Cannot get mail - the mail server "imap.gmail.com" is not responding. The correct account info is in Mail settings. How do I resolve?

Thank you Matttes!!!! This issue has been a huge time suck all weekend.

Switched from Android to iOS today and encountered this issue.

1. This is not Apple's problem.

2. This is not Google's problem.

3. Stop throwing insults when mis/underinformed 🙂

The issue lies within a layer of authentication on the google side. Google account login requires HTTPS/SSL in order to pass information. This step fails silently in many situations on iOS. It was upon manually attempting to add the google account as a generic SMTP account that I found what my issue was, since the application echoes errors instead of running what appears to be a simple script to next/next/finish prompts through the gapps api. I could do an nslookup, ping, all the usual network stuff from my device. I'm getting annoyed with google service features, so downloading the gmail app was not an acceptable answer.

I couldn't do a deepdive due to slight unfamiliarity with how google authentication works, but I did the following:

1. (easy/annoying) Disabled 2-factor authentication. This part is all over this form. This didn't work.

2. (annoying) Brought to factory settings. This didn't work.

3. (real easy) Disabled wifi and went to data. This worked. Why? Because my work was disabling SSL over HTTPS. I confirmed with my helpdesk team that this is the case. Many private sector companies and universities do this. Disconnect from your wifi, or go to a library run by your local government. Or, like, your parents' house or something.

gmail manual settings, in case you want to find out what your error is and diagnose using the internets: https://support.google.com/mail/troubleshooter/1668960?hl=en

I had this problem recently too and found Zacharias Beckman's reply to be a solution:

Re: Cannot get mail - the mail server "imap.gmail.com" is not responding. The correct account info is in Mail settings. …

I have the same issue. My Gmail account doesn't work (in the Apple mail app) on either my MacBook or iPhone when I use particular WiFi networks. Is there a setting that disallows Gmail to load mail, and makes this annoying message come up?

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! You've made my day!

After weeks of trying everything suggested, I followed your instructions. I had mobile data 'on' for Gmail but didnt have it 'on' for Mail.

FIxed!!

jennifer

Old post but worth posting the solution which I found as I had this problem for 4 years and got it resolved today.

Every other forum gives the same set of instruction, but you can try this. May be your problem might be similar to mine, as I had disabled cellular connection for the Setting apps when iOS gave the option to turn on /off cellular data for individual apps in some iOS update, which I don't remember

Go to Settings>Cellular

Scroll down to Use Cellular Data For

Make sure you enable LTE connections for the below apps

1. Settings---- This is the culprit. Mail configuration is done in Settings apps in iOS. So enable Cellular for this apps. Because your cursor control comes back to the settings application after entering password in the inbuild Safari browser used by gmail.

2. Calendar- optionally you can enable LTE , because google come with sync option for calendar during initial configuration. You can disable it later if you don't manage your Calender with your gmail account.

3. Contacts - this is similar to calendar apps. if you don't manage your notes with gmail, You can disable it after configuration

4. Notes - this is similar to calendar apps. if you don't manage your notes with gmail, You can disable it after configuration.

Enjoy

Cannot get mail - the mail server "imap.gmail.com" is not responding. The correct account info is in Mail settings. How do I resolve

I Have the same problem. Everyone I talk to has that problem. ******* Apple will not acknowledge a problem and leave all these people hanging. I'm sick of apple''s arrogance and their continued efforts to lock me in and forcing things like Apple maps on me.

This has not fixed my issue

I have it with both gmail and yahoo mail.

gmail has imap enabled already

I don't have the gmail app and even a reboot does not solve the problem.

I can't even make a call.

If I reboot my phone I can use it for around 90 seconds until I get "cannot verify server identity message"

apple.imap.mail..yahoo.com

Well done Apple!

Robster69 wrote:

If I reboot my phone I can use it for around 90 seconds until I get "cannot verify server identity message"

apple.imap.mail..yahoo.com

If that isn't a typo and really is what the error says, I can see why it can't verify server identity. hint: 2 dots (..) between mail and yahoo.

Not that is what is says.

I think it may be using .. as out of space in error box.

I manged to remove gmail and yahoo and I can now use my phone.

Thanks for your suggestion but the accounts were setup correctly had been working for quite some time IOS update is the issue here

Thank you very much Lisa - that solved my problem. The settings switch was off in mobile data. I put it on and here we go!

Thank you nkhari76, this worked for me!

I was having issues with my mail connecting this morning and so i decided to delete the accounts hoping that it would resolve the issue once i added them again but i was having issues with IMAP connecting when trying to add AOL account and then when trying to set up Gmail account it wouldn't even add the account at all. Once i checked the cellular status in settings as you suggested and turned them all on, it finally worked!

I have just tried the force quitting Mail solution and it works for me.

I have had this problem for years intermittently including app specific passwords. Two factor authentication seems to start up after force quitting and restarting mail. The only problem is that I haven't figured how to get from google authenticator back to the screen where i have to put in the authentication code. So had to get the code first and hope it is still valid long enough.

Hi

Go to settings Email Account delete account then add back again .

Cheers

Brian