Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

AOL inbox greyed out

This seems very strange. All of the sudden when I check my AOL email using the regular Mail app, the inbox folder within the list of folders is greyed out. It has a number next to it showing how many unread emails it has but it cannot be accessed. But at the top of the screen under the word mailboxes and over the word VIP it can be accessed. All other folders work fine.


I have tried everything including deleting and reinstalling the AOL account and even reformatting the entire Ipad at least 4 times. Can't figure out why this is happening all of the sudden.

iPad (10th gen) WiFi

Posted on Feb 6, 2023 6:28 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Feb 8, 2023 10:10 AM

Hello mmeisler,


We have a great support article that might help with this. You've taken some of these steps already, so please take a look at other troubleshooting suggestions here: If you can't receive email on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Follow this guidance:


"Before you begin

There are a few things to keep in mind and check:

      • When you make an iOS or iPadOS backup in iCloud or iTunes, it backs up your mail settings, but not your email. If you delete or change your email account settings, previously downloaded emails might be removed from your device.
      • Make sure that your device is connected to the Internet.
      • Check with your email service provider to find out if there's a service outage.
      • If you can't access your email, or you can't send and receive messages with your @icloud.com email address, learn what to do.


Check your email address and password

If the Mail apps asks you to enter a password for your email account, make sure that your password is correct. To check your email address and password, sign in to your email provider's website.

If you still get a username or password error, contact the email provider or system administrator.


Check Mail Fetch and Notification settings

By default, Fetch New Data settings are based on what's provided by your email service. If Push isn't available as a setting, your account will default to Fetch. These settings affect how your device receives email. To adjust these settings:

      1. Go to Settings > Mail, then tap Accounts.
      2. Tap Fetch New Data.
      3. Choose a setting — like Automatically or Manually — or choose a schedule for how often the Mail app fetches data.


With iOS 11 and later, and iPadOS, Automatically is set by default. Your device will fetch new data in the background only when your device is charging and connected to Wi-Fi.

Make sure that your Notification settings are correct for the Mail app:

      1. Go to Settings, then tap Notifications.
      2. Tap Mail, then tap an email account.
      3. Adjust your Alerts, Sounds, and Badges.


Contact your email provider or system administrator

      1. Contact your email provider or check their status webpage to see if there's a service outage. 
      2. Ask your email provider or system administrator if you turned on any security features or restrictions, like two-step verification, for your email account. You might need a special password or may need to request authorization from your email provider to send and receive email on your device.
      3. Check your email account settings with your email provider or system administrator to make sure that they're correct.


Remove your email account and set it up again

      1. On your computer, sign in to your email provider’s website. Make sure that all of your email is there or make sure that your email is saved somewhere other than your device.
      2. On your device, go to Settings > Mail, then tap Accounts.
      3. Tap the email account that you want to remove.
      4. Tap Delete Account.
      5. Add your account again.


If these steps don't work, contact your email service provider for more information."




We hope this helps. Let us know if we can assist with anything else at all. Take care.


Similar questions

3 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Feb 8, 2023 10:10 AM in response to mmeisler

Hello mmeisler,


We have a great support article that might help with this. You've taken some of these steps already, so please take a look at other troubleshooting suggestions here: If you can't receive email on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Follow this guidance:


"Before you begin

There are a few things to keep in mind and check:

      • When you make an iOS or iPadOS backup in iCloud or iTunes, it backs up your mail settings, but not your email. If you delete or change your email account settings, previously downloaded emails might be removed from your device.
      • Make sure that your device is connected to the Internet.
      • Check with your email service provider to find out if there's a service outage.
      • If you can't access your email, or you can't send and receive messages with your @icloud.com email address, learn what to do.


Check your email address and password

If the Mail apps asks you to enter a password for your email account, make sure that your password is correct. To check your email address and password, sign in to your email provider's website.

If you still get a username or password error, contact the email provider or system administrator.


Check Mail Fetch and Notification settings

By default, Fetch New Data settings are based on what's provided by your email service. If Push isn't available as a setting, your account will default to Fetch. These settings affect how your device receives email. To adjust these settings:

      1. Go to Settings > Mail, then tap Accounts.
      2. Tap Fetch New Data.
      3. Choose a setting — like Automatically or Manually — or choose a schedule for how often the Mail app fetches data.


With iOS 11 and later, and iPadOS, Automatically is set by default. Your device will fetch new data in the background only when your device is charging and connected to Wi-Fi.

Make sure that your Notification settings are correct for the Mail app:

      1. Go to Settings, then tap Notifications.
      2. Tap Mail, then tap an email account.
      3. Adjust your Alerts, Sounds, and Badges.


Contact your email provider or system administrator

      1. Contact your email provider or check their status webpage to see if there's a service outage. 
      2. Ask your email provider or system administrator if you turned on any security features or restrictions, like two-step verification, for your email account. You might need a special password or may need to request authorization from your email provider to send and receive email on your device.
      3. Check your email account settings with your email provider or system administrator to make sure that they're correct.


Remove your email account and set it up again

      1. On your computer, sign in to your email provider’s website. Make sure that all of your email is there or make sure that your email is saved somewhere other than your device.
      2. On your device, go to Settings > Mail, then tap Accounts.
      3. Tap the email account that you want to remove.
      4. Tap Delete Account.
      5. Add your account again.


If these steps don't work, contact your email service provider for more information."




We hope this helps. Let us know if we can assist with anything else at all. Take care.


Feb 9, 2023 4:35 PM in response to mmeisler

I figured it out. It seems that it was because it was an IMAP folder. It was only showing the subfolder messages but the root was greyed out. No idea why but when I deleted the subfolder from the webmail (which must be the server level), the root went away too and it listed at the top of the column by itself.


All fixed now.

Feb 8, 2023 4:35 PM in response to Gena_D

Thank you but this doesn't help. Maybe I wasn't clear in my explanation. I can get all of my emails. The main Inbox folder appears twice. Once a the top of the list of folders by itself with a VIP folder. That one is fine. It also appears below in the list of all of my folders and subfolders. In that location it is greyed out although it shows the number of unread messages next to it. It even has subfolder listed underneath it which is accessible. It's only the root inbox that can be seen but not accessed. And it is only on my iPad that it happens. Fine on my desktop in Outlook. Fine in webmail and fine on my Android phone.

AOL inbox greyed out

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.