Email Not Working? Try These Fixes First

1. Make Sure the Internet Is Working

Email apps need an internet connection to send and receive new messages.

Open a few unrelated websites. If they do not load either, fix the internet connection first.

2. Try Email in a Web Browser

This is one of the best ways to determine whether the problem is your email account or the app you are using.

Sign in directly through your email provider’s website, such as Gmail, Outlook.com, Yahoo Mail, or your company’s webmail.

• If webmail works, your account is probably fine and the problem is with the app or device.
• If webmail does not work either, focus on the account, password, provider, or mailbox itself.

3. Restart the Email App

Close Outlook, Apple Mail, Gmail, or whichever mail app you use completely, then open it again.

On phones and tablets, make sure the app actually closes rather than just returning to the home screen.

4. Restart the Device

A full restart can clear frozen mail processes, network problems, and background authentication issues.

Restart the computer, phone, or tablet and test email again before changing account settings.

5. Check Whether the Mailbox Is Full

Some email accounts stop receiving new mail when the mailbox reaches its storage limit.

Check the provider’s storage information and look for warnings about a full mailbox or account storage.

Large attachments, Sent Items, Deleted Items, Trash, Spam, and old messages can all contribute to mailbox usage.

6. Email Receives Messages but Will Not Send

If incoming email works but outgoing email does not, check the Outbox first.

• Look for a message stuck in the Outbox.
• Check whether it has an unusually large attachment.
• Delete or move the stuck message and try sending a simple test email.
• Make sure the recipient’s email address is typed correctly.

If webmail can send successfully but your mail app cannot, the issue is probably in the app’s account configuration or authentication.

7. Email Sends but New Messages Are Not Arriving

Check more than just the Inbox.

• Spam or Junk
• Archive
• Promotions or Social tabs
• Deleted Items or Trash
• Focused / Other inboxes
• Custom folders

Also check for rules or filters that may be automatically moving new messages.

8. Check the Password

A saved password can stop working after a password change, account security update, or authentication problem.

Test the password by signing into webmail directly.

If webmail accepts the password but the app does not, the app may need you to sign in again.

9. Watch for Multi-Factor Authentication Prompts

Modern email services often require an approval prompt, security code, or other verification before a new device or app can connect.

Check your phone, authenticator app, text messages, or alternate email address for a sign-in request.

Only approve a sign-in request you actually initiated.

10. Check for a Provider Outage

Gmail, Microsoft 365, Outlook.com, Yahoo, and other services occasionally have outages.

If email suddenly stopped working across multiple devices at the same time, check the provider’s official service-status page before changing your settings.

11. Outlook Is Not Syncing

If Outlook opens but new email does not appear, first confirm the same mailbox works through webmail.

Then check whether Outlook shows messages such as:

• Disconnected
• Trying to connect
• Working Offline
• Password required
• Need password

If Outlook is specifically set to Work Offline, turn that option off and allow it time to reconnect.

12. Gmail Is Not Syncing on a Phone

If Gmail works in a browser but not on a phone, confirm background data and account synchronization are enabled.

Also check whether battery-saving settings are preventing the mail app from refreshing in the background.

13. Check Date and Time Settings

Incorrect date and time settings can interfere with secure connections and account authentication.

Set the device to update its date, time, and time zone automatically when possible.

14. Do Not Delete the Account Too Quickly

Removing and re-adding an email account can fix configuration problems, but it should not always be the first troubleshooting step.

First make sure you know the correct password and can successfully sign into webmail.

15. Be Suspicious of Unexpected Password or Security Emails

If your email problem started after clicking a link in a message claiming your password expired, your mailbox was full, or your account would be closed, be careful.

Instead of using the link in the message, go directly to the provider’s official website and sign in there.

Still Not Working?

The fastest way to narrow down an email problem is to answer these questions:

• Can you sign into webmail?
• Can you receive messages?
• Can you send messages?
• Does the problem happen on one device or every device?
• Is there an exact error message?
• Did the password recently change?

Those answers usually tell you whether the problem is the account, password, application, device, or email provider.