Gmail won't send on iPhone 4S/iOS 7.1

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Level 1

14 points

Gmail won't send on iPhone 4S/iOS 7.1

Just got a new iPhone and had problems connecting to Gmail. Someone here helped me out and got that problem fixed. Now it won't send. I get the message:

"Unable to send Email"

"A copy has been placed in your Outbox. The sender address "myemail@gmail.com" was rejected by the server."

So I have four emails in my outbox that I can't delete, and they won't send. I can receive email on the phone. I can send and receive email on my iPad and one my computer. So it is a setting in this phone that isn't configured right.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

iPhone 4s (8GB), iOS 7.1

Posted on Mar 25, 2014 1:13 PM

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Answer 1

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,303 points

Sep 7, 2017 11:47 AM in response to isabellefromarlington

Look at Gmail's help site. That should provide you with the information. I have a Gmail account, however I use the Gmail app, so all setup is automatic. If you add a Gmail account in the Mail app on the iPhone that should also set itself out automatically as well.

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Answer 2

Sep 7, 2017 9:22 AM in response to ChrisJ4203

What are the server ports for in-going and what are the sever ports for out-going. I can get gmail but can not send gmail on my phone. both the ports are the same number. where are we to findout port numbers?

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Answer 3

Apr 1, 2017 4:37 PM in response to Loctavius

I know this is an old post, but I just had the same issue. I searched via google & found this post. But instead of deleting & adding the gmail account, as was suggested, I powered off my phone & powered it back on. The hard reboot/reset made everything work again (without delete & re-add). Just wanted to note for others that may run into this issue. Much easier doing a power off/on

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Answer 4

JuStew63

Level 1

4 points

Jul 27, 2017 4:13 PM in response to Maryjb1965

Yep, I ran into this same problem. I tried to send an email from my iPhone using my gmail account and the basic Apple email program, and the email got stuck in the out box and wouldn't send. I simply powered down, and when I turned the phone back on, the email was sent successfully. Thanks Maryjb1965!

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Answer 5

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,303 points

Mar 25, 2014 1:14 PM in response to Loctavius

The sending of mail is handled by the SMTP server. Check the settings on that server in your mail setup. Are you using the Gmail app?

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Answer 6

Loctavius Author

Level 1

14 points

Mar 25, 2014 1:20 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

I am not using the Gmail app - I am using the built-in mail app. The outgoing mail server is set to "smtp.gmail.com" - is that not correct?

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Answer 7

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,303 points

Mar 25, 2014 1:26 PM in response to Loctavius

That portion may very well be correct, I do not use Gmail, but you also need to make sure you have the username and password set correctly. Go to the Gmail support site and check there for setting information.

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Answer 8

Loctavius Author

Level 1

14 points

Mar 25, 2014 1:36 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

As I can send email, I'm assuming my username and password must be correct. Also, the smtp.gmail.com is correct - I just checked it. Any other ideas?

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Answer 9

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,303 points

Mar 25, 2014 1:39 PM in response to Loctavius

You may be able to send mail on other devices, but you have stated your problem is you cannot send mail on the iPhone, correct? If that is the case, the issue is on your iPhone. That is why you are receiving the error and the mail is just sitting in the Outbox, it is not sending.

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Answer 10

Loctavius Author

Level 1

14 points

Mar 25, 2014 1:44 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

I can get email on my iPhone - that is why I think it isn't a username/password issue - those credentials are checked for both sending and receiving email as far as I know. Yes, the sending issue is confined to my iPhone. So it is a setting issue, but I believe it is something other than the username or password. Does that make sense? Sorry - I'm not trying to be argumentative.

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Answer 11

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,303 points

Mar 25, 2014 1:50 PM in response to Loctavius

Please go into Settings>Mail, Contacts, Calendars, select the Gmail account. Then under Outgoing Mail Server, click on the SMTP setting. Tap on the Primary Server and check the Outgoing mail server settings. They would be using a different port then incoming, so they are not exactly the same. Double-check that the settings there match what Gmail says they should be. This area is where the problem is.

If you cannot find anything there, then remove the account completely, then add it back again, verifying all information as you go. The error that you see about the rejection by the server is what says it is a username/password issue.

I'm not trying to be argumentative here either, I'm just trying to provide solutions for you to try, it just seems that you are not trying anything.

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Answer 12

Loctavius Author

Level 1

14 points

Mar 25, 2014 2:04 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

It's not that I'm unwilling to try - I am.

So, I followed your advice. Under the outgoing mail server area, it is set to smtp.gmail.com. The username and password were labeled "optional" but I went ahead and put them in anyway. It is now stuck on verifying it and has been for a couple of minutes. It won't let me out of this screen, but the little spiny progress thing is still going, so I'm going to wait another minute. If I can't get control over the phone shortly I'll have to shut it down and start over.

I don't know if that helps you figure out the issue or not, but I thought I'd give you the infor while I waited.

And thanks by the way - I do sincerely appreciate the help.

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Answer 13

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,303 points

Mar 25, 2014 2:06 PM in response to Loctavius

Yes, that does help. I suggest removing the account completely as I stated earlier and just trying to enter it again. Something about the SMTP verification is failing.

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Answer 14

Loctavius Author

Level 1

14 points

Mar 25, 2014 3:14 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Ok - the problem is solved. I'm going to give you the solution so that you can help others in the future, because it is kind of a pain in the butt, and you mentioned that you didn't use gmail. Before I tell you, thanks for trying to help. It is appreciated.

So for some reason, if you use the built in mail applcation instead of the gmail app, AND if you have two-step authenticaiton turned on (which I do) you can not use your standard password. If you are not using two-step authentication, this is not a problem.

So, you have to go into your gmail account from a web browser, go into your two step authentication settings, and generate what is called an "application specific password." You give it a name. For example, I have one for my iPad, one for my iPhone, etc.

The problem I had was that I had put the applicaiton specific password in for checking mail, but not sending it, because it was marked as "optional" so I didn't think I needed it in both locations since all of my email popped up right away. So I generated a new password for the iPhone and put it in both incoming and outgoing email, and it worked.

Thanks again for trying!

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Answer 15

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,303 points

Mar 25, 2014 5:23 PM in response to Loctavius

Thanks. You never mentioned you were using the two-step, and since I don't use Gmail, I don't always think about it. I remember reading that it causes issues. Glad you got it working.

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