Mail can't verify the identity of the server macbook

A common issue!

When your MacBook can't verify the identity of the server, it's usually due to a certificate issue. Here are some steps to help you resolve the problem:

  1. Check the server's certificate: Ensure that the server's certificate is valid and trusted. You can do this by:
    • Opening the Keychain Access app on your MacBook.
    • Selecting "Certificates" in the top menu bar.
    • Looking for the server's certificate in the list.
    • Checking the certificate's expiration date, issuer, and subject.
  2. Verify the server's identity: Make sure you're connecting to the correct server and that the server's identity is correct. You can do this by:
    • Checking the server's hostname or IP address.
    • Verifying that the server's certificate matches the expected identity.
  3. Update your system's trust settings: If the server's certificate is not trusted, you can update your system's trust settings to include the certificate. You can do this by:
    • Opening the Keychain Access app.
    • Selecting "Certificates" in the top menu bar.
    • Right-clicking (or control-clicking) on the untrusted certificate.
    • Selecting "Get Info" from the context menu.
    • Clicking the "Trust" tab.
    • Selecting "Always Trust" from the "When using this certificate" dropdown menu.
  4. Check for certificate revocation: Ensure that the server's certificate has not been revoked. You can do this by:
    • Opening the Keychain Access app.
    • Selecting "Certificates" in the top menu bar.
    • Looking for the server's certificate in the list.
    • Checking the "Revocation Information" section.
  5. Reset the System Keychain: If none of the above steps work, you can try resetting the System Keychain. This will remove all certificates and trust settings, so be sure to re-add any important certificates after resetting. You can do this by:
    • Opening the Keychain Access app.
    • Selecting "Keychain Access" in the top menu bar.
    • Clicking "Reset the Keychain" from the "Keychain" menu.
  6. Contact the server administrator: If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it's possible that the server administrator needs to update the server's certificate or configure the server to use a trusted certificate authority.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue and verify the identity of the server on your MacBook.