AOL Mail "My Folders" problem

I am having the same problem on my iphone, ipad, and ipod touch. It seems to have started recently, after the latest software update. I have been on the phone with Apple, and emailing with AOL, but neither has any answers (although Apple is trying a lot harder than AOL...). I even tried moving the emails back into my inbox on AOL's webmail, but the iphone still wouldn't see them. I also tried deleting the accounts from my OS devices and re-installing; that didn't work either. I do not have this problem with my Gmail account, just AOL (and compuserve). If more people report this then Apple will realize it's probably something with their last OS update....

I've been having the same problem as you guys since yesterday. Can't solve it yet, though I've tried numerous things over the past couple of hours.

As a temporary solution (so I can still access all my mail while Apple and/or AOL or simply someone smarter than me sorts this out) I went to AOL mobile : http://mobile.aol.com/

from there, click on the tab for iPhone.

then notice the third icon to the right which says "Aol Mail communication" and click on "send to my iPhone" just beneath it.

put in your cell phone number and it will text you a link.

tap the link which connects you through safari on your iPhone to the AOL sign-in page.

once signed into your account, go to "Folders" and it's a view similar to what you got previously through the mail icon on your iPhone.

Then add the AOL icon to your home screen (creates a pink AOL icon which I've placed right next to the original Mail icon on my home sceen). From there, whenever you click on the icon it will bring you to your mailbox, including access to all the folders.

Later access is probably made easier and quicker if you check off the "remember me " box when first signing in. Otherwise I imagine you would have to sign in again each time.

Mail access time is about the same, but it's like fetch rather than push. Another difference / disadvantage is that you're using up one of your safari browser pages when doing this.

Other than that, it works pretty well for me as a temporary fix.

p.s. Also, for those who might not know this already, to add to your homescreen ( or bookmark something) via Safari on your iPhone, you simply press the "+" sign on the bottom of the web page that you are currently browsing and it will give you those options.

Thanks for posting the work around. I had just had the link sent to me but had not used it yet when I decided to check here to see if anyone else was having the same problems. Even some of my folders that had saved mail in them would sometimes delete them selves (or just disappear). For me I needed to get to my Priceline folder that had all my confirmation emails (I printed them out too) and there was nothing there.After reading your idea I downloaded the file and can now acess all my folders inluding Priceline and all my saved mail is there. Thanks again and I hope someone comes up with a fix soon. This seemed to happen after the last update.

The problem exists on my ipad2. Started yesterday and I have contacted apple support and they cant figure the fix. They believe according to advisor that it's AOL. If it was aol I thought why is every one else having on their iPhones also. I don't have Mac/pc. On top of that when I received confirmation from Apple I created and event in iCal and it does not have a delete option to rid iCal item! I think it might be upd also.

Thanks Igennarell for taking the time to post the temporary fix. It was driving me nuts trying to figure out why my folder content was vanishing. I am sure AOL has some sort of conflict with the upgrade, hopefully they will figure it out. But this is great for now, thanks for the help.

Thanks for the workaround. I have two comments.

1. I can't find the + on the webpage to add the pink AOL icon that you refer to. I looked in apps and couldn't find it either. I feel pretty stupid!

2. I suspect this is an AOL problem and not due to the new release of Apple software 4.3.5. It happens on my iphone 3gs, my ipad 2, and my old iphone 2 that has software version 3.1.3.

Yeah, no problem guys. Glad it helped.

jpflorida : when you are in safari on a browser page you should notice a grey horizontal bar across the very bottom of the touch screen. There are five symbols on this bar, equidistant, and usually in white. From left to right they are as follows: left arrowhead (back), right arrowhead (forward), "+" (the one we are using in this instance which allows you to add to home screen or to bookmark or to mail link), an open-paged book symbol (which brings you to bookmarks you have added in the past), and a double square (which you would use to open a new browser page).

midasmagoo: don't give up on AOL yet. I also have had my AOL account for what seems like forever (over 15 years?) and still like the format better than any of the others , including my g-mail account. Plus the nostalgia, and the "You've got mail !" welcome (which, once upon a time, used to excite me with the prospect of having an e-mail to read .... now I take a deep breath and hope it's less than 50 per day ), and the quizzical look I get when I tell people my address is AOL ("that's still around?"). Sure I've been frustrated with it from time to time (the software has had so many issues over the years). But I still think it's the best .

I've been checking my mail via the icon since yesterday and it's ok.

Couple of observations...

1. when you are adding to home screen, make sure you are on the page you wish the icon to take you to from then on (for me it is the "folders" screen in AOL mail. This is the one most similar to what we're all used to, I think.)

But if you prefer that it always takes you to "new mail", you can certainly do that instead --- just be on that screen when you utilize the "+"

2. From time to time, I clean out my cache, history and cookies.

Fyi: after doing this, you will not automatically access your mail via the icon. Instead , it will take you to the AOL "sign in" screen. At this point, entering screen name and password and checking the "remember me" box will get you back to easy access via the icon (until next time you decide to clean your browser, that is)

3. I was able to compose new e-mails by entering the "drafts" folder.

Haven't looked further into the original problem -- maybe next week if I have time. Hopefully it'll magically fix itself before then or someone will post a solution soon for us.

first time here so if this has been asked previously, please excuse me. i have had files disapearing or self deleting themselves out of my aol mail this week as well. apple support is unaware of this happening. aol claims they are having server problems. these folders and their contents are accessible on my pc, but not on the phone. does this mean certain emails are not going out or being received either? mobile aol mail seems to be working although its clumsy, but there is definately a conflict between aol and the iphone. any solutions would be most appreciated,

thanks

Thanks, again. Following your ïdiot-proof directions, I found the +, but it's not a + on my iphone. It's the square and arrow symbol usually used for replying to and forwarding messages. However, it opens to the options you mention, and worked like a charm, thanks.

I am experiencing these same problems with (don't laugh) my ipod, from which I access three of my aol email accounts. I'm with you... I still love my AOL. My problem was that the Recently Deleted folder on AOL used to sync with my Trash folder on my iphone. But now it is blank. I have a PC, and when I try to sign into AOL, I get the message that Connection has Timed Out. It is frustrating. So how do I contact AOL to launch a complaint. I tried connecting to AOL through Safari (on my ipod), and it comes up weird. Maybe cuz I'm on an ipod. I found this forum by searching for my problem. I hope I can get back to check to see if things are going to be resolved, or how to resolve what I can. Thanks to all who are helping.

Well it cost a support phone call but apple assures me that it is an AOL server problem, that AOL is aware and working on it, and the timing - right after the last OS update - was just a coincidence. So, now just waiting...

yup, thanks for making the effort.

I guess now we just wait.

Hope it's fixed soon.

-- this alternative (app) may kinda work in a pinch, but I'm not loving it.

p.s. tried calling AOL at 1-800-827-6364, but was taking too long and hadda run.. will try again when i have time.