Gmail Not Working on iPhone? Check 14 Fixes Here

If Gmail isn’t working on your iPhone, it can be a real hassle - especially if you rely on email for daily tasks. Without access, you might miss important notifications, struggle to sign in to services, or be unable to reset passwords.

The good news? No matter the cause, there are several reliable ways to fix the issue. In this guide, we’ll walk you through effective solutions to get Gmail working on your iPhone again. Let’s get started.

Why Has My Gmail Stopped Working on My iPhone?

Gmail can stop working on your iPhone or iPad due to numerous reasons, such as:

• Your Gmail account setup wasn't completed properly.
• The internet connection is weak or unstable.
• IMAP or other mail settings are misconfigured.
• Google may have temporarily blocked your account due to suspicious activity.
• A minor software glitch or bug could be interfering with Gmail syncing.

How to Fix Gmail Not Working on iPhone or iPad?

Here are some tips to help you fix the Gmail not working issue on your iPhone or iPad. Try them one by one until your Gmail starts working again.

1. Check Google Gmail Status

Sometimes your Gmail may fail to work because Google’s Gmail Service is offline or having problems. Therefore, you should head to Google Workspace Status Dashboard to check the service status for Gmail to ensure it’s not facing any disruption or outage.

2. Check Gmail Website for Alerts

If you're unable to sign in to Gmail on your iPhone, try logging in from a different device or your computer. Sometimes Google flags a sign-in attempt as suspicious and sends a warning email to confirm it's really you.

Check for that email and follow the steps to verify your identity. Once you've confirmed the login, Gmail should start working again on your iPhone. If you’ve added a recovery email, the alert may have been sent there instead, so be sure to check that too.

3. Review Device Activity

If you haven’t received an email from Google about restricted sign-ins, it’s still worth checking your account settings for any issues. You can do this by signing in to your Gmail app or any other Google service in a browser. Then follow these steps to review your account:

• Visit your Google Activity page using your iPhone or computer, tap Go to Google Account, and sign into your account.
• Click the Security tab and check the recent security activity of your iPhone.
• Click on the activity that matches your device, location, and the time you attempted to sign in.
• When the next screen appears, click Yes, it was me.

After this, your emails should start loading properly. If they don’t, move on to the next solution.

4. Perform A CAPTCHA Reset

Google might ask you to complete a CAPTCHA reset if it detects unusual activity on your Gmail account - like signing in from a new device or unfamiliar location. This helps confirm it's really you trying to access the account. Here's how to fix it:

• Launch a web browser and go to Google’s CAPTCHA reset page.
• Log in using your Gmail account and then click on Continue.
• When you see the Account access enabled message, open the Mail app on your iPhone and check if Gmail works.

5. Enable IMAP Access for Gmail

If your Gmail isn't working on your iPhone, it could be because IMAP is disabled in your Gmail settings. Gmail uses IMAP to deliver emails to your device, and if it's turned off, you won't receive any new messages. Here's how to make sure IMAP is enabled:

• Launch a web browser and sign into your Gmail account.
• In the upper right corner, click Settings (the gear icon). Next, click See all settings.
• Head to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP section, then navigate to the IMAP Access segment.
• Click on Enable IMAP. This will turn it on if it’s disabled. Now click Save Changes to finish the process.

6. Check Your Internet Connection

For Gmail to work properly, you need a stable internet connection. To check, open an app like Safari and try loading a website. If the page loads, your internet is fine. If you're using a VPN, especially a free one, try turning it off, as it can block access to certain services.

If you're using mobile data, make sure the mail app is allowed to use it. If it's not enabled, that could be the issue. Here's how to check:

• Go to Settings on your iPhone.
• Tap the Cellular option.
• Navigate down and check the toggle for the email app (Mail/Gmail or other mail services you use) to confirm that it’s enabled.

7. Force Close the Gmail App

If your internet connection is fine, try force-closing the Gmail app and reopening it. Running multiple apps in the background can sometimes cause issues, even if your iPhone has enough power. Closing and restarting the Gmail app might help resolve the problem. Here's how to do it:

• Swipe up from the bottom of your iPhone screen and hold it. If your iPhone has a Home button, quickly double-press it.
• Then, swipe the Gmail app card up to close it completely.

Wait a few seconds and start the app again. See if you can use it now.

8. Restart Your iPhone

Another straightforward yet effective method to fix many minor issues is restarting your iPhone. If Gmail is malfunctioning due to a small bug or a background process, rebooting your device can help clear any temporary glitches and restore the app to proper functionality.

9. Disable iPhone Restrictions

If you’ve accidentally or intentionally restricted the Mail app, this could be causing the issue with Gmail on your iPhone. To resolve this, follow these steps to remove the restrictions:

• Launch Settings, then tap Screen Time. (If you see Turn On Screen Time, there are no restrictions, so skip all these steps and move to the next fix).
• Now, tap on the Content & Privacy Restrictions option.
• On the next page, tap on Allowed Apps.
• Check and ensure that the toggle for the Mail app is green (active).

10. Update the Gmail App and iPhone

Sometimes the problem could be within the Gmail app itself. Hence, updating the app to the latest version can help resolve the issue because App updates often fix bugs and improve the function and overall compatibility.

You can easily perform the update by opening the App Store and clicking on Updates. Refresh the page by pulling down the screen and tapping the UPDATE option next to Gmail or the respective email app you’re using.

While you’re at it, you should also try to update your iPhone’s iOS. An outdated iOS version is likely to cause Gmail not to work properly. However, when the iOS is updated, everything will run smoothly. So,

• Open Settings, then tap the General option.
• Tap on Software Update on the next page to search and install the latest iOS version on your iPhone.

11. Uninstall and Reinstall Gmail/Mail App

When you uninstall and install the Gmail/Mail app again, some of the minor issues causing this problem can be fixed. To delete an app on iPhone:

• Press and hold on to the Gmail/Mail app. Then, tap the Remove App option.
• When a pop-up window shows the app, tap on Delete App again.
• Another pop-up window will appear. Tap on Delete when it does.

After removing the email app, reinstall it from the App Store.

12. Remove and Re-add Your Gmail Account

The problem of iPhone Gmail not working can also be resolved by removing your Gmail account and setting it up again. Doing so will refresh your account’s connection to Google’s Gmail servers and likely fix the issue.

• Launch Settings and head to Mail.
• Open the Accounts option and tap on Gmail.
• Tap Delete Account. When prompted to confirm your action, tap Delete from My iPhone.

When done, add your Gmail account once more and check if Gmail is working now.

13. Reset All Settings on iPhone

This method will delete all your iPhone’s settings (Wi-Fi, VPN, Bluetooth, etc.) and restore them to their default state. However, your personal data, such as music, photos, videos, apps, etc., won’t get deleted.

• Launch Settings. Tap the General option.
• On the General menu, tap Transfer/Reset iPhone.
• Next, tap Reset All Settings.

Once you finish this process, set up your Gmail. It should work fine now.

14. Check for iOS System Error and Repair It

If Gmail hasn’t worked so far, chances are there could be an issue with the iOS system of your iPhone. The easiest and most effective way to resolve this is using the FoneGeek iOS System Recovery. This tool can fix almost all iOS system issues without any data loss.

It can efficiently identify the iOS system error in your iPhone, causing Gmail not to work and repair it. You won’t have to go through another solution. It supports all iPhone models and iOS versions, including the latest iPhone 16 and iOS 18.

How to use FoneGeek iOS System Recovery to solve Gmail not working on iPhone:

• Download and install the FoneGeek iOS System Recovery program on your computer (using the button provided). Once installed, open the program.
• On the home screen, select Standard Mode. Connect your iPhone to your PC using a USB cable.
• The software will detect your device. Once it shows your device model, choose the correct firmware package for your device and click Download.
• After the firmware is downloaded, the program will verify the file. Click Fix Now to start repairing your iOS system and restore Gmail functionality.

Conclusion

These solutions should help resolve the Gmail not working issue on your iPhone or iPad and get you back to using Gmail as usual. While we've shared several methods, the best option is to use FoneGeek iOS System Recovery. This comprehensive tool can fix nearly all iPhone issues with just a few clicks. It's easy to use, has a high success rate, and ensures that no data is lost during the repair process.