Fixed: Why Am I Not Receiving Gmail Emails on My iPhone?

Is Gmail not working on your iPhone? Whether Gmail is not updating on your iPhone, Gmail is not loading on your iPhone, or some other issue, here's how to get Gmail working on your iPhone again!

Jump To:

• Gmail Not Working on iPhone? Here Are Some Quick Fixes
• iPhone Not Updating Emails?
• Gmail App Doesn't Work
• FAQ

Gmail Not Working on iPhone? Here Are Some Quick Fixes

Whether Gmail is not receiving emails on your iPhone, Gmail is not connecting on your iPhone, or Gmail is just generally not working, here are the steps to try first:

• Update iPhone: Oftentimes, updating your iPhone's operating system can fix a lot of mysterious bugs, including Gmail problems. Read our article on how to update your iPhone to the latest iOS. 
• Reboot Your iPhone: While rebooting your iPhone seems basic, it is an essential fix for many minor issues. Simply turn off your iPhone and after a minute, turn it back on. 
• Check Internet Connection: If you're having problems with Gmail not working, make sure that you are connected to cellular data or Wi-Fi since Gmail needs one of the two to function. You can toggle between cellular data and Wi-Fi or enable or disable Airplane mode. Read our article on how to join a Wi-Fi network to learn how to turn your Wi-Fi on and off. 
• Update Mail/Gmail App: Like with all apps, updating the Mail app fixes bugs and improves overall compatibility. 
• Restart the Mail/Gmail App: Closing and reopening an app can also fix glitches and small issues.
• Uninstall & Reinstall Mail/Gmail App: Check out our article on how to uninstall an app on your iPhone. You can also read our article about Apple Mail to learn how to re-download the app. 
• Check Fetch Settings
  While some email providers can "push" new emails to the iPhone's Mail app as soon as they are received, others, like Gmail, only allow your iPhone to periodically "fetch" new emails throughout the day. This can make it seem like you are not receiving emails on iPhone. Check out this helpful tip to find out more about how to adjust the fetch frequency on your iPhone.

iPhone Not Updating Emails? Confirm IMAP Is Enabled

If your iPhone email is not updating, the problem could be with your IMAP (Internet Messaging Access Protocol) settings. IMAP allows you to access and sync Gmail with third-party email clients like the Apple Mail app on your iPhone. If you're having trouble receiving Gmail in the Apple Mail app, try making sure that IMAP is enabled.

Discover your iPhone's hidden features

Get a daily tip (with screenshots and clear instructions) so you can master your iPhone in just one minute a day.

1. Sign in to the web version of your Gmail account.
2. If you see a screen asking you to use the Gmail app, tap I am not interested.
3. Tap the Settings icon at the top right.
   
   
4. Tap More Settings.
   
   
5. Tap Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
   
   
6. Tap Enable IMAP.
   
   
7. Tap Save Changes.
   
   

Gmail Not Updating on iPhone

Gmail not updating on your iPhone? Here are a few different things to check, so you can start getting your emails again.

Check Gmail Storage

If your Gmail is not updating on your iPhone, it could be caused by a storage issue. Make sure that your Gmail account isn't over the storage limit. Normally, Google provides 15 GB of storage for each Gmail account, and the storage is shared between Gmail and other applications such as Google Photos and Google Drive. On your computer, visit https://one.google.com/storage, click Clean Up Space, and follow the instructions on-screen. 

Go to Gmail Website to Check Alerts

Sometimes, Google will accidentally detect your login as suspicious and will send you an email informing you of any suspicious activity. You can sign out on that device and back in, or you can sign out of any actual suspicious devices by following these steps.

1. Open the Chrome app.
   
   
2. Tap on the three dots.
   
   
3. Tap Settings.
   
   
4. Tap your name.
   
   
5. Tap Manage Your Google Account.
   
   
6. Tap Security.
   
   
7. Scroll down to Your Devices and tap any devices with suspicious activity.
   
   
8. Scroll down and tap the suspicious device again.
   
   
9. Tap on Don't recognize something?
   
   
10.  A pop-up will appear. Tap Sign out on device.
    
    

Check Background App Refresh 

Sometimes, an app can stop working in the background or become inactive. Check your background app refresh settings to be sure it's enabled.

Check If Sync Settings Are Enabled 

Gmail may not be able to sync because the sync settings are disabled. 

1. Go to Gmail app.
   
   
2. Tap the More icon.
   
   
3. Scroll down and tap Settings.
   
   
4. Scroll down and tap Data Usage.
   
   
5. Tap on Sync Settings.
   
   
6. Use the slider to choose how many days worth of emails you want to sync, then tap Done.
   
   

By now, Gmail should be working on your iPhone again. If not, contact Google Help to see if there's something we've missed, and let us know the solution in the comments! Be sure to subscribe to our free Tip of the Day for more great Gmail and Mail app tutorials.