Recent issues with getting email in OS 10.6.8 Mac Mail

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Sheleg2025 Author

Level 1

4 points

Recent issues with getting email in OS 10.6.8 Mac Mail

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this!

I'm running OS 10.6.8 on a mid-2010 MacBook Pro 17 inch.

Up until a few days ago, Mac Mail worked perfectly. Then, two email addresses with my ISP stopped GETTING mail. Sending was fine (I was able to confirm receipt on the other end), and mail could be sent and received via webmail. I contacted my ISP and they felt it was a Mac issue, as nothing had changed on their end.

Connection Doctor details: Couldn't connect to POP server. Check network, settings, etc.

I've tried the usual troubleshooting—confirming the POP settings for the troubled addresses, creating a new email address with my ISP and trying to set it up as POP (and deleting that after it didn't work), and then trying to set it up as IMAP, which also didn't work. I have other addresses linked to domains which are working fine.

In the past, if I had an issues with an application, deleting the app's preference or "plist" file would usually clear things up. While I realize deleting the plist file (or moving it to another location temporarily), may require redoing some things in Mail, does it delete the address as well, meaning I'd need to create the accounts again? I've already done this a few times for the troubled emails, but I also have those other few addresses that work great.

I guess I'm just trying to understand if deleting the plist will give me a fighting chance in getting those email addresses to work again, without creating issues for addresses that are OK.

Any suggested fixes are deeply appreciated. Thanks!

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Apr 11, 2025 5:34 PM

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Answer 1

John Galt

Level 10

150,920 points

Apr 11, 2025 6:10 PM in response to Sheleg2025

Long story short: Your ISP is mostly correct. You can expect to encounter continuing difficulties using Snow Leopard's version of the Mail app due to its inability to support recent IMAP, SMTP or even older POP authentication protocols. That cannot be fixed without upgrading the email client (Mail), which can't be accomplished without upgrading OS X / macOS.

Your Mac can be upgraded to High Sierra, but even its version of Mail is too old to support those older authentication methods. Certain email servers will continue to work, but that may not last much longer.

Workaround: Use a webmail client, but you will encounter similar difficulties since Snow Leopard's version of Safari may not work with those web pages. Same goes for High Sierra. Much newer browser clients such as Brave or Firefox may work, but both are at or near their end of life, even for High Sierra.

They are all casualties of various and sundry "security" manifestations that will never abate.

Bottom line: You're going to need a newer Mac to cope with those perpetually expanding technological impositions. Hopefully your next Mac will be good until 2040... but I have my doubts.

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Answer 2

Mac Jim ID

Level 8

41,256 points

Apr 11, 2025 5:42 PM in response to Sheleg2025

Who is the email provider?

Most are now adding a setting that you must allow a third party mail application to retrieve your emails. For those that have that option the settings is available when accessing your web mail. It may be in a security setting on your account when viewed online called Third Party Access or something to that affect.

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Answer 3

Sheleg2025 Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 15, 2025 6:04 PM in response to John Galt

Thanks John.

You confirmed what I was already starting to understand. I've been in touch with Sonic repeatedly and finally spoke to someone today who confirmed much the same.

I do have a newish Mac which I needed to get in order to use browsers and access newer websites. I was holding off on using Mail on the newer Mac since the older Mac had other software (read: Adobe CS6 Suite) that functions beautifully.

Thank you.

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