Mail app sends messages directly to Outbox

R

robian

Registered
This is odd. Any mail I compose (in the standard Mac Mail app) goes directly to my outbox, and will not send. This is only true of my desktop computer. My laptop (using the same settings) sends mail easily. I can receive mail with no problem. Connection Doctor shows that I'm connecting to the server. Port settings, etc. are the same I've used for years with no problems whatsoever. Even when I use other mail servers with which I have accounts, the same thing happens, so it's an issue specific to my Mac and my Mail app, not the mail server.

Dual2.7Ghz G5, 4.5 Gig Ram, System 10.4.11...

Any ideas?

Thanks, Robert
 
open Mail then go to the menu item "Window" and select "Connection Doctor" and window will pop up and you can watch what mail is trying to say to the email server. This way you can really trace down exactly where the problem is.
 
Good thought, but I've already tried it... As I stated in the original post, Connection Doctor connects with no problems. Perplexing, no?

Robert
 
The plot thickens... I've downloaded Thunderbird, and it's able to send mail without a problem, so the problem is strictly with Mac Mail. One, how do I fix it? And two, if fixing it isn't easy or possible, how do I import ALL my mail into Thunderbird? It doesn't seem to have an intuitive way to import settings from Mac Mail, unless I'm just missing it...

Robert
 
Then quit Mail, go to the folder /YourHardDrive/Users/YourUserName/library/Preferences/ and find the file com.apple.mail.plist and move it to the trash. Then relaunch Mail, put in the same email server settings that Thunderbird uses and see if it works.
 
If you are trying to send messages from a foreign account, then you will may have to rethink your strategy. Most email is sent to an SMTP server which, in turn, relays it foward. Most ISPs block access to foreign SMTP servers. There are three possible solutions/workarounds:
  • Change the SMTP (out-going mail) port to 587.
  • Use the ISP's SMTP server.
  • Use your mail provider's webmail client.
 
Not a foreign account, thanks though. This is related to Mail preferences, since the previous solution seems to have worked.

Thanks, Satcomer... now I have to resetup about ten email accounts, but at least I can send mail!

Best, Robert
 
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