If you can't receive email on your iPhone or iPad

iPhone or iPad Not Getting Emails? Here's the Fix

It's super annoying when your iPhone or iPad won't get emails, especially when you’re waiting for something important. The problem could be wrong settings, bad Wi-Fi, or something wrong with the email server. This will give you some steps to get your emails working again on your iPhone or iPad.

Why You're Not Getting Emails

First, let's look at some common reasons:

1. **Wrong Email Setup:** Your IMAP/POP3 or SMTP stuff is messed up.2. **Bad Internet:** Your Wi-Fi or cellular isn't working right.3. **Full Mailbox:** Your email is full, so new stuff can't come in.4. **Old iOS/iPadOS:** Your iPhone or iPad software is too old and has bugs.5. **Server's Down:** Maybe Gmail, Yahoo, or iCloud is having problems.6. **Mail is Off:** If Push or Fetch is off, your emails won't update automatically.7. **Mail App is Glitching:** Something's wrong with the app data.8. **Emails are Blocked:** Sometimes, emails go to Spam or get blocked by accident.

How to Fix Your Email

• 1. Check Your Internet**
• Make sure your Wi-Fi or cellular is on and working.* Open Safari and see if you can get to a website.* Turn Airplane Mode **on** then **off** (swipe down from the top and tap the airplane).
• 2. Check Email Settings**

Wrong settings are a big reason for email problems.

• For iCloud, Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook:**
• Go to **Settings> Mail> Accounts**.* Tap your email account.* Make sure these settings are right: * **iCloud:** `imap.mail.me.com` (SSL), `smtp.mail.me.com` * **Gmail:** `imap.gmail.com` (SSL), `smtp.gmail.com` * **Yahoo:** `imap.mail.yahoo.com` (SSL), `smtp.mail.yahoo.com` * **Outlook/Hotmail:** `imap-mail.outlook.com` (SSL), `smtp-mail.outlook.com`
• For Other Emails:**
• Ask your email provider for the right settings.
• 3. Turn On Mail Fetching**

To get emails automatically:

1. Go to **Settings> Mail> Accounts> Fetch New Data**.2. Turn on **Push** (if you can).3. If not, set **Fetch** to **Every 15 Minutes** or **Hourly**.

• 4. Check Your Email Storage**

If your email is full, you can't get new emails.

• Open the **Mail App> Edit> Select All> Delete** (to get rid of old emails).* For iCloud, check your storage at **Settings> \[Your Name]> iCloud> Manage Storage**.
• 5. Restart the Mail App and Your Device**
• Close the Mail App:** Swipe up (or double-click the Home button) then swipe the Mail app away.* **Restart Your iPhone/iPad:** Hold the **Power + Volume Up** buttons (or just the Home button) then slide to turn it off. Turn it back on.
• 6. Re-add Your Email Account**

If something's messed up with your settings:

1. Go to **Settings> Mail> Accounts**.2. Tap your email then **Delete Account**.3. Tap **Add Account** and type in your email and password again.

• 7. Update Your iPhone/iPad Software**

Old software can cause problems.

• Go to **Settings> General> Software Update** and install the newest version.
• 8. Turn Off VPN or Proxy**

VPNs can sometimes mess with emails.

• Go to **Settings> VPN** and turn it off.* For proxies: **Settings> Wi-Fi> (i) icon> Configure Proxy> Off**.
• 9. Check Email Filters and Blocked Senders**
• Open the **Mail App> Edit> Mailboxes> Spam/Junk** to see if your emails went there.* Go to **Settings> Mail> Blocked Senders** to make sure you didn't block anyone important.
• 10. Reset Network Settings**

If nothing else works:

1. Go to **Settings> General> Transfer or Reset iPhone> Reset> Reset Network Settings**.2. Reconnect to your Wi-Fi and check your email again.

• FAQ: Common Questions**
• Q1. Why aren't my emails updating on their own?**

A: Check your **Fetch New Data** settings (**Settings> Mail> Fetch New Data**) and turn on **Push** or **Fetch**.

• Q2. How do I fix Cannot Get Mail errors?**

A: This usually means a problem with the internet or the email server. Try:

• Reconnect to Wi-Fi* Re-add your email account* See if your email provider is having problems
• Q3. Why do I see Password Incorrect even if it's right?**

A: Some email providers (like Gmail) need **App Passwords** if you have 2-Step Verification turned on. Create one in your Google Account settings.

• Q4. How do I stop emails from going to Spam/Junk?**

A: Tap **Not Junk** and add the sender to your contacts.

• Q5. Why are my emails stuck in the Outbox?**

A: This means something went wrong when sending. Check:

• Your internet connection* Your SMTP settings* If your email is too big (large files can cause problems)
• Q6. How do I get Push Email for Gmail on my iPhone?**

A: Gmail doesn't support Push on iPhones unless you the **Gmail App**. Or, set **Fetch** to **Every 15 Minutes**.

• Q7. Should I pick IMAP or POP3?**

A: **IMAP** is better for using email on multiple devices. **POP3** puts emails on just one device (and might delete them from the server).

• Q8. What if my email provider's server is down?**

A: Look at their status page (like [Gmail Status](https://www.google.com/appsstatus), [iCloud Status](https://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/)).

• Q9. Why does my iPhone say Mail Not Downloaded from Server?**

A: This happens when emails are set to **Download Recent** instead of **All Messages**. Go to **Settings> Mail> \[Account]> Mail Days to Sync** and pick **No Limit**.

• Q10. How do I get help from Apple for Mail problems?**

A: Go to [Apple Support](https://support.apple.com) or use the **Apple Support App** to chat or call them.

• In Conclusion**

If your iPhone or iPad isn't getting emails, you can usually fix it by messing with settings, re-adding your account, or updating your software. Start with the easy stuff (internet, restarting) then move to the harder stuff (resetting network settings).

Still having problems? Ask your email provider (Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud) for help.

For quick fixes, check our troubleshooting guides or contact our dedicated email support team for personalized assistance.