If you can’t sync your Gmail messages on your phone or tablet, follow the steps on this page. Common sync issues include:
- You can’t send messages.
- You can’t open or read email.
- You don’t get new message notifications.
- Your inbox doesn’t update.
- You get the error message “Account not synced.”
- The Gmail app is slow.
Resolve Gmail sign in & sync issues
- If you can’t sign in, learn why you can't sign in to your Google Account.
- If the Gmail app only gets new emails from Gmail and not other accounts, like Outlook or Yahoo, check for new emails on a computer. This helps confirm if the issue is specific to the app. If you don’t receive new emails on your computer, contact your email provider.
To fix sync issues in the Gmail app for iPhone and iPad, you can:
- Sync the Gmail app manually
- Update your Gmail app
- Restart your device
- Check your internet connection
- Turn on Background App Refresh
- Check your Gmail sync settings
- Check your Google Account storage
Sync the Gmail app manually
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app
.
- In your inbox, from the top, swipe down.
- A refresh icon
displays on the screen briefly, then disappears.
- A refresh icon
- Check your email for new messages.
.Update your Gmail app
To get the latest fixes for issues with emails, make sure you have the most recent version of the Gmail app.
Restart your device
To fix temporary sync issues, restart your iPhone or iPad.
Check your internet connection
To test your connection, open a website in a browser, such as Safari. If the website doesn't load or you can't connect:
- Learn how to connect your iPhone or iPad to Wi-Fi.
- Learn how to connect your iPhone or iPad to a cellular network.
Turn on Background App Refresh
To download emails when you’re not using the Gmail app:
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app.
- Tap General
Background App Refresh.
- Scroll to “Gmail.”
- Turn on Background App Refresh for Gmail.
Background App Refresh.Check your Gmail sync settings
You can change the number of days of email the Gmail app syncs.
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app
- Tap Menu
- Under "General," tap Data usage
- Set the number of days of email to sync.
Check your Google Account storage
- Your Google Account storage is shared across Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Drive. Other items like WhatsApp backups or Drive for Desktop syncs can also take up space.
- In Gmail, messages and attachments, such as items in your "Spam" and "Trash" take up space.
- When your Google Account reaches its storage limit:
- You can’t send or receive messages.
- Messages sent to you return to the sender.
- To clear up storage:
- Delete large attachments: Go through your inbox and delete emails with large attachments you no longer need.
- Empty Trash and Spam: Clear your emails in your “Trash” and “Spam” regularly.