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Fetch New Data “?” Unknown Question Mark Account

I found that my battery was draining with the iOS Mail app being used in the background (for example the entire time it was charging overnight, and it never fully charged) and significant WiFi data was being used when connected to WiFi.


I found that under Passwords & Accounts > Fetch New Data there was an account listed with just “?” for the name (just the question mark symbol). Under it in grey was “Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Notes” and setting was Fetch.


Under accounts, this “?” was not listed, just my “iCloud” account. The “?” account only showed up under Fetch section. There were no Profiles on the phone. The Mail app was not part of my iCloud backup. I was not logged in to an email account for the Mail iOS app.


Has anyone seen this before or know what causes it? I have seen a few other posts online about it over the years but there does not seem to be an explanation.


I tried erase and restore with two different backups (including one from a a few weeks back). Still showed up. Still kept using battery and data. Only way the “?” account under Fetch New Data went away was setting up as new phone.


using iPhone 11 with up to date iOS.


Appreciate any help or insight as to potential causes.

iPhone X

Posted on Mar 8, 2020 1:11 PM

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4 replies

Mar 9, 2020 7:11 AM in response to YV638

Hi YV638,


Thanks for posting your question. As I understand it, you're seeing an unexpected account on your iPhone. I'll be glad to offer some assistance with this.


To clarify, you see this account listed only under Settings > Passwords & Accounts > Fetch New Data; is that right? If it appears under Settings > Passwords also, are you able to remove the account by tapping Settings > Passwords & Accounts, then tapping the account and tapping Delete Account?


Also, under the Fetch New Data settings, are you seeing the "?" account in addition to your iCloud account, or does it seem to appear in place of the iCloud account?


You mentioned you don't have any Profiles set up; did you have one previously?


Knowing the above may help to work out more about the issue. I hope this helps get you started.


Have a good one.

Mar 15, 2020 10:26 AM in response to chris_g1

Thank you. Unfortunately they were not able to determine the issue, it was escalated to engineering as well. Only solution was set up phone as new and/or new iOS installed.


It was just concerning because the mail app was using significant amount of battery in the background and my phone was using large amounts of data when connected to WiFi. But there was no actual account in Mail app set-up or an account listed in settings (outside of the “?” under “Fetch New Data”.


So what data was being transmitted?


I previously was using Norton VPN and their Mobile Security apps but deleted it before a restore (unfortunately I did not keep track of the sequence of events here, wish I did as it may have helped explain). Could that have been related? Something was still left?


At the end of the day, the phone is setup as new now, but I guess I am just looking for reassurance there was no security issue or “hack” in my phone. And it was likely just something corrupt in the iOS version on my phone or my backup?



Fetch New Data “?” Unknown Question Mark Account

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