Mail stopped receiving email mid afternoon on MB Air OS 10.11.6

[Doug Bell]

“Alert. There may be a problem with the mail server or network. Verify the settings for account ‘iCloud’ or try again.

“The server returned the error: Connections to the server “PT-imap.mail.me.com” on the default ports timed out.”

Mail on iPhone is fine. Going to mail through iCloud.com is fine. I have quit and restarted Mail, the computer and still no incoming mail. Occasionally an outgoing test email was sent out successfully.

What to do now? I thought of deleting the iCloud server in Mail preferences and then adding it. Would that help? Would deleting the server in Mail preferences delete all iCloud messages or would they still be there via the iPhone?

Help ?
Thanks, Doug

 

[TimRichards]

Hi Doug, I seem to recall on one of my tech help calls to Apple that I was to delete the mail account from my computer, which did not delete it from the cloud. Then I reentered the account. Ie the mail account, and everything loaded up ok from the Cloud. I am a little hesitant to make recommendations as I have not done any googling, and it has been a year or two, but in my case that was the solution to my problem. As an add aside, I got Apple care and phot them for all these sorts of things; in 80% of the cases I reach a solution, although often I have to patiently work thru the lower echelons of Apple tech support to reach someone who already knows the solution and doesn’t have to search the Apple database for an answer.

 

[Doug Bell]

Thanks Tim. Since my wife could still get mail through her iPhone and through iCloud, I didn’t try deleting her mail account on pending more info. Surprisingly, two days later her account on the MacBook started working fine again! If it occurs again I will try deleting the account on her computer ( and perhaps buy her a new one
Cheers,
Doug