Apple Mail Not Working on iPhone/iPad

Applies to: Mail app on iOS/iPadOS

1. Check Fetch New Data settings

1. Settings → Mail → Accounts → Fetch New Data.
2. Turn Push on for accounts that support it — iCloud, Exchange. Everything else should fetch on a 15-minute interval, not Manually.

2. Toggle the account off and on

1. Settings → Mail → Accounts → select the account.
2. Toggle Mail off, wait 10 seconds, back on.

3. Missing folders (Sent, Archive, etc.)

1. Open Mail → tap Mailboxes (top left) → Edit.
2. Check the boxes for whatever folders aren't showing — Sent and Archive are the usual ones people notice missing.

4. Repeated password prompts

This almost always means the account needs re-authentication — the password changed somewhere, or (for Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook.com) an app password expired or got revoked without anyone noticing.

1. Settings → Mail → Accounts → tap the account → re-enter the current password or app password.
2. Still looping? Delete the account and re-add it from scratch rather than fighting it further.

5. Restart, then check for iOS updates

A surprising number of Mail sync bugs get fixed by a minor iOS update — worth checking before anything more involved. Settings → General → Software Update.