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lwalton Author

Level 1

62 points

“ This message cannot be displayed”

On my 3rd gen iPad Air, the Mail app has started displaying the error message:

”This message cannot be displayed because of the way it is formatted. Ask the sender to send it again using a different format or email program.”

about one time in 10 messages. It has so far only happened in emails that I BBC’d myself. IOW, I am the sender. And I can see the first few words of the original email in the sidebar. So it’s a Mail glitch?

Any know the solution? Thanks.

iPad Air, iPadOS 14

Posted on Oct 7, 2020 7:23 AM

Top-ranking reply

SP-ALB

Level 1

9 points

Posted on Nov 19, 2020 11:12 PM

I have the same problem with my iPhone 11 after running the latest update. I found a work around on another forum.

=> Delete the message, then go to your trash and move the message back to your inbox. The email should then be readable. Not convenient, but it works.

Apparently this is not a new issue with Apple but seems to have cycled around with various updates. The original message on the other forum was old. Hopefully Apple will fix it on the next update.

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Similar questions

134 replies

Dec 23, 2020 6:59 AM in response to abeness

Abeness, I filed a report as you suggested. Thanks for the link.

Dec 27, 2020 10:34 AM in response to Rockpool555

It starting happening with Os 14. That being said, apparently it happened for a while in 2012. I can’t believe APPLE HAS NOT BOTHERED TO FIX IT, since it’s been around off and on since then!

TyMarRo

Level 1

4 points

Dec 29, 2020 8:18 AM in response to duopshebop

the same issue started today. Been on 14.3 for several weeks without any issues. The he same work around helps, but still isn’t the solution.

Dec 29, 2020 4:16 PM in response to SP-ALB

Tried the “Delete, then move back from Trash to Inbox” workaround: it works!

Thanks!

Dec 30, 2020 2:54 AM in response to lwalton

I have been getting the same problem ever since I got my new iPad Air 4 about a month ago (now 29 Dec) Very annoying, my email gets through, but the BCC gets that message. Obviously an Apple problem

Dec 30, 2020 1:58 PM in response to duopshebop

I could not agree more!

Dec 30, 2020 2:21 PM in response to duopshebop

Thank you for expressing what I’ve been thinking!!

Jan 12, 2021 12:18 PM in response to IMDWSnyder

I have the same issue, I did the deleting procedure but didn’t help.

I'm using iOS 14.3.

@Apple tech’s, any light?

rwheet

Level 1

4 points

Jan 13, 2021 11:34 AM in response to EduardoBr11

Even gives me that message on the bcc from my own sent mail from the same iphone... why can’t it read its own formatting?

rwheet

Level 1

4 points

Jan 13, 2021 11:39 AM in response to lwalton

Found a work around from 2014... move message to trash then move it back... out of the trash, you can now read the mail.. strange.. but true... another apple first 🥴

Jan 13, 2021 12:16 PM in response to rwheet

Just did the phone turn off and back on, the mails are okay now.

Jan 17, 2021 5:10 PM in response to ryane77

This does not address the problem at all. Why does this issue keep popping up over the years?

Jan 30, 2021 1:59 AM in response to lwalton

Yep. Exactly the same problem on my iPad . I cant find original email in trash either!

Jan 30, 2021 3:21 AM in response to mikemelbourne

Did you delete the original email? It should be in Trash/All bins under the date it was sent

Jan 30, 2021 4:00 PM in response to TyMarRo

It happened on my old iPad Air with updates. Nowhere intact on any box. Just checked my iPhone 12 micro and it was intact on it, with no error message. Crazy!....I sent it on iPad btw

“ This message cannot be displayed”