Mail - can't send emails?

[Big Stevie]

Could anyone offer any help please?

Ive suddenly started experiencing problems with sending emails in Mail. I am receiving emails just fine, but I get the following messages when trying to send emails. Looks like the Gmail and iCloud accounts I use are all offline?

 

[Bruno09]

Hi,

click on "Edit SMTP server list", and check that the passwords are presents.

If not, enter them.

For gmail :
server name : smtp.gmail.com
Port : 587
SSL : checked

 

[Big Stevie]

Thanks, I believe I have done that, but I still can't send mail.

It would appear that the email accounts I have are always appearing 'offline' for some reason..

However, elsewhere in the menu its says they are 'online'..

 

[Bruno09]

Since your mail accounts are IMAP accounts, you may try this : delete them, then set them up again.

This should solve the issue.

 

[Big Stevie]

Thanks, Ive just deleted them, and set them back up but the problem persists. My Calendar events are also now duplicated ...

I have my iCloud and gmail accounts set up, as before..

If I log directly into my gmail account I can send emails as normal, but I can't send emails via Mail.

 

[Goatllama]

Do you actually have 3 different Google accounts and three different iCloud accounts? Maybe some of those servers should be removed. And the doubled up calendar events is a little boggling, but may just be a temporary thing. Unless both accounts have the same events or something.

 

[Bruno09]

I would open the SMPT server list, delete all the servers (why do you have so many servers in that list ?), then add the right ones with the right infos.

 

[Big Stevie]

I have no idea why there are so many servers, I've since deleted them all and just re-added my iCloud and Gmail accounts, but the problem is still there. I can't send emails within Mail, but I am receiving them.

 

[Big Stevie]

This is confusing the hell out of me. My inability to send emails with Mail is only effecting my MacBook, I can send them just fine with my iPhone 7.

On my MacBook my two email accounts are always saying 'offline' for some reason? Can anyone please suggest why this is?

Also, when looking at the 'Outgoing Mail Account' it is always set to 'None'.

When trying to choose either my iCloud or Gmail account they are always saying 'Offline'.

When clicking on 'Edit SMPT Server List' the box is empty..

 

[Bruno09]

Obviously, if there is no sever in the smtp list, you can't send an email.

I am not sure for iCloud accounts, but for Gmail :

From System Preferences / Accounts, delete your Gmail account (do not disable, delete).

Restart your Mac.

Set up your Gmail account.

I know that you seem to have already done that.
But something did not work : when you add a new Gmail account from scratch, there is obviously a Gmail smtp server added to the smtp server list.

 

[chown33]

I recommend creating a new user account (System Preferences > Users & Groups), logging into that user account, and conducting trials from that account.

In particular, set up just one email account from the new user account. Confirm that the email account works. Then proceed to the next email account. Confirm that it works. If something doesn't work, stop at that point and tell us all the steps that lead to that point.

I also recommend using the Mail Connection Doctor window rather than having Mail.app check for mail. One reason is that you can have it show logs, which should provide more details, and you can also copy and paste into a post here.

The way you're doing it now, it's difficult to tell if the problem lies with the Mail app, Mail's preferences, the email account info, or the user account, or maybe something else. By starting from a virgin user account, and adding only one email account at a time, you break the problem down into single observable pieces. This makes it easier to work out what's happening, rather than trying to observe multiple pieces, any one of which may be malfunctioning, or which may be malfunctioning interdependently.

 

[Big Stevie]

Many thanks for the help so far.

Turning off/on my MacBook has got the Gmail server working again, so at least I am back to being able to send emails via Gmail. But the iCloud server is still remaining offline for some reason. Ive gone into iCloud settings and unticked then re-ticked the Mail check box, so I shall see what happens. Currently in Mail > Preferences the status of iCloud is hanging at 'Checking' but isn't connected as yet.

Just read chown33's post, and I shall give what you suggest a try, thanks.

 

[willmtaylor]

@Big Stevie , I've suddenly started having the EXACT same issues. From Apple Mail I can use Google and Exchange without issue, but I cannot SEND from iCloud.

Additionally, any time I try to edit the server list, it deselects any outgoing server. Extremely frustrating.
[doublepost=1493314655][/doublepost]

I also recommend using the Mail Connection Doctor window rather than having Mail.app check for mail. One reason is that you can have it show logs, which should provide more details, and you can also copy and paste into a post here.

This shows no details. It simply states that it was able to connect without issue. However, when I return to Server Settings, there's always "None" in the "Outgoing Mail Account" dropdown box.

 

[Big Stevie]

@Big Stevie , I've suddenly started having the EXACT same issues. From Apple Mail I can use Google and Exchange without issue, but I cannot SEND from iCloud.

Frustrating isn't it!

Im back now to being able to send emails, having deleted all accounts, then re-adding them, and then fully turning off my MacBook before turning back on. But I think all my sent emails are going via Gmail and not iCloud, and I'm not sure how to set iCloud as the default to see if iCloud is working or not.

 

[willmtaylor]

Frustrating isn't it!

Im back now to being able to send emails, having deleted all accounts, then re-adding them, and then fully turning off my MacBook before turning back on. But I think all my sent emails are going via Gmail and not iCloud, and I'm not sure how to set iCloud as the default to see if iCloud is working or not.

The most frustrating part is watching my selected outgoing account CHANGE ITSELF back to "None" from the server I had selected.

I'm starting to wonder whether it's an SMTP issue, as this is a university machine.

 

[Big Stevie]

The most frustrating part is watching my selected outgoing account CHANGE ITSELF back to "None" from the server I had selected.

I'm starting to wonder whether it's an SMTP issue, as this is a university machine.

The only suggestion I can make is to delete all your accounts in Mail, and them reinstall one of them, turn off/on your computer and check if it is working. Then repeat.

 

[willmtaylor]

The only suggestion I can make is to delete all your accounts in Mail, and them reinstall one of them, turn off/on your computer and check if it is working. Then repeat.

*SIGH*

Yeah, no issues with my Gmail or my university's exchange account. I can even send from my Gmail and receive in iCloud.

I've deleted my iCloud and restarted several times now to no avail. Not sure what I'm going to do next. Thanks for the empathy.

 

[Big Stevie]

*SIGH*

Yeah, no issues with my Gmail or my university's exchange account. I can even send from my Gmail and receive in iCloud.

I've deleted my iCloud and restarted several times now to no avail. Not sure what I'm going to do next. Thanks for the empathy.

If its any consolation, its iCloud that I think I might still be having problems with.

 

[Fishrrman]

I don't use Gmail, but I've heard of many problems trying to use Apple's Mail.app to access it.

A suggestion:
Try another email client, just for "purposes of experimentation".
You might try Thunderbird -- it's free.

See if you can get it set up and working ok.
This isn't "a solution" -- but will get you "working email" until you sort out the problems with Mail.app...

 

[bambabela]

*SIGH*

Yeah, no issues with my Gmail or my university's exchange account. I can even send from my Gmail and receive in iCloud.

I've deleted my iCloud and restarted several times now to no avail. Not sure what I'm going to do next. Thanks for the empathy.

Check the firewall settings in your router. Sometimes there is a global email spam protection filter which blocks your devices to use the icloud smtp server.