Mail server not responding but all settings are correct

Create a different Secure Mail Key for the second phone and see if that helps (though I'm doubtful).

I tried that to no avail. Thanks for trying!

We're here to help you access your e-mail, deirdrerae!

Thank you, JefferMC, for recommending creating a new Secure Mail Key. Since each device you use to access your email will have its own Secure Mail Key, this would be the first thing we would have suggested.

In the meantime, we suggest making sure that you are using the correct e-mail Server Settings. This will help us narrow down whether this is an account issue or a device issue. We suggest using the IMAP settings, as most newer mail clients work better with it.

If this doesn't resolve your concern, can you let us know what e-mail client or website you are currently troubleshooting? We would also like to know what model of phone you are using as well. This information can help us give more specific steps towards what you are experiencing.

Let us know. We hope to hear back from you!

Donovan, AT&T Community Specialist

My email settings are correct. I have followed them to the letter. I am using IMAP. Everything has worked fine until I tried to start up this iPhone SE in Italy. Now it's all falling apart. Now I can't send email from my laptop.

I hate this security key business, which must have caused endless confusion for everybody. Where does my password go now?  Is it only for webmail?

In any case, when I first used security key, maybe last year, I used the same exact security key for three different devices -- Apple Power Book, iPad and iPhone SE 2 -- with no problem, so I don't understand the need for a different security key for each device. But I will try that when I have the time. I've already spent two hours trying to sort this out today.

To be clear, this is what AT&T's own instructions say about the secure mail key, found at https://www.att.com/support/article/email-support/KM1240308/

"Select Copy secure mail key to clipboard. Make a note of your secure mail key, so you have it handy if you need to update an email app on several devices."

This means one secure mail key is used for several devices.

deirdrerae

We suggest using Currently to view your e-mails, as the website is supported by AT&T. However, if you are using 3rd Party Email Clients - this would be considered any other website or application outside of Currently - you would need to look into Open Authentication or Secure Mail Key to ensure your e-mail account stays synced properly and is able to be logged into.

Open Authentication is a security measure we put in place that encrypts your e-mail and password when using 3rd Party e-mail clients. We have an article regarding OAuth that states what applications work with this security system.

If the 3rd Party e-mail client you are using is not in that list, you will need to Create a Secure Mail Key. This is a security measure that encrypts your password, and you are able to create and manage it via myAT&T. You will then use your Secure Mail Key as your password when logging into any 3rd Party programs or applications, while your login to any AT&T sites will stay the same.

In the article you linked, it expressly states the following:

Good to know: Each device you use to access your email will have its own secure mail key.

In regards to your concern about where your original password goes, the article also states this:

A secure mail key won’t affect your AT&T email password
You’ll still use the same password you use for your AT&T Mail account in OAuth-compatible apps, myAT&T, other AT&T products like currently.com and webmail. And, when you change your AT&T email password, you won’t need to get a new secure mail key.

This means that you will only use a Secure Mail Key in webmail clients that are not OAuth-compatible. This is necessary to protect you from fraudsters that may try to take your information. Since OAuth encrypts your e-mail and password, any applications that don't use it need the Secure Mail Key to encrypt your password and keep you safe.

Let us know if you have any further questions.

Donovan, AT&T Community Specialist

I finally deleted the account and started fresh, which worked. I don't know why it wasn't working before -- all settings are the same and I was using a new secure mail key. Anyway, thank you for your quick responses.

Hello, deirdrerae!  We are so glad that you were able to resolve the problem with your email. 

In looking at the previous troubleshooting that we have done together, deleting the account and starting fresh was going to be our next step in the process, but it looks like you have beat us to the punch. 

If there is anything else that you need or have any further questions, you are more than happy to return back to the AT&T Community Forums and we would love to help you with anything that you need. 

Thank you for using the AT&T Community Forums.

Happy Holidays!

Matthew, AT&T Community Specialist