step 4 in How Do I Set Up Email on My Mac? If you need to back anything up, it is recommended that you contact Apple Support for assistance.

 

I'm using IMAP, but not all folders appear. How can I subscribe to all folders?

Follow the steps below to ensure that all of your folders are properly syncing between the server and you Mac Mail:

1. Open Mail.
2. From the main toolbar, click Mail and then click Preferences.
   
3. Click the account for which you are making the changes.
4. Click the Server Settings tab.
   
5. Click the Advanced IMAP Settings button.
6. Verify that the IMAP Path Prefix is set to INBOX.
7. Close the Accounts window.
8. Control-click or right-click the INBOX icon under the mailboxes column on the left-hand side.
9. Click Get Account Info.
10. Click the Subscription List tab.

You will see the list of folders that are subscribed or not subscribed for synchronization with your IMAP account. You can select the folder and SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE with the buttons at the bottom left of the panel.

 

Review

This article offers a detailed guide on resolving common issues with Mac Mail, including configuring POP and IMAP settings, maintaining emails on the server, and troubleshooting server setting errors. It provides essential steps for switching from POP3 to IMAP and ensuring all folders are synced in IMAP accounts. The guide also highlights the need to update server settings after Mac updates to prevent email disruptions.