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JonD25 Author

Level 1

24 points

Consistently get "server imap.gmail.com is not responding" in Mail

I keep having issues with receiving mail from my Google Apps accounts while using the Mail app on my iPhone. I currently have one Google Apps account that houses two different domain names so I can have separate emails for each domain. Up until very recently, this setup worked perfectly without issue for the past year or so, but suddenly this started happening. Usually, one of these emails will be working fine while the other is the one that stopped working. But I've noticed it's not always the same email that's having the issue, as sometimes it's one and sometimes it's the other. And I can't tell if it's an issue with Google or with Apple, but I ONLY have the problem in Mail on my iPhone. In any other email app or in Safari on my iPhone, it works fine. On my desktop in Apple Mail or in the browser, works fine. The exact error message states "Cannot Get Mail: The mail server 'imap.gmail.com' is not responding. Verify that you have entered the correct account info in Mail settings." The only way I can get it working again is if I delete the account from Mail and then add it again. Suddenly it starts working again using all the same settings I used previously...... Until the next day, suddenly it breaks overnight. I've noticed it's consistently happening in the very early hours of the morning while I'm asleep. I'll wake up and find the error again. Right now this has been a daily affair, and is proving to be really frustrating. For the record, this is on my iPhone 6s with iOS 9.0.2, and the issue is present on both Wi-Fi and LTE. Any ideas?

iPhone 6s, iOS 9.0.2

Posted on Oct 11, 2015 1:30 PM

44 replies

Oct 29, 2015 5:29 PM in response to David Shanahan

I've given up using the default mail app for gmail.. i deleted my gmail from it, took me a couple days to get it back in.. Worked for 2 days then stopped receiving mail last night. I've loaded the gmail app and using that instead.. Not the solution that I was looking for but at least it works.

truelies

Level 1

9 points

Oct 30, 2015 2:36 PM in response to JonD25

I also have this problem on gmail emails. The iphone reliability is not as good as before.

Nov 1, 2015 7:12 AM in response to JonD25

I wake up to this issue every morning as well. Everything works fine all day long, and then at some point during the night things fall apart and I wake to an "unresponsive server." Killing the Mail app and reopening usually fixes the problem, as I haven't yet had to delete my gmail account. Pretty frustrating. Has anyone submitted feedback to Apple?

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

JonD25 Author

Level 1

24 points

Nov 1, 2015 2:11 PM in response to Cameron Braun

I've submitted feedback to them on the issue. Hopefully more people do and something can be done about it.

Nov 2, 2015 7:28 AM in response to JonD25

I also faced the issue while configuring my gmail account on my iPhone but the following guide helped me a lot.

http://www.datacarelab.com/blog/problem-in-setting-up-a-gmail-account-with-imap- on-iphone/

JonD25 Author

Level 1

24 points

Nov 2, 2015 2:43 PM in response to ericksmithca

Configuring isn't the issue since it works fine 90% of the time. Everything is configured fine exactly how that link describes.

Nov 3, 2015 2:18 PM in response to JonD25

I have tried all the answers here and the only one that works (but only temporarily) is removing and re-adding the account.

Today I found a new solution I hadn't heard before so I am trying it out now and wanted to share.

Basic steps:

Remove account (settings->mail->select gmail account->delete account)
Re-add the account, (settings->mail->add account->select OTHER instead of Google)
Enter Gmail username and password
Under "Incoming Mail Server"
1. Host Name: imap.gmail.com
2. User Name: Your Gmail email
3. Password: Your Gmail password
Under "Outgoing Mail Server"
1. Host Name: smtp.gmail.com
2. User Name: Your Gmail email
3. Password: Your Gmail password
Select yes or no to sync with Notes
Done

Important: In you want to sync your contacts and calendars, read the original post for a how-to -- they won't work otherwise.

http://onefinepub.com/2015/08/the-mail-server-imap-gmail-com-is-not-responding-p roblem-on-ios-with-mail-app/

Nov 5, 2015 7:45 AM in response to JonD25

Hi. I tried powering the iPhone down, then on again and it didn't work. What does work for me is to press the Home button twice, then slide the Mail screen down so it closes. Then press the Mail icon, Mail powers up again and downloads the outstanding emails. I think this works because powering the iPhone completely down restarts Mail on the same page as before, and doesn't close Mail down.

WSR

Level 1

35 points

Nov 7, 2015 5:23 PM in response to JonD25

I having this issue too. Would be nice to know if Apple acknowledge a bug with the Mail app.

striders

Level 1

19 points

Nov 8, 2015 9:11 AM in response to WSR

Unfortunately, I don't think Apple is in hurry to fix this. This issue ONLY happen to GOOGLE email accounts and Google is Apple's competitor. iOS Mail app have no issue with other email account (Yahoo, etc.). GMail have no issue with 3rd party email app from App Store.

The fix I recommend: use 3rd party mail app or Google's own app from the App Store.

Nov 8, 2015 9:43 PM in response to JonD25

I have been having the same problem, but only with one google account. It is my account with 2-step verification that seems to be having the problem ever since mail stopped using app specific passwords and now uses a pin that is texted.

Is anybondy else that is experiencing the problem using 2 step, and is there anyone who is experiencing the problem not using 2 step?

Thanks

striders

Level 1

19 points

Nov 8, 2015 9:49 PM in response to Mike Duerson

I have 2 step verification for all my emails (Google Apps) and the problem persist. Interestingly, Gmail for business (Google Apps) with 2FA have less error than personal Gmail with 2FA. With Google Apps, I see maybe 10-20% of the time.

JonD25 Author

Level 1

24 points

Nov 9, 2015 12:21 AM in response to striders

striders wrote:

I have 2 step verification for all my emails (Google Apps) and the problem persist. Interestingly, Gmail for business (Google Apps) with 2FA have less error than personal Gmail with 2FA. With Google Apps, I see maybe 10-20% of the time.

2 step verification is enabled for my gmail.com email, and I have zero issues with it. Google Apps doesn't have 2 step, and is the one I have issues with.

So basically, the exact opposite for both you and Mike. Neither 2 step verification nor gmail.com vs google apps seems to have any correlation to this issue.

Nov 9, 2015 12:26 AM in response to JonD25

It is a known issue within iOS 9.1 that this happens. I'm suggesting we wait until this bug is fixed fully.

Nov 10, 2015 4:23 AM in response to Kennith2607

Same problem here, started right after installing ios9. iphone 6, 64gb. It's unbelievable that an update can ruin a thing that has WORKED FINE. But why am I wondering, it's the same situation with Preview on Macs.

I guess we should feel "blessed" that we have emojis. That's the real deal, not a proper function of a simple mail account.

Consistently get "server imap.gmail.com is not responding" in Mail