Tutor
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10 Messages
Swbell.net account suddenly stopped connecting
I have used my swbell.net account daily for many years. Yesterday it just stopped working and won't connect to my account. I get a message box that says "Connecting to swbell/Authorizing" but the bar and little arrow that typically move when it is in process of connecting/authorizing don't do anything. When I click Details, a little box up comes that says "please enter your name and password for the following server: pop.att.yahoo.com". My name and password are already there, and I've tried re-entering my password, but it doesn't help. This is on my home computer where I've always accessed this account. The error message reads "An incorrect user name or password has been entered.." I have repeated tried re-entering my password and it still does nothing. And the user name is defaulting to my swbell.net email address as always.
Accepted Solution
Official Solution
_xyzzy_
Expert
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15K Messages
6 years ago
Actually your question about IMAP vs. POP and only being able to access from one device (computer) are not entirely a separate problem. IMAP is intended to allow multiple devices to access the same email account and keep them all in sync with one another. For example, delete an email on one deletes it in all the others. With POP each account on each device is independent of one another.
You use the secure key in place of the password in your client settings (can't get more detailed since the setting termonology is client dependent). Nothing else changes. So keep whatever you had when using the password. Just replace the password with the secure key. It's not in the clear because you also specify ssl encryption.
I can't tell you using the secure key will fix your problems. I only recommend it because it's an alternative to the password and may eliminate account validation problems and it's used for added security.
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ATTHelp
Community Support
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231.3K Messages
6 years ago
Hello @willowwhite, I understand how frustrating that can be, let’s see what we can do.
Have you attempted to reset your password? Usually doing this will provide access to the account.
Mihai AT&T Community Specialist
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willowwhite
Tutor
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10 Messages
6 years ago
The next day, the email worked perfectly. It was weird because the day it wouldn't download, I tried password changes, shutting down and restarting, you name it, and good old swbell.net just wasn't to be had. I am happy now that it is working properly. Thx!
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willowwhite
Tutor
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10 Messages
6 years ago
The swbell.net email has stopped working again. It refuses to authenticate or connect. I am leery of changing my password. The problem started last week when I got a request for a read receipt. For some reason, when I try to respond to them, they just sit in my outbox until I delete them. The one last week sat there in my outbox, then disappeared when I clicked on it. Since that time, my swbell email is not authenticating or connecting reliably. Please help, as I know of no other way to access this email account and it's the main one I use. Thx
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_xyzzy_
Expert
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15K Messages
6 years ago
Just catching up on this thread...
Why are you using the yahoo server(s)? You should be using the att/yahoo servers defined here.
Then create and use a secure mail key instead of the password in your client. Read this (which includes a link to how to create a secure mail key).
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willowwhite
Tutor
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10 Messages
6 years ago
I'm using whatever the settings were from the past. Yep, I wondered about the .yahoo. part as well. That is why I noted that in my original post, but "AT&T Community Specialist" said nothing about it in their response. Thanks so much for helping me. I believe the links you posted will help me. Is there a preference to the POP3 or the IMAP???
Right now I can't get into my email account at all, but best case scenario when I could was that I only knew how to access it from one home computer. In that regards, the email had become a huge burden for me. But that is a separate problem. If I understand correctly, creating a secure mail key should solve that, right??
Thanks very much ; )
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willowwhite
Tutor
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10 Messages
6 years ago
Also, when I make the server changes, how should I set my log-in options: login using clear text authentication- or - password authentication - or authenticated POP(APOP)?? Thx ~
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