Problems adding an account
If you are experiencing issues adding an account to Mailbird for Mac because the authentication has failed, then this article will explain how you can resolve this.
Although failed authentications tend to occur quite rarely, this article aims to provide some simple yet effective ways to resolve this kind of problem.
Below is a screenshot which illustrates the kind of message which you will normally see in these cases.
Suggested Fixes
Below are some common ways to resolve this problem. We invite you to try each one, since it might be caused by a combination of these problems.
- A common reason for a failed authentication is an incorrect user-name and password combination. Please ensure that you are typing in each one correctly.
- Please ensure that your antivirus or security software is not blocking Mailbird for Mac. This is another common reason for a failed authentication.
-
We always suggest whitelisting Mailbird for Mac in whichever software you use to protect your device, or alternatively turning off entirely your antivirus or security software whilst using Mailbird for Mac (if it does not allow you to whitelist programs).
-
We always suggest whitelisting Mailbird for Mac in whichever software you use to protect your device, or alternatively turning off entirely your antivirus or security software whilst using Mailbird for Mac (if it does not allow you to whitelist programs).
- If you are using a VPN connection, please try turning off the VPN, and attempt to authenticate yourself again after you have disabled it.
Email-specific suggestions
- If you are a Gmail user, please make sure that OAuth2 is selected as an Authentication setting as Username & Password are no longer supported by Google.
- If you are a Yahoo user ensure OAuth2 is selected as an Authentication setting. If that does not work, then you may need to create a third-party password. To do this, please visit their page here to find out what to do. The third-party password should be used with Username and Password as Authentication settings for your Yahoo account.
- If you are an iCloud user, then you will have to create an app-specific password. To do this, please visit Apple's page here to find out what to do.
- Please also note that if you are trying to add an iCloud account which uses an alias or a custom email domain, you will need to click on Edit server settings after you have inserted your app-specific password into the relevant field.
- Next, in the Incoming server details and Outgoing server details section, enter into the username field either your Apple ID (which can be found in your macOS system settings) or your primary iCloud account (the details of which can be found at https://www.icloud.com/mail in Preferences).
- Please also note that if you are trying to add an iCloud account which uses an alias or a custom email domain, you will need to click on Edit server settings after you have inserted your app-specific password into the relevant field.
- If you are a Personal Zoho user, then you need to use the imap.zoho.com IMAP server - however, if you are a Zoho Business user, you need to use imappro.zoho.com.
- Furthermore, if you have 2FA (2 Factor Authentication) enabled then you will need to generate an application-specific password. If you do not have it enabled, then you can simply use your usual password. More information (provided directly by Zoho) can be found by clicking here.
- Furthermore, if you have 2FA (2 Factor Authentication) enabled then you will need to generate an application-specific password. If you do not have it enabled, then you can simply use your usual password. More information (provided directly by Zoho) can be found by clicking here.
- If you are a BT Internet user, occasionally the password might not work even if you have typed it in correctly. The workaround is to change your password for your email account in your webmail (i.e. by logging into BT Internet's email login page), and then try to add your account once again to Mailbird for Mac after you have set a new password.
If you still aren't able to successfully connect you email account, then please submit a Support Ticket via the Contact Us form and we will do our very best to help you.