Mac Mail - Unable to verify account name or password

Question

Level 1

26 points

Mac Mail - Unable to verify account name or password

Hi I have a 21.5", mid-2011 iMac running High Sierra 10.13.6 (the last update possible).

I use it for my work email (Exchange/Office 365) and iCloud. Both have been fine for years.

However today my Mail app asked me to confirm my password and it keeps saying Unable to verify account name or password. I have tried inputting it manually and also copying it and pasting it, but to not avail.

I have tried:

* Removing the account and re-adding it (even in safe mode)

* Restarting the computer

* Changing the password

* Checking if Multi factor authentication is on. It wasn't, I tried turning it on, then off and both ways made no difference.

* I've created an app password from within Office 365 and it won't accept that password either

* I've tried setting it up as an other mail account, rather than Exchange

* Checking if my mail account works on my iPhone, iPad and 2017 MacBook Pro (it works on all of them).

Wondering if anyone has any genius ideas?

Thanks!

Posted on Oct 4, 2022 03:55 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 18, 2022 03:46 AM in response to richwraps

Same here...running a 21.5" iMac on High Sierra and also a Mac Book Pro 13" Early 2011 on High Sierra. Both stopped talking to my work email through Office 365 email using exchange. My iPhone exchange still works though so I can still use Apple Mail on iPhone.

Very frustrating....everything worked great. Then two weeks ago...everything stopped talking to each other.

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Answer 2

richwraps Author

Level 1

26 points

Oct 4, 2022 04:36 PM in response to richwraps

Sorry, but to clarify this issue only relates to Exchange/Office 365. Couldn't see how to edit previous post.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

250,013 points

Oct 4, 2022 04:57 PM in response to richwraps

You only have 10-15 minutes to edit a post & it's not clear at all how to do it... click on the tiny v shaped down arrow to the right of the Helpful button.

I haven't used Exchange in decades, but see if this applies...

Using app passwords with apps that don't support two-step verification (microsoft.com)

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Answer 4

mat48

Level 1

0 points

Nov 7, 2022 05:22 AM in response to richwraps

I had this problem. Mail was requesting password and I then got the "Unable to verify ..." message.

I tried removing and adding back accounts, to no avail.

Today it suddenly worked and brought up the Microsoft login dialog, rather than the Mail password one. I entered my password and now everything works.

The only difference was that this time I had quit Mail, then removed the accounts, before adding back in. Previously it had been running.

Hope this works for you.

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Answer 5

FLEE1965

Level 1

13 points

Oct 7, 2022 05:30 AM in response to richwraps

I have the exact same problem from Oct 5th. Frustrated beyond belief as there is nothing online to find fix. It happened to my phone also but that was fixed immediately

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Answer 6

richwraps Author

Level 1

26 points

Oct 7, 2022 06:49 AM in response to FLEE1965

I've got to say that I've tried using Spark Mail since this issue and so far found it to be a better email client than the native Mac Mail. And most importantly, the issue doesn't appear there.

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