Encountering the frustrating “Cannot Identify Server Identity” error when setting up your Exchange account on your iPhone? This issue, particularly affecting iPhone 6 devices on iOS 10.1.1 connecting to Exchange 2003 with self-signed certificates, can halt your email setup process. You might be facing a certificate warning without a “continue” button, leaving you stuck with only “cancel” and “details” options. This guide provides a workaround to resolve this specific problem.
Understanding the Problem
Users experiencing this issue find themselves unable to proceed past the certificate verification stage when adding an Exchange account. While an iPhone SE on the same iOS version might offer a “continue” option, the affected iPhone 6 lacks this crucial button. This behavior suggests a potential issue in how certain iPhone models or iOS versions handle SSL certificate security, specifically with self-signed certificates used in environments like Exchange 2003.
Several standard troubleshooting steps often prove ineffective in resolving this “cannot identify server identity” roadblock. Attempts to reset network settings, reset all settings, and even restoring the iPhone from a backup have been reported as unsuccessful. Even contacting Apple Support, including senior advisors, might not yield an immediate solution, with some reports indicating the issue is perceived as isolated and not a widespread bug.
The Solution: Using IP Address Workaround
Despite the persistent error, a workaround exists by temporarily altering the email setup process to use the server’s IP address instead of the domain name. Here’s how to implement this fix:
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Initial Account Setup: Begin the Exchange account setup on your iPhone as usual. Enter your email address and password on the first page. This will lead you to the server settings page.
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Modify Email Address and Server Details: On the server settings page, make the following crucial changes:
- Email Field: Instead of your regular email address (e.g.,
[email protected]), enter your email address asname@externalipaddress. Replaceexternalipaddresswith the actual external IP address of your Exchange server. - Server Field: Input the external IP address of your Exchange server in the designated “Server” field.
- Domain Field: Leave the “Domain” field blank.
- Username Field: Enter your username as just
"name"(or your username), omitting the domain part (e.g., not[email protected]). This should be your login name for your Exchange account.
- Email Field: Instead of your regular email address (e.g.,
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Certificate Warning and Continue: After entering these modified settings, proceed. You should now encounter the certificate warning as before. However, crucially, you should now see the missing “Continue” button alongside “Cancel” and “Details”.
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Proceed and Verify: Tap “Continue” to accept the certificate warning. The setup process should now complete successfully, indicated by all settings showing “ticks” or confirmation.
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Optional: Revert Email Domain (If Sending Issues): In most cases, iOS automatically corrects the email address back to the domain-based format (
[email protected]) after successful setup. You can verify this by checking your Exchange account settings. If you encounter issues sending emails after this process, manually re-enter your domain name in the “Domain” field within your Exchange account settings.
Why This Workaround Might Work (Possible Bug)
The success of this IP address workaround suggests a potential bug or specific handling within iOS related to resolving server identity via domain names versus IP addresses, especially when self-signed certificates are involved. By initially using the IP address, it seems iOS might bypass or alter its standard certificate identity verification process, allowing the “Continue” option to appear. Once the account is set up, iOS might then correctly associate the domain name, resolving the initial blockage.
While this solution provides a practical fix, it’s recommended to report this behavior to Apple Support to contribute to identifying and resolving the underlying issue in future iOS updates.
This workaround offers a solution for users facing the “cannot identify server identity” error when setting up Exchange accounts with self-signed certificates on iPhones. By manipulating the initial server setup with the IP address, you can bypass the error and successfully configure your email account.
