Automatically detect and maintain account settings in Mail on your Mac

Mail automatically adjusts certain account settings to keep your email working.

In OS X Yosemite v10.10 or later, Mail adjusts the following email settings whenever it can't send or receive email. If the changes don't resolve the issue, Mail restores your previous settings.

  • Port
  • Use SSL
  • Authentication
  • User Name (with or without your account's domain name)

How to control this feature

Mail doesn't change settings that are working, so it's best to leave this feature turned on.

For incoming email

When “Automatically detect and maintain account settings” is turned on for incoming email, Mail can adjust the settings that allow it to receive messages. 

  1. In Mail, choose Mail > Preferences, then click Accounts.
  2. Select the email account from the list.
  3. Click the Advanced tab.
  4. Use the “Automatically detect and maintain account settings” checkbox to control this feature.
    If the setting is dimmed, it must remain enabled for your email provider.

Mail settings for incoming email

For outgoing email

When “Automatically detect and maintain account settings” is turned on for outgoing email, Mail can adjust the settings that allow it to send messages.

  1. In Mail, choose Mail > Preferences, then click Accounts.
  2. Select the email account from the list.
  3. Click the Account Information tab.
  4. From the Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP) pop-up menu, choose Edit SMTP Server List.
  5. Make sure that the account's SMTP server is selected in the list.
  6. Click the Advanced tab.
  7. Use the “Automatically detect and maintain account settings” checkbox to control this feature.
    If the setting is dimmed, it must remain enabled for your email provider.

Mail setting for outgoing email

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