Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Fix Mail Problems
As I've repeatedly noted, for all its virtues, Mail in Mavericks does have its share of problems.
Although a complete troubleshooting guide to Mail could run hundreds of pages, I've compiled
solutions to some of the most common (and egregious) problems in the pages ahead, including
difficulties receiving and sending mail, problems with damaged mailboxes, and misbehaving
Spotlight searches.
Although some of this information may provide useful background for resolving iOS Mail is-
sues too, the specifics are different; see Troubleshoot iOS Mail Problems for help with Mail in
iOS 7.
Fix Incoming Mail Problems
If Mail cannot download incoming messages, the cause may be anything from an incorrect set-
ting in Mail, to a server problem, to a loss of Internet connectivity. Work through each of the
following sections until you resolve the problem.
Tip: To check on what Mail is doing behind the scenes, choose Window > Activity View-
er. A small floating window appears, displaying detail about each activity Mail is per-
forming. To cancel any task, click the red Stop
button next to it.
Try Connection Doctor
To open Connection Doctor, choose Window > Connection Doctor. In the Connection Doctor
window, Mail lists each incoming and outgoing email account you've configured—even those
you've temporarily disabled. It attempts to log in to each account, and if it fails with any of
them, it shows an explanation of why it failed. These explanations aren't always helpful, but
they often give you a good starting point in debugging problems, and are written in refresh-
ingly plain English. If the Connection Doctor window suggests a specific fix, try that first.
Otherwise, proceed with the following steps.
Username and Password Errors
If you enter your password in Mail > Preferences > Accounts (or in System Preferences > In-
ternet Accounts), Mavericks stores the password in your keychain (which is usually what you
want). If, for security reasons, you prefer for Mail to prompt you for your password each time
you connect, leave the Password field blank.
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