---
title: "Updated: How to Set up Mac Mail"
description: "The following tutorial will demonstrate how to set up a mail account in the Apple Mail client (also known as Mac Mail). This tutorial describes how to set up Apple Mail in the Mavericks OS (OSX..."
url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/email/mac-mail-mavericks-os/
date: 2014-05-06
modified: 2023-03-02
author: "InMotion Hosting Contributor"
categories: ["Email"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Updated: How to Set up Mac Mail

![Updated How to Setup Apple Mail (Mac mail)](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/setup-apple-mail-1024x538.jpg)

The following tutorial will demonstrate **how to set up a mail account in the Apple Mail client** (also known as Mac Mail). This tutorial describes how to set up Apple Mail in the Mavericks OS (OSX 10.9.2) and MacOS Ventura (version 13.1). The Apple Mail version in Mavericks OS is version 7.2[1874], and the Ventura version is 16.0 [3731]. Using an InMotion Hosting account, you can [set up email accounts](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/email/how-to-create-an-email-account/) through the cPanel. Mac Mail allows you to access these email accounts and manage your emails.

If you are unsure what your email settings are, you can find them with our [Email Configuration](/support/tools/email-configuration/) tool.

- [Changing Server Settings in Apple Mail (video)](#video)
- [Setting Up an Email Account with Apple Mail (Mavericks version)](#mavericks)
- [Setting Up an Email Account with Apple Mail (Ventura version)](#ventura)
- [Troubleshooting the Mail Server Connection](#troubleshooting)
- [Error Message: "Could Not Be Moved to the Mailbox"](#error)

## Changing Server Settings in Apple Mail (video)

https://youtu.be/HDL2fyR_u_E

## Setting up an Email Account with Apple Mail (Mavericks version)

1. Open the **Apple Mail** client.
2. There are a few different ways to open a new account. In the menu bar for **Mail**, scroll down and click on **Add Account**.![Add new mail account option](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/edu_mavericks-email_add-new-mail-account-2.png)You can also click on **Accounts** and then you will see a window labeled **Internet Accounts** with a list of email account types listed at the right starting with iCloud. Scroll to the bottom of that list and then select **Add Other Account**. If you're not using a mouse, but you have a trackpad, you can scroll up or down the list by placing the mouse pointer over the list, then use two fingers simultaneously and stroke the pad either up or down.![Add new email account](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/edu_mavericks-email_add-new-mail-account.png)In the same **Internet Accounts** screen, you can click on any existing account in the left-hand column, then click on the plus sign in the bottom left hand corner to make the list appear for the account types at right. Scroll down, and click on **Add Other Account** to start the account addition process.
3. Depending on the method you used above, you will see one of two screens to add an email account. If you selected **Add Account** from the **Mail** menu list, then click on **Add Other Mail Account**, then the click on **Continue**.![Add new email account](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/edu_mavericks-email_create-mail-account-2.png)If you used either of the other methods, click on **Add Other Account** at the bottom of the email account types. You will then see another list of account types. By default, it is set to "Add a Mail account". Leave this option selected and click on the **Create** button to continue.![Another way to add new email account](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/edu_mavericks-email_create-mail-account-1.png)
4. You will see a window labeled **Add a Mail Account** that allows you to add the full name, email address and password for the account you're setting up. Fill in the fields then click on **CREATE** to continue. Apple Mail will then attempt to auto-create the account. If it cannot create the account automatically, then you will see a message appear stating "Account must be manually configured." Click on **Next** in order to get to the next step.![Add new email account](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/edu_mavericks-email_name-the-account.png)
5. In the **Incoming Mail Server info** window, select the account protocol that you wish to use: [IMAP or POP](/support/email/checking-email-account/).![incoming server](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/edu_mavericks-email_incoming-server2.png)
6. Click in the **Mail Server** field and type in the setting for your mail server. If you need help with this field, please review the tutorial on finding your email settings.
7. Fill in your **User Name** and your **Password** for the email account. This was set when you created the email account in cPanel. The **User Name** must be an email address. For example: *someone@example.com*. You can also find documentation on [changing your email password](/support/email/changing-email-password-in-cpanel/) if you have forgotten it or if it needs to be updated.
8. Click on **Next**. Apple Mail will try to verify the password before continuing. If it is unable to verify the password, then it will give you a message: "Additional account information required". Once the password is verified, it will jump to the next screen.
9. The **Incoming Mail Server Info** screen starts off with the **Path Prefix**. As per the screenshot, set this to "**INBOX**". Port settings depend upon the protocol you have chosen. The **Authentication** password is the same as the email account password. Click **Next** to continue.![Marker options](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/edu_mavericks-email_incoming-server-settings2.png)[](/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/edu_mavericks-email_approve-certificate.png)You may or may not see a **Verify Certificate** window. It depends on whether you have approved the certificate in the past.It will state the following: **The identity of "mail.example.com" cannot be verified**. Click on **Connect** to verify the certificate. This prompt will only appear if you have not approved the certificate to connect with the server in the past or if it was updated. See [Problems with Verifying the Server below](#verifying).
10. You will next see the **Outgoing Mail Server Info** screen. The SMTP server settings are the same as the Outgoing Server settings that can be found in the [How to find your email settings](/support/email/view-email-settings/) article. The **User Name** is the same as the user name in the **Incoming server** section name - it is the email account name in full. For example: *someone@example.com*. The next field is for the **password** of the email account. Type it in, then click on **Create** to proceed.
11. This screen will show the **Port**, **SSL** and **Authentication** options for the **Outgoing mail server**. The port number for the Outgoing mail server is either 25, 587 (non-SSL), or 465 (SSL). The following table summarizes the settings: Port setting Description AUTO Lets the computer choose the port to be used. Not recommended as the computer may sometimes "hunt" for the port. 25 This is the default outgoing port, but may be blocked by the internet provider for spam prevention. 587 This is the recommended outgoing port. 465 This is the port used for SSL settings. You will need to click on the checkbox that says "Use SSL".
12. The **Authentication** drop-down menu displays five different options, but you will need to select Password. Click the button labeled Create to proceed.

### Problems With Verifying the Identity of the Server During Setup

If you continually see the **Approve Certificate** window appear, ensure that the certificate matches the entry you used for the incoming mail server (above). If it does not match, then click on Cancel or Show certificate. The Show certificate option will allow you to see the certificate's details. Make sure that it matches the server you're trying to connect to. If it does not, and you're confused about this detail, then [contact the technical support department](/support/amp/how-to-get-great-technical-support/) so that they can review the information and make sure it's correct.

## Setting Up an Email Account with Apple Mail (Ventura version)

With the latest versions of the Apple OS, the steps for setting up the Apple Mail email client have changed.

1. Open the **Apple Mail client**.
2. Click on **Mail **in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. Click on **Accounts**.![Create new email account ](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/add-account.jpg)
4. Click on **Add Account**. You will see a list of types you can select.
5. Click on** Add Other Account**.![Add another account](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/add-another-acct.jpg)
6. You will see another list. Click on **Mail account**.![Mail account creation](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/create-mail-acct.jpg)
7. Type in the mail account information that you are using for the setup.![Add mail account info](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/add-mail-acct-info.jpg)
8. At this point, Apple mail will try to verify the account. If it fails, then you will be able to add more information about the email server. This includes the mail server information.![Add more email account info when initial verification fails](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/more-acct-info-1.jpg)

Once the account is confirmed, the email client can display, read, and compose emails from the account.

## Troubleshooting the Email Server Connection

At this point, the Apple Mail client will connect and load up the mail in the account. You will see the new mail account appear under the Inbox icon. If you continue to have account creation problems, try changing the settings to use the SSL settings as indicated in the email settings article. If the problem persists after trying those settings, please contact our [live technical support team](/support/amp/how-to-get-great-technical-support/) via phone/chat/email for immediate assistance.

[![Mac Mail home screen](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/edu_mavericks-email_mac-mail-home-screen.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/edu_mavericks-email_mac-mail-home-screen.png)

## Error Message: "Could Not Be Moved to the Mailbox"

This error may occur when moving your email account from one host to another. This is basically a sync issue with Apple Mail that can be corrected in a few different ways. One user reported having to delete the account in Apple Mail and re-add it. Other community users have reported the following:

### Shutting Off Mail and Re-enabling Mail App

1. In Settings, click on **Mail **> **Accounts**> **** > **shut off "mail."** NOTE: This option is not available in the newest versions of **Apple Mail**. You would have to uncheck "**Enable this account**" to disable the account.
2. Force quit **Apple Mail**.
3. Open the **Mail **app and check that there is no mail for the account.
4. Force quit the **Mail **app again.
5. Open **Mail**.
6. Go to **Settings **and re-enable the account.

The account should then re-sync without the error.

### Rebuild Mail Account

If you have the latest version of the Mac OS, then this option may work better, as Apple Mail includes a new option for rebuilding the account.

1. Uncheck "**Enable this account**" in **Mail** > **Settings **> **Account Information**.
2. Force quit **Apple Mail**.
3. Re-open the **Mail **app.
4. Go to **Settings **and re-enable the account.
5. Close the **Accounts **window.
6. Select the **Mail account **(if you have more than one).
7. In the Apple Mail menu, go to **Mailbox** > **Rebuild**.

This should rebuild the account and fix the error. If either of these methods still result in the error, remove and re-add the account before re-syncing or rebuilding the account.

---

You should now be able to setup Apple Mail in either the older or newer versions of Mac OS. We have also reviewed how to troubleshoot email server connections and solutions for the "could not be moved to Mailbox" error.