"Password Incorrect" and "Cannot Get Mail" Popups on iPhone 4
Device: iPhone 4
Carrier: Verizon Wireless
Country / Language: USA/English
OS / Browser / build number (if applicable): Version 4.2.6 (8E200)
I've never needed to post to a forum before because I've always been able to find the answers needed before, but after HOURS (10+ at least) of reading (and re-reading) posts, I haven't found an answer that works and it appears that many of those who seemed to have had similar problems were either human error or fixed by other remedies. I guess it's time for me to start contributing:
The problem:
Just got an iPhone 4 and read the instructions on how to properly set up Gmail using a Microsoft Exchange account so that my contacts, mail, and calendars sync with the phone. See the following website:
http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?answer=138740&topic=14252
Upon completing the instructions, my contacts, emails, and calendar DID properly sync. Within 24 hours of this correctly working, I began having popups (or whatever they're called in Apple land) saying the following:
"Password Incorrect
Enter the password for the Exchange account '(email account name)'"
After correctly entering the password multiple times (at least 3, but maybe more) I was shown a new popup message:
"Cannot Get Mail
The user name or password for '(email account name)' is incorrect"
It should be noted that at no point since the accounts correctly synced to the iPhone was any password changed. Some unknown number of hours later, I begin receiving push notifications for email from these accounts on the iPhone. (The problem had seemingly fixed itself.) The emails had been sent a great deal of time prior to the notifications and when I checked my email from the phone, neither popup was displayed and I was able to both send and receive emails from the phone.
Fast forward a month later and these events are nearly a daily occurrence and each time it fixes itself sometimes minutes, sometimes hours later. My frustration levels through the roof!
These are some (although I'm sure I've forgotten some) of the things I've read about and tried with no success:
1. Verified user names and passwords - I've checked and double-checked all user names and passwords on both my phone and my computer. All user names and passwords are correct.
2. Re-install account - All accounts have been deleted and installed again (3 separate times) using the instructions found by following the link I posted above. I've also tried variations on the install instructions at the suggestion of others: user name only (instead of "@gmail.com") using "@googlemail.com"
3. Restore phone - Hooked up the phone to my computer and did a full-phone restore back to the way it came out of the box and started again (4th install of accounts)
4. Changed passwords - Possible problem with the strength of my password? (It was suggested, so I tried it)
5. Verified the IMAP was enabled in Gmail. (It is.)
6. Unlocked Captcha - I have done this multiple times both via my computer AND the web browser on the iPhone.
https://www.google.com/accounts/UnlockCaptcha?
There are some random observations I've noticed about this problem. They may not be anything, but maybe it'll make sense to someone else:
1. This problem seems to happen more frequently (although certainly not always) in conjunction with the turning on and off of "Airplane Mode" (I travel a lot).
2. There doesn't seem to be a pattern in the length of time between when the problem starts and when it seemingly corrects itself, nor the time between then and when it starts again.
3. I have 3 Gmail accounts using this phone:
Acct A is set to sync mail and contacts ONLY
Acct B is set to sync mail and calendar ONLY
Acct C is set to sync mail ONLY
I've noticed that Acct C seems to have the problem almost never compared to the other two (which always have the issue at the same time). I've also tried having all three accounts sync all things, but that didn't help either.
If anyone can think of anything else, PLEASE let me know! I know as soon as I click "Post question" I'll think of something else I tried, but I'll update it if I think of something. If Apple and Gmail can't work this out, I'm going to have to pick one because this is unacceptable...
Carrier: Verizon Wireless
Country / Language: USA/English
OS / Browser / build number (if applicable): Version 4.2.6 (8E200)
I've never needed to post to a forum before because I've always been able to find the answers needed before, but after HOURS (10+ at least) of reading (and re-reading) posts, I haven't found an answer that works and it appears that many of those who seemed to have had similar problems were either human error or fixed by other remedies. I guess it's time for me to start contributing:
The problem:
Just got an iPhone 4 and read the instructions on how to properly set up Gmail using a Microsoft Exchange account so that my contacts, mail, and calendars sync with the phone. See the following website:
http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?answer=138740&topic=14252
Upon completing the instructions, my contacts, emails, and calendar DID properly sync. Within 24 hours of this correctly working, I began having popups (or whatever they're called in Apple land) saying the following:
"Password Incorrect
Enter the password for the Exchange account '(email account name)'"
After correctly entering the password multiple times (at least 3, but maybe more) I was shown a new popup message:
"Cannot Get Mail
The user name or password for '(email account name)' is incorrect"
It should be noted that at no point since the accounts correctly synced to the iPhone was any password changed. Some unknown number of hours later, I begin receiving push notifications for email from these accounts on the iPhone. (The problem had seemingly fixed itself.) The emails had been sent a great deal of time prior to the notifications and when I checked my email from the phone, neither popup was displayed and I was able to both send and receive emails from the phone.
Fast forward a month later and these events are nearly a daily occurrence and each time it fixes itself sometimes minutes, sometimes hours later. My frustration levels through the roof!
These are some (although I'm sure I've forgotten some) of the things I've read about and tried with no success:
1. Verified user names and passwords - I've checked and double-checked all user names and passwords on both my phone and my computer. All user names and passwords are correct.
2. Re-install account - All accounts have been deleted and installed again (3 separate times) using the instructions found by following the link I posted above. I've also tried variations on the install instructions at the suggestion of others: user name only (instead of "@gmail.com") using "@googlemail.com"
3. Restore phone - Hooked up the phone to my computer and did a full-phone restore back to the way it came out of the box and started again (4th install of accounts)
4. Changed passwords - Possible problem with the strength of my password? (It was suggested, so I tried it)
5. Verified the IMAP was enabled in Gmail. (It is.)
6. Unlocked Captcha - I have done this multiple times both via my computer AND the web browser on the iPhone.
https://www.google.com/accounts/UnlockCaptcha?
There are some random observations I've noticed about this problem. They may not be anything, but maybe it'll make sense to someone else:
1. This problem seems to happen more frequently (although certainly not always) in conjunction with the turning on and off of "Airplane Mode" (I travel a lot).
2. There doesn't seem to be a pattern in the length of time between when the problem starts and when it seemingly corrects itself, nor the time between then and when it starts again.
3. I have 3 Gmail accounts using this phone:
Acct A is set to sync mail and contacts ONLY
Acct B is set to sync mail and calendar ONLY
Acct C is set to sync mail ONLY
I've noticed that Acct C seems to have the problem almost never compared to the other two (which always have the issue at the same time). I've also tried having all three accounts sync all things, but that didn't help either.
If anyone can think of anything else, PLEASE let me know! I know as soon as I click "Post question" I'll think of something else I tried, but I'll update it if I think of something. If Apple and Gmail can't work this out, I'm going to have to pick one because this is unacceptable...
iPhone 4, iOS 4
