Can't send mail

[poppi]

Suddenly I can't send mail. When I clicked send I got a message Cannot send mail using smtp,mail.sbcglobal.net. Called ATT and thy were useless. Had me try several things then wanted to connect me to a higher level tech support which charges a ridiculous fee (said the problem is with Mac Mail which they don't support).

Worked fine until this afternoon. I have internet connection and can receive mail in Mac Mail, just can't send. After restarting mail and rebooting the Mac I find the message in the outbox. When I click send there is a momentary spinning gear next to the send but it doesn't show in the sent box. I suspect there is a setting problem but can't figure it out.

Suggestions will be appreciated.

poppi

 

[pm-r]

The no send email problem will be dependent on the needed password/authentication and/or the server settings.

Normally any decent ISP will have the required settings on their website.


EDIT:
This looks worth trying:
Access your Sbcglobal.net (AT&T) Account from an Email Program using IMAP
Sbcglobal.net supports IMAP / SMTP
https://www.getmailspring.com/setup/access-sbcglobal-net-via-imap-smtp





- Patrick
======

 

[IWT]

@poppi

Try this:

Open Mail.

Go to Mail Preferences

Click on the relevant account (btinternet.com in my case).

Then Click on Server Settings - Red arrow



After clicking on Server Settings, this is what you will see:



Retype your Password in both incoming and outgoing as per Red arrows.

Then Click on Account exactly where the Yellow arrow is.

This will open a window like this:



Now choose Edit SMTP Server List - Yellow Arrow

This will open this window:



Make sure your account in question is highlighted - upper Red arrow

Put in your Password - lower Red arrow

Quit out of there and make sure you SAVE these changes.

That should, in most cases, solve the problem.

Ian

 

[Slydude]

Since this seems to be a recent issue I'll mention that the problem may be temporary. I've run inti this issue beforer where for periods ranging from a few minutes to an hour or more I was unable to send Mail only to have the problem mysteriosly disappear.

 

[pm-r]

Since this seems to be a recent issue I'll mention that the problem may be temporary.

Good valid point Sly, especially considering the OP said"

Suddenly I can't send mail.

That word suddenly is a bit odd.

Unless possibly they were using a laptop or mobile device and were connecting to a different, unsupported or unauthorized server perhaps.


I wonder if they got the problems sorted out???





- Patrick
======

 

[lclev]

Well the OP may not check back but Ian - you solved a problem I was having with my Live mail account. I did not know to drill down to the server list. For some reason I had two listed for my live account. I deleted one and updated the password of the other one and it worked!

Thanks Ian!

Edit: I would give you a rep point but I guess I have to spread it around. Must like your suggestions a lot! Thanks!

Lisa

 

[IWT]

Thanks, Lisa. Glad it helped, even second hand, as it were

And you are too kind.

Ian

 

[lclev]

Well I had the issue on my 2017 MB Pro but since I mostly run Spark mail, I was ignoring it. But I am finding I like the mail app layout better at times. Sometimes Spark can develop quirks that drive me crazy which later get fixed in updates. So I was bouncing between the two.

I find reading all the different suggestions on the forum, whether they apply to me or not, can later prove useful. Knowledge is never wasted. I appreciate everyone who shares what they know.

Lisa

 

[pm-r]

I find reading all the different suggestions on the forum, whether they apply to me or not, can later prove useful. Knowledge is never wasted. I appreciate everyone who shares what they know.

+1.

I think that also applies to quite a few of us here, at least myself, I always often learn something new here and appreciate it.




- Patrick
======

 

[poppi]

Hi Ian

As pointed out by several I have been remiss in not replying to all these generous suggestions, mostly because I continue to struggle with this problem. First a few answers:

The term "suddenly" was ill chosen Patrick. What I meant was that outgoing mail was working perfectly the night before and failed to send the next morning. The Mac was not shut down overnight and nothing in the setup was changed.

The problem does not appear to be temporary Slydude. It persists now for the third day in spite of everything I have tried thus far.

I did try deleting the account and adding it back - all of which happens automatically when I click the + and type in the email address. That did not solve the problem

Now a few facts. I am at O/S 10.6.8, Mail 4.6 (this may be relevant in reviewing my experience with Ian's suggestions).

I can receive mail but cannot send. My other Mac has no problem sending.

finally, I tried Ian's well presented suggestions and had the following experience:

In your very first screen shot the 'server settings' tab is labeled 'Advanced' on mine. I did finally get to 'Edit Edit SMTP list' and tried several changes, most of which I have forgotten, and suddenly all my outbox stuff whooshed away and I can now send mail so the problem is solved.

I am sorry to display my ignorance and confess I have no idea what solved the problem but I am very grateful to all who tried to help, especially you Ian.

Thanks an awful lot

poppi

 

[pm-r]

In your very first screen shot the 'server settings' tab is labeled 'Advanced' on mine. I did finally get to 'Edit Edit SMTP list' and tried several changes, most of which I have forgotten, and suddenly all my outbox stuff whooshed away and I can now send mail so the problem is solved.

I am sorry to display my ignorance and confess I have no idea what solved the problem but I am very grateful to all who tried to help, especially you Ian.

Thanks an awful lot
poppi

Now might be a good time to take some screen shots of the now working account settings, including server stuff!!

And stick them in a folder in a safe place.





- Patrick
======

 

[poppi]

Now might be a good time to take some screen shots of the now working account settings, including server stuff!!

And stick them in a folder in a safe place.





- Patrick
======

Wonderful suggestion Patrick. I will do that tomorrow

poppi

 

[pm-r]

Wonderful suggestion Patrick. I will do that tomorrow

poppi

OK, but I'm sending this as a reminder 'cause we all know about tomorrow… and 'round 'tuits…



- Patrick
======

 

[IWT]

and suddenly all my outbox stuff whooshed away and I can now send mail so the problem is solved.

I have no idea what solved the problem

Magic? Your canny technique with the keys? Hidden talents to the fro'? Who cares - you did it poppi. Well done!

Ian

 

[poppi]

OK, but I'm sending this as a reminder 'cause we all know about tomorrow… and 'round 'tuits…



- Patrick
======

Thank you Patrick for the prod. I have taken and printed screen shots of the mail settings for both our macs and filed them in my "Setup" file. A very good piece of advice.

 

[pm-r]

Thank you Patrick for the prod. I have taken and printed screen shots of the mail settings for both our macs and filed them in my "Setup" file. A very good piece of advice.

Well, I hope they will be useful in the years to come if and when needed, and I had done the same thing some years ago.

My smugness disappeared however when I went to use them after an e-mail account suddenly wouldn't let me send any message not too long ago and I had to rely on contacting my ISP who took quite a while to figure out what was going on and why.

It seems my ISP sub contracted an old grandfathered E-mail account I still use to some different server and they had changed the settings needed. I also discovered I needed different settings on my mobile Mac depending whether I was connected to my ISPs router at home, and different settings if I was connecting from some other source away from home.

Anyway, mostly sorted out and working.




- Patrick
======