iPhone Email not Updating? Try These 7 Fixes

iPhone email not updating makes you miss important emails? There may be something wrong with your iPhone settings or operating systems. In this guide, you can get several solutions to fix this issue easily.

Demi by Demi Updated October 7, 2023
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In today's fast-paced digital world, staying connected through emails is vital for both personal and professional communication. However, there are moments when your iPhone email may fail to update, causing frustration and potentially missing important messages.

email

In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the reasons why your iPhone email not updating and provide effective fixes to get your email back on track.

Why is email not updating on your iPhone?

Before we jump into the solutions, it's essential to understand why your iPhone email might stop updating. Several factors could be contributing to this issue:

❌ Poor Internet Connection: A weak or unstable internet connection can prevent your iPhone from syncing with your email server.
❌ Server Issues: Sometimes, the email server itself may be experiencing problems, leading to a failure in updating emails.
❌ Outdated Email Settings: Incorrect or outdated email settings on your device can disrupt email synchronization.
❌ Storage Constraints: If your iPhone's storage is nearly full, it may hinder the email app's ability to download new messages.
❌ App Glitches: Software bugs or glitches within the email app can cause synchronization problems.

Now that we've identified potential culprits, let's explore solutions to address these issues and get your iPhone email back on track.

Top 7 fixes to iPhone Email not updating

In this part, we will show you how to fix iPhone email not updating issue. Just try these solutions one after another until your issue gets fixed.

1# Do a manual refresh

Before attempting any more complex manual actions, consider refreshing your Mail app manually to fix iPhone mail not updating automatically. Here's how to do it: Open the app's inbox, swipe your finger down the screen until you see a spinning wheel, and then release it. This action should prompt the app to reconnect to the email servers.

manual refresh mail

In the Mail app, you should be shown the last time your emails were synced at the bottom. Updated Just Now means the manual refresh was successful.

2# Check network connection

If you fail to manual refresh iPhone mail, don’t hesitate to check your iPhone internet connection, since only a stable network connection can keep mail up to dated. If you’re using cellular date, verify that you have a strong signal. You can also turn off and on Wi-Fi or try connecting to a different Wi-Fi network to see if the issue persists.

Chances are that your iPhone encounters unknown network issues and still disconnects from the network, you can go to reset your network to have a try. Here’s how to reset.

Go to your iPhone Settings > General > Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Choose Reset Network Settings. Enter your passcode to confirm your operation.

reset network settings

When it is finished, your Wi-Fi networks, passwords, and cellular settings will be reset. And you can try to reconnect your Wi-Fi.

3# Enable Fetch New Data

An enabled Fetch New Data option on your iPhone will continually ask your email server to see if there is any new mail/data available. If it is disabled, iPhone email not updating can happen.

If your email, like iCloud, unable to load mail, follow the steps below to check if you have enabled this option.

Step 1. Go to the Settings app > Locate and choose Mail > Accounts > Fetch New Data > Turn on Push.

turn on fetch new data

Step 2. Select whether the Mail app should fetch data automatically or manually and how frequently.

4# Sign out & in your email account

If you’re still experiencing email updating issues. Try removing and re-adding your email account to refresh the service. Here’s how you can do.

Step 1. Go to Settings on your iPhone > Mail > Account and select the faulty account > Tap Delete Account.

delete yahoo account

Step 2. After that, add the account back by tapping Add Account and following the onscreen instructions.

5# Check notification settings

You can also check if you've disabled notifications for the Mail app and, if so, enable them. Furthermore, you can customize how the app displays alerts, including options like showing them on the lock screen, in the notification history, or as banners. Here's how you can do it:

Step 1. Open iPhone Settings app > Scroll down to location and tap Mail > Go to Notifications.

Step 2. Make sure that Allow Notifications is enabled. You can also tap it to customize notifications frequency to your liking.

allow mail notification

6# Enable Background App Refresh

The Background App Refresh option should also be enabled to make sure your iPhone Mail app updates with new content even when you are not actively using it.

To check and enable Background App Refresh, just head to Settings > Tap General > Background App Refresh to make sure it is enabled. Make sure you have also toggled on the switch next to Mail.

enable background app refresh

7# Contact Apple Support

If none of the above solutions work, it's advisable to contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store. There could be a more complex underlying issue that requires professional assistance.

Conclusion

A malfunctioning email app on your iPhone can disrupt your communication and productivity. However, by following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide, you can likely resolve the issue iPhone mail not updating and get your email working smoothly once again.

Whether it's a simple internet connection problem or a more complex software glitch, these fixes should help you regain control of your email communication on your iPhone. Stay connected, stay productive!

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