Configuring an Alice Mail account on a Mac might seem like a complex operation, a meeting between the tradition of a historic email service in Italy and the innovation of the Apple operating system. In reality, thanks to the intuitiveness of macOS and the flexibility of Alice (now part of the TIM ecosystem), integration is a quick process that unites two worlds. This guide will accompany you step by step in configuring your account on Apple Mail, allowing you to manage your email efficiently and centrally, making the most of your computer’s potential.

Using an email client like Apple Mail offers significant advantages over web access. It allows you to manage multiple accounts from a single application, receive real-time notifications, and consult messages even while offline. For Mac users, integrating Alice Mail means benefiting from a fluid user experience consistent with the Apple ecosystem, while maintaining an email address that for many represents a piece of personal and professional digital history.

Fundamental Parameters: Data to Get Started

Before starting the configuration, it is essential to have the Alice mail server parameters at hand. These data are the “coordinates” that allow Apple Mail to communicate with TIM servers to download and send your messages. The parameters are divided into two categories: incoming mail server (IMAP or POP3) and outgoing mail server (SMTP). Without this correct information, the client will not be able to authenticate your account.

Here are the specific data for an account with the @alice.it domain, which you will need to enter during the manual procedure. It is advisable to use the IMAP protocol to keep messages synchronized across all your devices.

• Incoming mail server (IMAP): in.alice.it
• IMAP Port: 143
• Outgoing mail server (SMTP): out.alice.it
• SMTP Port: 587
• Authentication: Required for both the incoming and outgoing servers, using your full email address and the relative password.

Correctly entering these parameters is the most critical step to ensure the success of the configuration.

• Incoming mail server (IMAP): in.alice.it
• IMAP Port: 143
• Outgoing mail server (SMTP): out.alice.it
• SMTP Port: 587
• Authentication: Required for both the incoming and outgoing servers, using your full email address and the relative password.

Correctly entering these parameters is the most critical step to ensure the success of the configuration.

• Incoming mail server (IMAP): in.alice.it
• IMAP Port: 143
• Outgoing mail server (SMTP): out.alice.it
• SMTP Port: 587
• Authentication: Required for both the incoming and outgoing servers, using your full email address and the relative password.

Correctly entering these parameters is the most critical step to ensure the success of the configuration.

Choosing the Protocol: IMAP or POP3?

When you configure an email account, you are asked to choose between two main protocols: IMAP and POP3. The difference is substantial and directly impacts how your mail is managed. The POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) protocol downloads messages from the server directly to your device, often deleting them from the server itself. This is an outdated solution, suitable only if you check mail from a single computer.

The IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) protocol, on the other hand, is the modern and recommended choice. It keeps messages on the server and synchronizes changes across all devices connected to your account. If you read, delete, or move an email from your Mac, you will see the same change on your iPhone or iPad. This synchronization ensures a consistent user experience and allows you to always have access to your entire mail archive. For optimal management, choosing IMAP is almost mandatory. If you want to learn more, you can consult our guide to choosing the right protocol.

Configuration Guide on Apple Mail

Now that you understand the basics, let’s move on to the practical procedure. Configuring Alice Mail on Mac is an operation that takes just a few minutes. Apple Mail will attempt an automatic configuration, but it is often necessary to manually enter the parameters to ensure everything works correctly.

1. Open the Mail application on your Mac. If it is the first time you are launching it, you will be asked immediately to add an account. Otherwise, go to the menu bar at the top, click on Mail and then on Add Account.
2. In the window that appears, select the option “Other Mail Account…” and click Continue.
3. Fill in the required fields: enter your name, the full Alice email address (e.g., name@alice.it), and your password. Click Sign In.
4. At this point, Mail might show an error message “Unable to verify account name or password”. Don’t worry, this is normal. Additional fields will appear for manual server entry.
5. Enter the parameters we saw earlier: in.alice.it as the incoming mail server and out.alice.it as the outgoing mail server.
6. Click Sign In again. Mail will verify the settings and, if correct, complete the configuration. You can then choose which apps to synchronize (usually Mail and Notes) and click Done.

Your Alice Mail account is now ready to be used directly from the Mail application on your Mac.

1. Open the Mail application on your Mac. If it is the first time you are launching it, you will be asked immediately to add an account. Otherwise, go to the menu bar at the top, click on Mail and then on Add Account.
2. In the window that appears, select the option “Other Mail Account…” and click Continue.
3. Fill in the required fields: enter your name, the full Alice email address (e.g., name@alice.it), and your password. Click Sign In.
4. At this point, Mail might show an error message “Unable to verify account name or password”. Don’t worry, this is normal. Additional fields will appear for manual server entry.
5. Enter the parameters we saw earlier: in.alice.it as the incoming mail server and out.alice.it as the outgoing mail server.
6. Click Sign In again. Mail will verify the settings and, if correct, complete the configuration. You can then choose which apps to synchronize (usually Mail and Notes) and click Done.

Your Alice Mail account is now ready to be used directly from the Mail application on your Mac.

1. Open the Mail application on your Mac. If it is the first time you are launching it, you will be asked immediately to add an account. Otherwise, go to the menu bar at the top, click on Mail and then on Add Account.
2. In the window that appears, select the option “Other Mail Account…” and click Continue.
3. Fill in the required fields: enter your name, the full Alice email address (e.g., name@alice.it), and your password. Click Sign In.
4. At this point, Mail might show an error message “Unable to verify account name or password”. Don’t worry, this is normal. Additional fields will appear for manual server entry.
5. Enter the parameters we saw earlier: in.alice.it as the incoming mail server and out.alice.it as the outgoing mail server.
6. Click Sign In again. Mail will verify the settings and, if correct, complete the configuration. You can then choose which apps to synchronize (usually Mail and Notes) and click Done.

Your Alice Mail account is now ready to be used directly from the Mail application on your Mac.

Common Troubleshooting

Sometimes, despite following the procedure, problems may arise. The most common error is “Unable to verify account name or password”. The first thing to do is carefully check that you have typed the email address and password correctly. If the problem persists, the cause is almost certainly related to incorrect server configuration. Ensure that the server names (in.alice.it and out.alice.it) and ports (143 for IMAP, 587 for SMTP) are exact.

Another frequent issue concerns sending mail. If you can receive emails but not send them, the problem lies with the SMTP server. Go to Mail settings, select your Alice account, and in the “Server Settings” section, verify that password authentication is selected for the outgoing server (SMTP) and that port 587 is set correctly. If you recently changed your password on the TIM website, remember to update it in the Apple Mail settings as well. In case of persistent problems, our guide on what to do if Alice Mail is not working might offer further solutions.

Optimize Your Experience on Apple Mail

Once the account is configured, you can further customize your experience. Apple Mail is a powerful tool that goes beyond simply receiving and sending emails. For example, you can create a custom signature to give a professional touch to your communications. To do this, go to Mail > Settings > Signatures. Here you can create different signatures and associate them with your Alice account. If you want a detailed guide, discover how to create a custom signature for Alice Mail.

Organization is key to managing a large flow of messages. Take advantage of “Smart Mailboxes” and folders to categorize your emails efficiently. You can create rules that automatically move messages into specific folders, such as “Work” or “Invoices”, keeping your inbox always clean and tidy. This allows you to quickly find what you need and not miss important communications.

Conclusions

Configuring Alice Mail on a Mac is an operation that combines the familiarity of a historic mail service with the efficiency of a modern client like Apple Mail. By following the steps described and using the correct parameters, it is possible to complete the process without difficulty. Choosing the IMAP protocol is crucial to ensuring synchronized and flexible mail management across all Apple devices. Addressing and resolving small hiccups that may arise, such as authentication errors or issues with the outgoing server, requires only a little attention to setting details. Once the configuration is complete, you will have a powerful tool available to manage your communications in an integrated and professional manner.

Frequently Asked Questions