iMAC 27"-2019/BigSur 11.7 // How can I save each of my 3 email accounts' settings on my Apple's Mail in order to copy them to other devices in one go, if/when something fails on either one of them?
Anyone out there with a simple explain? I am user, not techi.
Thanks in advance.
Ignacio
iMac 27″, macOS 11.6
There are ways to synchronize emails between multiple Macs, including the use of iCloud Keychain (to synchronize passwords), but if you want to also be able to synchronize the email CONTENT, that happens automatically when your email is IMAP or MS-Exchange, as all such emails are stored on the server and download automatically on other devices. However if you store email locally (not on the company's servers), or use POP email, or don't or won't use iCloud Keychain to synchronize passwords, synchronizing between Macs is possible but does require some "technical" steps of copying certain folders and files over, some of which are not normally visible to the user.
The simplest way for "disaster recovery" (which is what you are interested in, it sounds like), is to keep one or two Time Machine backups of your main computer current. If that computer fails, you can use Migration Assistant to "migrate" everything from the main computer user account(s) to another device. Then that other device will have all your files and accounts just as they are on the main computer -- all emails, passwords, settings, files, everything. You can also do this even if there has not been a disaster.
The Apple supported method of keeping things synchronized between Apple devices is to use iCloud for that. It can keep files, emails, etc. identical between multiple Apple devices.
There are ways to synchronize emails between multiple Macs, including the use of iCloud Keychain (to synchronize passwords), but if you want to also be able to synchronize the email CONTENT, that happens automatically when your email is IMAP or MS-Exchange, as all such emails are stored on the server and download automatically on other devices. However if you store email locally (not on the company's servers), or use POP email, or don't or won't use iCloud Keychain to synchronize passwords, synchronizing between Macs is possible but does require some "technical" steps of copying certain folders and files over, some of which are not normally visible to the user.
The simplest way for "disaster recovery" (which is what you are interested in, it sounds like), is to keep one or two Time Machine backups of your main computer current. If that computer fails, you can use Migration Assistant to "migrate" everything from the main computer user account(s) to another device. Then that other device will have all your files and accounts just as they are on the main computer -- all emails, passwords, settings, files, everything. You can also do this even if there has not been a disaster.
The Apple supported method of keeping things synchronized between Apple devices is to use iCloud for that. It can keep files, emails, etc. identical between multiple Apple devices.
Okay, thanks, but, even having all my 3 email accounts with the samme service provider (I assume that is what you call 'server) each has been constructed individually at somme diferent points (where not created samme day/month/year), so the data, passwords, etc. were not the samme on all of them. So, when I get issues with any of them I suffer trying to 'reconstruct' or change PWs, which I don't like to do, I think if there is not an easier uncomplicated way to 'reconstruct' the Settings for the given email-account, with something like I do with the individual Mail-boxes on each account. Sort of "export as:xxxx" and copy and move again to the device with the issues on that particular account. Am I explaining myself understandable? Hope so, if not, please advice. Thanks again.
Hi steve626,
Want to say, many thanks for you clear follow through, even I seem to understand it. I will hold on that solution so I avoid getting onto shallow unknown waters to me.
But, If I come to think on other issues, hope you will allow me to get back to you with my doubts.
Have a healthy and save time.
Ignacio
It isn’t necessary, unless your email accounts are “special”. All email accounts are server-based, meaning devices including your iMac are slave to the mail server(s).
Saving Mail Settings for export to other devices.
