In today’s digital age, email has become an essential communication tool for both personal and professional use. However, setting up and managing email accounts on devices like Mac and iPhone can sometimes be a bit challenging. One common issue that users encounter is the “Mail Account already exists” error message. This can be frustrating, as it prevents you from adding the desired email account to your device. But fear not, as we have compiled a comprehensive guide to help you troubleshoot and resolve this issue. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind this problem and provide step-by-step solutions for both Mac and iPhone users.
Why Does the “Mail Account Already Exists” Issue Occur?
The “Mail Account already exists” error message typically arises due to a problem with the iCloud keychain. When you attempt to add an email account to your Mac or iPhone, the iCloud keychain tries to sync the email account data. However, it may get stuck for various reasons, resulting in the error message. The email account you are trying to add is likely already present in your iCloud data, causing the synchronization process to fail. Fortunately, there are effective solutions to overcome this issue on both Mac and iPhone devices.
Steps to Fix the “Mail Account Already Exists” Issue on Mac
If you encounter the “Mail Account already exists” error message on your Mac, follow these steps to resolve the issue:
Turn on your Mac and click on the Apple logo located in the top left corner of the screen. This will open a drop-down menu.
From the drop-down menu, select “System Preferences” to access the system settings.
In the System Preferences window, locate and click on the “iCloud” option in the third row.
A new window will appear, displaying various iCloud settings and options. Click on the “Sign Out” button to sign out of your iCloud account.
Once you have successfully signed out, add the mail account that was encountering the error message.
After adding the account, sign back into your iCloud account.
By following these steps, you should no longer encounter the “Mail Account already exists” error message on your Mac.
Resolving the “Mail Account Already Exists” Issue on iPhone
If you are experiencing the “Mail Account already exists” problem on your iPhone, you can follow these steps to fix the issue:
Unlock your iPhone and go to the “Settings” app.
Scroll down and tap on your name at the top of the Settings menu. This will take you to your Apple ID settings.
In the Apple ID settings, scroll down and tap on the “Sign Out” option located at the bottom of the screen.
You will be prompted to enter your Apple ID password. Enter the password and tap the “Turn Off” option to sign out of your iCloud account.
After signing out, go to the “Mail” app on your iPhone and add the email account that was encountering the error message.
Once you have successfully added the account, go back to the Settings app and tap on “iCloud” to sign back into your iCloud account.
Following these steps should resolve the “Mail Account already exists” issue on your iPhone, allowing you to add the desired email account without any further complications.
Additional Suggestions from apple.stackexchange.com
In addition to the above solutions, users on apple.stackexchange.com have shared some additional suggestions to troubleshoot the “Mail Account already exists” issue. These suggestions can be helpful in case the primary solutions do not resolve the problem. Here are the suggestions provided by the Apple community:
Set up a brand new user account: Create a new user account on your Mac without iCloud and Apple ID. Try adding the mail account from the System Preferences’ Internet Accounts Preference Pane in the new user account.
Troubleshoot Gmail: If the issue persists, it could be related to problems with your Gmail account. Ensure that your Gmail settings are clear and try adding the mail account again. If necessary, consider reinstalling macOS from scratch to fix any underlying OS issues.
Check for corruption in user settings: If none of the above solutions work, there might be corruption in your user settings. Sign out of iCloud on your Mac with your normal account and delete any content synced to iCloud. Take a good backup before deleting any data and repeat the remove/add procedure.
If the problem still persists after trying these additional suggestions, it is advisable to seek further technical assistance or contact Apple Support for personalized guidance.
Conclusion
Encountering the “Mail Account already exists” error message can be frustrating, but with the right troubleshooting steps, you can overcome this issue on both Mac and iPhone devices. By signing out of your iCloud account, adding the desired email account, and signing back in, you can successfully resolve the problem. Additionally, the suggestions provided by the Apple community can be valuable in case the primary solutions do not yield the desired results. Remember to always keep your devices updated with the latest software versions to avoid any compatibility issues. With these solutions at your disposal, you can enjoy seamless email account setup and management on your Mac and iPhone.
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Experiencing difficulties with your Device, check out our “How To” page on how to resolve some of these issues.
Hi, I have tried this solution several times now, signing out of iCloud then trying to add the email account, but I still get the same ‘this account already exists’ message. Any other suggestions how to solve this one ? It’s getting really frustrating !
I am truly sorry to hear. Most users report a fix for the problem with the suggestions presented. I also found suggestions for a fix on StackExchange: “This can be caused by three things. iCloud being messed up (and trying to sync your internet accounts) and corruption on the Mail settings and corruption in general in your user settings.
To troubleshoot this:
We already stated in the article the first suggestion which they also share so continuing onwards to B:
B. Set up a brand new user account – with no iCloud and no Apple ID. Try adding the mail account there from System Preferences – Internet Accounts Preference Pane
If that doesn’t work – your gmail is messed up or you need to reinstall the Mac from scratch (i.e. something is really wrong with the OS – this would be my last resort – make sure Gmail settings are clear at that point before backing up and wiping the Mac)
C. Sign out of iCloud on your Mac with your normal account.
Get a good backup before you delete content on the Mac. You will want to delete anything that’s synced to iCloud to let the system clear out data that depends on iCloud. If you’re paranoid, export data like Contacts and Calendar to a stand alone export/backup before you take this step. Then repeat the remove/add procedure.
D. Go to the logs. You’ll need to run sysdiagnose Mail and then get into Console app and perhaps Log Connection Activity by opening the Mail Connection Doctor and checking that option.”
Thank you! I was having this issue but your information helped me to solve it! It’s great to be able to access my email accounts on my Mac again 🙂