Q: My ipad mini stopped retrieving email.  When I log in and click on mail icon, it says checking for mail but it does not download.  It just keeps spinning.  Hope you can help me.  I have two hotmail accounts and mail in not retrieved for either.

I would try closing all apps by tapping the home button twice, and push the apps up to close then I would restart it to see if it helps. Hotmail is finky to begin with, I use hotmail and ended up changing the pop to a imap settings

iOS: Unable to send or receive email

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3899http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3899

Can’t Send Emails on iPad – Troubleshooting Steps

http://ipadhelp.com/ipad-help/ipad-cant-send-emails-troubleshooting-steps/http://ipadhelp.com/ipad-help/ipad-cant-send-emails-troubleshooting-steps/

Setting up and troubleshooting Mail

http://www.apple.com/support/ipad/assistant/mail/http://www.apple.com/support/ipad/assistant/mail/

Using a POP account with multiple devices

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3228http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3228

iOS: Adding an email account

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4810http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4810

iOS: Setting up an Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live, or MSN email account

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1694http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1694

iPhone, iPad, iPod touch: Microsoft Outlook 2003, Outlook 2007, Outlook 2010 may not display contacts and calendars after sync

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1944http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1944

Server does not allow relaying email error, fix

http://appletoolbox.com/2012/01/server-does-not-allow-relaying-email-error-fix/http://appletoolbox.com/2012/01/server-does-not-allow-relaying-email-error-fix/

Why Does My iPad Say "Cannot Connect to Server"?

http://www.ehow.co.uk/info_8693415_ipad-say-cannot-connect-server.htmlhttp://www.ehow.co.uk/info_8693415_ipad-say-cannot-connect-server.html

How to Sync Contacts with Your iPad Using iTunes

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-sync-contacts-with-your-ipad-using- itunes.htmlhttp://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-sync-contacts-with-your-ipad-using- itunes.html

iOS: 'Mailbox Locked', account is in use on another device, or prompt to re-enter POP3 password

http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2621http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2621

eMail Groups - You can use a third party app that many users recommend.

MailShot -  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mailshot-pro-group-email-done/id445996226?mt=8https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mailshot-pro-group-email-done/id445996226?mt=8

Group Email  -  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/group-email!-mail-client-attachments/id380690305https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/group-email!-mail-client-attachments/id380690305 ?mt=8

iPad Mail

http://www.apple.com/support/ipad/mail/http://www.apple.com/support/ipad/mail/

Configuration problems with IMAP e-mail on iOS with a non-standard SSL port.

http://colinrobbins.me/2013/02/09/configuration-problems-with-imap-e-mail-on-ios -with-a-non-standard-ssl-port/http://colinrobbins.me/2013/02/09/configuration-problems-with-imap-e-mail-on-ios -with-a-non-standard-ssl-port/

Try this first - Reset the iPad by holding down on the Sleep and Home buttons at the same time for about 10-15 seconds until the Apple Logo appears - ignore the red slider - let go of the buttons. (This is equivalent to rebooting your computer.)

Or this - Delete the account in Mail and then set it up again. Settings->Mail, Contacts, Calendars -> Accounts   Tap on the Account, then on the red button that says Remove Account.

 Cheers, Tom

What worked for me for this same problem was simply closing the app ( actually I closed all the apps that were running in background) & then reopening it.  (The mail app will keep running in background unless you doubleclick on home button to show what apps are open, and manually close them.)