If your Mac is connected to the Internet but suddenly starts asking for your password, you should generally try again later, and if necessary work with your email provider to resolve. If you're using Apple's iCloud Mail, learn how to resolve issues with iCloud Mail.
If this is the first account you're creating in Outlook 2016 for Mac or Outlook 2019 for Mac, on the Welcome screen, choose Add Email Account, type your email address, choose Continue, and under Choose the provider, choose Exchange. Set up Exchange account access using Outlook for Mac. If you have Outlook for Mac, you can use it to access your Exchange account. See Add an email account to Outlook for instructions. Set up Exchange account access using Mac OS X 10.10 or later. If you're running Mac OS X version 10.10 or later, follow these steps to set up an Exchange email. At the near end of Window Live Mail, I was scouring the internet for a replacement. Outlook is primitive in comparison and Windows 10 Mail is horrid. I found eM Client and I am a happy camper again. My email, contacts and calendar are at my fingertips as it was with Windows Live Mail. How to Add Exchange Email to Spark for Mac. If you are already using Spark Mail app on your Mac and want to add your Exchange account, simply follow these steps. Launch Spark for Mac; At the top left of your screen, click on 'Spark' 'Add Account' Click on the 'Exchange' icon from the grid of email.
Why is Mail asking for your password?
Mail asks for your password when it is connecting to your email provider, but can't connect to your email account because your email provider isn't accepting your email password.
Your email provider may reject your password for several reasons, including:
- You're not using your current email password. If you updated the password on another device, make sure that you're using the same password on your Mac.
- Your email provider needs you to update or reset your password for security reasons. For example, if you're using Google's two-step verification, your Gmail account in Mail requires the appropriate app-specific password.
- Your email provider deactivated or suspended your account. Contact your email provider for help.
Check your password in Internet Accounts preferences
Depending on the type of email account you're using, you might be able to correct the password as follows:
- Quit Mail. If it doesn't quit, you can force it to quit.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Internet Accounts.
- Select your mail account in the sidebar.
- If you see a password field for your account, delete the password and type the correct password.
- Close System Preferences, then open Mail and try using your account again.
If Mail still asks for your password, the password is probably incorrect. Your email provider can help you verify your email settings and make sure that you're using the correct password.
Test using webmail
Many email providers offer webmail, which is a way to use email with a web browser such as Safari, instead of with an email app such as Mail. For example, if you're using an iCloud Mail account, you can use iCloud.com to send and receive email.
Because the password that you use with Mail is usually the same password that you use with webmail, try signing in to webmail with that password. If it doesn't work there either, your password is probably incorrect. Your email provider can help you verify your email settings and make sure that you're using the correct password for the Mail app.
Remove your account, then add it back
If no other solutions work, try setting up your email account again. To do that, first remove your email account, then add the account back.
Learn more
- If you're using Apple's iCloud Mail, learn how to resolve issues with iCloud Mail. The password that you use with iCloud Mail is your Apple ID password. Learn what to do if you forgot your Apple ID password or want to change your Apple ID password.
- If you forgot or want to change the email password for a different email service, contact the email provider or request a password reset from their website.
How to change your default web browser
- Make sure that the other web browser is installed.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click General.
- Choose a web browser from the 'Default web browser' menu.
How to change your default email app
- Make sure that the other email app is installed. Although you might be able to use a web browser for email (webmail), a web browser isn't an email app.
- Open the Mail app.
- Choose Mail > Preferences, then click General.
- Choose an email app from the 'Default email reader' menu.
No Supported Mail Client Mac
Test using webmail
Many email providers offer webmail, which is a way to use email with a web browser such as Safari, instead of with an email app such as Mail. For example, if you're using an iCloud Mail account, you can use iCloud.com to send and receive email.
Because the password that you use with Mail is usually the same password that you use with webmail, try signing in to webmail with that password. If it doesn't work there either, your password is probably incorrect. Your email provider can help you verify your email settings and make sure that you're using the correct password for the Mail app.
Remove your account, then add it back
If no other solutions work, try setting up your email account again. To do that, first remove your email account, then add the account back.
Learn more
- If you're using Apple's iCloud Mail, learn how to resolve issues with iCloud Mail. The password that you use with iCloud Mail is your Apple ID password. Learn what to do if you forgot your Apple ID password or want to change your Apple ID password.
- If you forgot or want to change the email password for a different email service, contact the email provider or request a password reset from their website.
How to change your default web browser
- Make sure that the other web browser is installed.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click General.
- Choose a web browser from the 'Default web browser' menu.
How to change your default email app
- Make sure that the other email app is installed. Although you might be able to use a web browser for email (webmail), a web browser isn't an email app.
- Open the Mail app.
- Choose Mail > Preferences, then click General.
- Choose an email app from the 'Default email reader' menu.
No Supported Mail Client Mac
You might be prompted to add an email account before you can change the setting in Mail. If you don't want to do that, check the preferences of the other email app. You might be able to set a default email app from there.
Exchange Mail Client For Macs
Learn more
Install Mail Client
Change the default web browser or email app on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
