The iPhone does come with a dedicated Mail app so that you don’t have to install a third-party one by default. In addition to iCloud, the Apple Mail app allows you to sign in to different email services like Gmail. However, using Gmail in the Mail app can be tricky, especially when the emails are not syncing on the iPhone.
Setting up your Gmail account in the Mail app is easy. But if Apple Mail is not syncing with Gmail on your iPhone, here are some solutions that will help you fix the issue.
1. Check if Gmail Is Enabled for Apple Mail
The Mail app is the default email client app for Apple devices, just like Gmail comes pre-installed for Android. You can check and reply to all your emails from the comfort of your iPhone. You get access to cool features like creating a VIP list, rich formatting options, and Siri shortcuts.
The first solution to fix Apple Mail not syncing with Gmail is to check whether Gmail has been enabled to be used in Apple Mail or not. Follow these steps.
Step 1:Â Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2:Â Scroll down and tap on Mail.
Step 3:Â Select the Accounts option.
All the accounts you are using on your iPhone will appear on the screen.
Step 4:Â Tap on your Gmail ID.
Step 5:Â Tap the toggle to enable the Mail option for your Gmail account if it is disabled.
Step 6:Â Close the Settings app and go to Mail to check if the problem is solved.
2. Check if Fetch New Date Is Enabled for Gmail
After you add your Gmail to the Apple Mail app, it will connect with the Gmail server for fetching your data and making it available on your iPhone. If the Apple Mail app is not syncing with your Gmail, you need to check whether the fetching of new data is enabled for Gmail or not. Follow these steps.
Step 1:Â Open Settings app on your iPhone, scroll down, and tap on Mail.
Step 2:Â Tap on Accounts.
Step 3:Â Under the Accounts list, tap on Fetch New Data.
Step 4:Â Tap on your Gmail account ID.
Step 5:Â Make sure that Fetch is selected for Gmail.
Step 6:Â Under Fetch, tap on Automatically to ensure that new Gmail data gets available on your iPhone.
Please note that automatic fetching could lead to a decrease in battery life. To avoid that, you can choose to fetch new data Hourly, Every 30 Minutes, or 60 Minutes.
3. Force Quit and Restart Apple Mail App
You have successfully enabled Gmail for the Apple Mail app, and now you should be able to see all your new and old emails. But if you are still facing issues, you can move on to the next step of force quitting and restarting the Apple Mail app. This will give the Mail app a fresh start on your iPhone. Follow these steps.
Step 1:Â From the Home Screen, swipe up from the bottom and hold.
All apps running in the background will be visible on your iPhone screen.
Step 2:Â Tap on swipe up from the Mail app window to remove it from the background.
Step 3:Â Reopen the Mail app.
4. Logout and Login Again to Your Gmail Account
After you reopen the Mail app after force quitting it, if you are still not able to see synchronized Gmail updates, you can try logging out and signing in again with your Google account. Follow these steps.
Step 1:Â Open Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2:Â Scroll down and select Mail.
Step 3:Â Tap on Accounts.
Step 4:Â Select your Gmail account that is not syncing with Apple Mail.
Step 5:Â Tap on Delete Account.
Step 6:Â Tap again on Delete Account to confirm your action.
Step 7:Â After iOS deletes your account, tap on Add Account,
Step 8:Â Select Google from the list of email services.
Step 9:Â Tap on Continue to allow Settings open the web page.
Step 10:Â Sign in again using your Gmail ID and password.
Close the Settings app and reopen Apple Mail to check if the app is able to fetch new emails.
5. Update iOS Version of Your iPhone
The last resort for you if nothing has worked till now is checking for iOS update on your iPhone. By updating the version of iOS, you will be able to use a new version of all the system apps including Mail. If you’ve been delaying the iOS updates, you might be missing out on the bug fixes, security patches, and other improvements of the Mail app. Follow these steps.
Step 1:Â Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2:Â Scroll down and tap on General.
Step 3:Â Tap on Software Update.
Step 4:Â If there is an update available for iOS, download and install it.
After you install an iOS updates and your iPhone restarts, reopen the Mail app.
Use Apple Mail App With Ease
When using Apple Mail app to access, read, and use your Gmail account, the new emails might stop coming suddenly. However, you can employ the solutions mentioned above. If you use other email service like Outlook or Yahoo, the solutions remain nearly the same. Check our guide if the Mail app is not working on iPhone.
Last updated on 06 September, 2023
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Can I choose to receive Gmail only on my laptop and not on my iPhone?
If I delete an email message from my iPhone, does it also delete it on the laptop?
What about the reverse? If I delete a message on my laptop, does it also get deleted on my iPhone?
Ann,
Yes you can choose where you want to receive gmail by installing or not installing that account on the device. You can have multiple gmail accounts and choose to put one, some, or none on any device.
If you delete a message from one device, it should delete everywhere. That’s because your messages are actually stored in the cloud, not the device you read them. It may not show your deletion right away depending on your fetch settings and/or if you deleted the message while working offline, but if you are working within the web browser it should be instant.
Hello Mike,
I have followed all the above steps and my gmail used to sync on my iphone under Mail and if I logged into Gmail on my mac desktop. In the last couple of weeks it stopped. Not sure if it has something to do with the recent updates. Is there any other suggestions you may have to help correct this? I called Apple and they said I have to contact Google but there is no way to contact support that I could find.
thank you!
My iphone and gmail account keep unsynching. I’ll delete things on my phone and they’ll still be on my gmail portal on my computer. Deleting the gmail and reinstalling on my iphone seems to work but they unsynch every couple of weeks. Any suggestions?
I’m so glad it isn’t just me. For the past few weeks Gmail will not sync between desktop and Iphone. Or Iphone and Ipad. I think it is something to do with the latest software updates. Very frustrating.
You’re awesome! Thanks for posting the instructions-worked like a charm!
I am able to sync everything except gmail folders that also have a sub folder within the folder. what is causing those subfolders to not even appear in the apple email app? Just started to happen with the latest software updates.