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8 Messages
Error - Could not connect to SMTP server
I am on a Mac, Ventura 13.2.1
I bought a new phone and went to Xfinity store to change my plan. They said do it on the app, so I did but did not have my password, so I reset it there in the store. That is when all heck broke loose. I went home and all my email accounts were not able to connect to the SMTP server, so I changed the one account password, still no go. So I switched from POP to IMAP on all 4 email accounts and it worked great!
The next morning I get emails on all 4 accounts that there was suspicious activity (duh) and I had to change my passwords. So I did on three emails, the forth it won't let me and calling has not helped. Now I can't connect to the SMTP server on any of the email address' nor can I receive email on the one that I can not change the password.
I tried everything I could find online. I even deleted one email account from Mac mail and now I can't re-install it.
In summary I have 2 of 4 accounts that will receive emails, none that will send emails. One I cannot re-install, and one I cannot change the password.
I have no idea what to try next.
Accepted Solution
WDK99
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8 Messages
2 years ago
This worked until I tried to get my other devices on-line: After much messing around with the passwords, I have them all fixed. Turns out on the Mac there are several ways to update a password, the key is to find the right place to update it so it sticks. First I went into Keychain and deleted as many old passwords as I could find, but still did not get it to work. What finally worked - open the Connection Doctor window, click on the account that is not linking. Update the information to be EXACTLY the way it should be, i.e. account name, password, port, etc. Updating the information in Mail Preference or in System Preferences doesn't stick.
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flatlander3
Problem Solver
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1.5K Messages
2 years ago
Xfinity uses a Dovecot server for the SSL/authentication front end. I found some oddities with Mac mail while looking for something else on one of those servers. If you're look at the server side logs, you find that Mac mail makes multiple connection attempts in rapid succession -- 8 or more, as it tries to auto-configure an email account while trying different encryption schemes. It's trying to be helpful. I call it a misbehaving email client.
In the default config file for Dovecot, there's a limit of 12 connections allowed from a user from the same IP address. I don't know what Xfinity sets. Another thing that happens with a Mac, is the mail app is active regardless if you launch the app or not. It will still reach out and connect on a boot or resume. So if you've got 3 accounts dogging the server, and trying to setup another one that is failing configuration, you're going to end up in authentication timeout jail.
One possible work around that I found: Open your mail app. On the top banner, goto mail --> preferences, and disable the Xfinity accounts you have currently. Also, if you got other devices currently on your network that check your Xfinity email (phones, etc), temporarily disable WiFi or Ethernet for those. You're trying to stop those connection attempts too. For the email account that doesn't work, remove that partially configured one so it's not dogging the server.
Timeout jail lasts for 10-15 minutes depending on what they set. So then you just wait 10-15 minutes. After that, try to setup the email account that doesn't work. If that is successful, wait till it loads all the email for the account, and then enable the other accounts one at a time, and turn the rest of your stuff back on. Once they are configured, they seem to stay that way and don't connection bomb the server.
Perhaps it will work for you too.
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