Question for people using Mac Mail to access AOL Mail

[mac_in_tosh]

I'm using AOL Mail because Verizon switched us to it a few years ago. In March, I received an email from AOL saying certain steps will have to be taken or else we won't be able to access our email using Mail after June 1 and I had posted some questions about it. It appeared to be a real email from AOL.

I haven't done anything yet as I am still somewhat confused about it. I expected as June 1 came closer that there would be one or more reminder emails from AOL but so far there hasn't been any. So I'm wondering if the changes are still necessary or whether AOL has pushed back the date. Anyone know?

Thanks.

 

[Macky-Mac]

Last year I received similar emails saying that I had to take action by some specific date (which I forget, but it was in last October I think).....and sure enough, I had to do those things because I started having trouble with my aol accounts using Mail after whatever the date was. I suspect that the timing might be dependent upon which Mac OS you're using.

 

[Blowback]

AOL still exists???? NOT trying to be sarcastic.

 

[KaliYoni]

We've all seen this movie before, no?

AOL Mail and Apple Mail App

Several years ago, Verizon got out of the email business and handed things over to AOL, although we retained our @verizon.net addresses. I have been accessing these emails using the Apple Mail app on my MB Pro. I am getting emails purportedly from AOL saying "To help protect the security of your...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Analog Kid]

Reads title.
Reads date of OP.
*blink* *blink* *blink*
Reads title.
Reads date of OP.


I'm kidding... I still pay $20 a month to maintain an email address I've had since dialup because half my family still uses it and they only know how to reach me by finding an earlier email in their inbox and hitting reply. I know to never trust a subject line anymore...

 

[mac_in_tosh]

AOL still exists???? NOT trying to be sarcastic.

Those of us who wanted to keep their -----@verizon.net email addresses didn't have a choice in the matter.

 

[mac_in_tosh]

We've all seen this movie before, no?

AOL Mail and Apple Mail App

Several years ago, Verizon got out of the email business and handed things over to AOL, although we retained our @verizon.net addresses. I have been accessing these emails using the Apple Mail app on my MB Pro. I am getting emails purportedly from AOL saying "To help protect the security of your...

forums.macrumors.com

I'm not sure what the point of your post is. I said I had posted previously with some questions about the changes required but I wasn't sure anyone was still following it. This post is about the timing. So it's not the same movie, maybe a sequel.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I have a AOL mail account set up in Mac Mail and it is running as it should.

edited to add: Never mind. I missed the Verizon aspect. I don't have Verizon.

 

[mac_in_tosh]

I have a AOL mail account set up in Mac Mail and it is running as it should.

edited to add: Never mind. I missed the Verizon aspect. I don't have Verizon.

The issue AOL raised in its March email was not limited to Verizon, as far as I know. It was about accessing AOL Mail using a third party app such as Mac Mail. You didn't receive such an email?

 

[Apple_Robert]

The issue AOL raised in its March email was not limited to Verizon, as far as I know. It was about accessing AOL Mail using a third party app such as Mac Mail. You didn't receive such an email?

If I did, I don't recall seeing it. I haven't done anything different with my account.

 

[mac_in_tosh]

I suspect that the timing might be dependent upon which Mac OS you're using.

Interesting. When I received the email I was using Catalina but subsequently updated to Big Sur. Might that be the reason for not getting any more warning emails - that using Mac Mail with Big Sur meets AOL's requirements?

 

[velocityg4]

I expect like many other e-mail providers. AOL is now going to enforce OAUTH2 sign in.

In Apple Mail on iOS and macOS. You should just need to remove and re-add your AOL account. Choosing AOL in the provider options. Then it should add it back using the proper authentication system.

I couldn't say which macOS and iOS versions are the earliest to support the new login by default. OAUTH2 has been around for a while. But when you choose a listed provider. It applies automatic settings. So, I couldn't say which is the earliest with the updated automatic settings.

If it doesn't work. Because your OS is too old. You'll need to generate an app specific password from AOL. Just be aware this password is only for your mail program. Not AOL in general. If you have multiple computers you'll generate passwords for each one, well each client. If you're using multiple e-mail clients on one computer for some reason.

Ways to securely access AOL Mail

Learn about the options available for accessing AOL Mail.

help.aol.com

 

[Macky-Mac]

Interesting. When I received the email I was using Catalina but subsequently updated to Big Sur. Might that be the reason for not getting any more warning emails - that using Mac Mail with Big Sur meets AOL's requirements?

as to your question, I don't know. I received at least a couple of "the date is appraoching" type of emails.

I did what they said to do, and for 2 of my 3 aol accounts, it worked....for a while. Then several months after the deadline one of them stopped working, and a bit later the last one stopped working. Now I have to checkable three thru web mail, which works but isn't convenient as I have to log in and log out for each of them.

Unlike you, I'm using relatively older Mac OS versions.

I suspect that velocityg4 is on to the reason this is an issue

 

[mac_in_tosh]

In Apple Mail on iOS and macOS. You should just need to remove and re-add your AOL account. Choosing AOL in the provider options. Then it should add it back using the proper authentication system.

I couldn't say which macOS and iOS versions are the earliest to support the new login by default. OAUTH2 has been around for a while. But when you choose a listed provider. It applies automatic settings.

To follow up - I talked with AOL support and was told that even using Big Sur I would need to take steps to continue using Mac Mail after June 1. As mentioned above, I was guessing that the lack of any followup messages from AOL since the original March one was due to the fact that with Big Sur their security requirements were met.

Please confirm - I will plan to meet AOL's requirements by using the option of deleting the AOL mail account and re-establishing it. I assume that when I delete the AOL mail account I will not lose the contents of any folders that are listed under "On My Mac."

 

[senseless]

Please confirm - I will plan to meet AOL's requirements by using the option of deleting the AOL mail account and re-establishing it. I assume that when I delete the AOL mail account I will not lose the contents of any folders that are listed under "On My Mac

6 months with no response and I have the same question. Were you able to find out?

 

[Macky-Mac]

6 months with no response and I have the same question. Were you able to find out?

I didn't lose anything when I did the delete the AOL email account and then re-establish it routine.......but for other people, I suppose it would depend on whether they'd was set up their account as IMAP versus POP.

To be on the safe side, before you proceed you can export a copy of your mailboxes so that you could import the contents back again in case the worst happens when you do the routine.