After ios9 update my emails with attachments won't open and say "message not yet downloaded from server". They were there previously. How do I get them back?

Thanks Rontu2 - you're right. The problems have appeared on the iPad since the 9.0.1 update. I've also followed your advice and yesterday day sent Apple an iPad feedback form so that they are aware that the problem is not confined to iPhones. I've been losing some serious stuff from the iPad which I'm having to retrieve from another static device (and some times print), which totally defeats the object of having an iPad the first place! Now that you've pointed me in the right direction they'll be hearing from me on a regpilar basis until they pull their corporate finger out and do something about it.

I was hoping yesterdays iOS 9.0.2 would address this issue, unfortunately not.

My current workaround is by unchecking the 'Remove copy from server after retrieving a message' check box under Advanced tab in my POP account settings. So long as the messages remain in my POP email server, then the emails will not disappear from my iOS devices.

It appears that this new iOS 9 or, now iOS 9.0.2, no longer stores the downloaded messages in the device memory once the Apple Mail app has been closed. Instead, the new iOS is causing the Apple Mail app to, also, download the previously downloaded emails, again - as well as any new emails that have arrived into the POP email server every time the app is re-launched; if the older emails have been removed from the POP email server then the Apple Mail app on iOS devices will no longer be able to download the older emails again which is what appears to be causing the issues.

I agree that setting a Mail Preference to leave messages on the server defeats a significant aspect of POP mail. Having said that, my iPhone is set to NEVER remove mail from the server. That's because I use a MacBook Pro laptop as my primary device, and on that device the preference is set to remove messages after they are retrieved. The only mail reaching my iPhone is mail that arrives when the mail client on my laptop is not logged in and that works fine for me because the iPhone is not the primary device I use to retrieve mail.

Until Apple releases a fix here are two suitable workarounds that do not involve having to leave mail on the POP server:

1. Remove the attached file from the email message and store it elsewhere on the phone. Eg. once a photo is saved to the Camera Roll it resides there and will not be compromised even if the email in the Inbox goes dark. That's the simple route, but even better...

2. Backup the phone every day to a source that is not using iOS such as an iMac, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. That rules out backing up to an iPad. Once data is saved to another device it cannot be impacted by the mail app on the iPhone. IMPORTANT NOTE: - you can rely on an iCloud backup BUT ONLY if you first move the files out of Mail as referred in (1) above because an iCloud backup will not save email messages. It backs up the mail app and settings but none of the messages.

The lack immediate response should not be misinterpreted as lack of concern by Apple. During 30 years using Apple products I've experienced an incontrovertible commitment to client service and satisfaction. That coupled with superior products is why I use Apple exclusively in my business as well as for personal use.

Please keep using the feedback link and urge others to do so. It will only accelerate the process.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

I to have the same problem with email messages disappearing after 24 hrs after downloaded on to iphone. Have phoned Apple several times they are not aware of this problem and don't have any solution. I am transferring important emails to a gmail account which is not affected with this problem. I have also been on the feed back site several time to see if they will bring out a patch. I wonder if this problem is only happening to UK based user of iphones, or is it affecting users in other countries

The issue in iOS9 is not related to the Mail app being closed. I received multiple emails with attached files yesterday between 6:00-7:00 am. The files remained on those messages for between 12-24 hours. The Mail app was closed several times during that period so that doesn't seem to be the cause. There is something in iOS9 that's causing this and it's obviously something that Apple's engineers have to isolate and identify.

The problem is not unique to UK users. We have more than our share stateside. Mail from your gmail account is not being effected because gmail uses the IMAP protocol and this issue seems to be related to POP mail. I see that with incoming mail. If it came from an IMAP server there is no issue but if from a POP server then the messages are being lost.

You're forgetting about "sent" email from an iPad/iPhone using ios9, which is affected also (for POP protocol). A workaround to this is to "cc" or "bcc" yourself for every sent email so it will get delivered to your home server computer, where it will stay there until you physically delete it.

I am glad to hear the problem seems to be world wide. Also it appears its just pop 3 accounts are affected. Its strange that important emails I transfer form my pop 3 account on iphone to gmail account on iphone don't suffer this problem. Also I have noted some emails in my pop 3 account dont disappear. I wonder how long it will take Apple to resolve this problem or will it ever be sorted.

Yes, using a "cc" or "bcc" to yourself to get the mail on another device works. The data in Sent mail can be saved using the same options as for mail in the Inbox as stated in my earlier post.

Do you think Apple will resolve this problem as it seems its affecting users globally so it seems. When I spoke to Apple support they were clueless about this problem. I don't know how this will get escalated to higher level to get resolved.

I received a call from a supervisor at Apple care this morning, who ensured me that they aware of the issue and it is being worked on, although she could not give any time scales. They are calling me back again on Monday evening. Like many I have changed my settings to keep the mails on the server, but this should only be a temporary work around. Even doing this, I have noticed that when mails are left in the trash folder for about 12 hours, the mail defaults to saying that the message cannot be downloaded from the server, but when moved back to the inbox, it appears okay again. It all very annoying.

My settings have always been to never delete from server so it sounds like the closing of the mail app? If so would leaving it running work or would it effectively close each time the device goes to standby?

Changing the mail settings to keep mail on the server is not even a valid workaround. It doesn't work, especially for sent email with attachments. You need to "cc" or "bcc" all sent mail to yourself, so the sent mail will get saved on your home server machine (PC).

I'm moving to an exchange server!

I found the same thing with messages moved to Trash. There is no rhyme or reason to this. There is a flaw in iOS9 that Apple's engineers need to cure.