iPad Email Help – Setting Up and Troubleshooting Mail

One of the key of features of the iPad is email and being able to use your email on the device is almost essential. Setting up your email can be pretty much seamless for some but many of the questions I get are related to email issues, here are some tips that you may find helpful.

The Simple Way to Setup Email

The simplest way to setup your email on the iPad is to sync your email accounts from your desktop computer with iTunes. iTunes will sync your email information if you check a few boxes with your iPad plugged into your computer.

1. Plug in the iPad and open iTunes (iTunes will probably open automatically)
2. Click on the iPad on the left of the screen, under devices in iTunes.
3. Next, select info, you should see a screen like the one below.



4. Check, Sync Mail Accounts and check the accounts you wish to add to your iPad.

You do not need to select mail accounts under advanced as in the photo but this option can be used if you have changed the email setting on your iPad and want to go back to the same email setting as on your computer.

Setting Up Email Accounts on the iPad

Setting up email accounts from the iPad is fairly easy. You just need to know all your email account information. You will need the email address, password, account type (POP,IMAP), incoming mail server (pop.example.com), outgoing mail server (smtp.examle.com) and the port number.

To add a email account tap Settings, tap “Mail, Contacts, Calendars,” tap Add Account. then select the type of account you would like to add and enter all your email information.

I have created a list of popular email server names and setting. This information can also be provided by your email service provider. It is best to use SSL when setting up email accounts, especially on mobile devices such as, the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.

Managing Emails Accounts

You can add multiple email accounts and once the email accounts are on the iPad it’s easy to manage the accounts.

Stop using an Account: Choose “Mail, Contacts, Calendars” choose an account, then turn Account off.

If an account is off, iPad doesn’t display the account and doesn’t send or check email from or sync other information with that account, until you turn it back on.

Delete an account from iPad: Choose “Mail, Contacts, Calendars” choose an account, then scroll down and tap Delete Account.

Deleting an account means you can no longer access the account on iPad. All email and the contacts, calendar, and bookmark information synced with the account are removed from iPad.

Delete Messages Automatically: Choose “Mail, Contacts, Calendars” choose an account, then select advanced and then select Remove. The default is set on never. You can also choose from one day, one week or after one month.

Email Options

There are several options for you to customize you email app with, these options are accessible by going to settings, “Mail, Contacts, Calendars”.

• Push emails or Fetch at intervals
• Choose the number of messages shown on iPad (25, 50, 75, 100, 200)
• Set how many lines of each message are previewed
• Select a minimum font size
• Set whether iPad shows To and Cc labels  (To or Cc next to each message in a list indicates whether the message was sent directly to you or you received a copy)
• Set whether iPad confirms that you want to delete a message
• Set whether iPad automatically loads remote images
• Set whether iPad sends you a copy of every message you send ( Always Bcc Myself on or of)
• Customize or remove signature to your messages
• Set the default email account

Email Troubleshooting

Email Attachments Won’t Open

The file type may not be supported. iPad supports the following types of email attachments:

• .doc – Microsoft Word
• .docx – Microsoft Word (XML)
• .htm – Webpage
• .html – Webpage
• .key – Keynote
• .numbers – Numbers
• .pages – Pages
• .pdf –   Preview, Adobe Acrobat
• .ppt – Microsoft PowerPoint
• .pptx – Microsoft PowerPoint (XML)
• .rtf – Rich Text Format
• .txt – Text
• .vcf – Contact Information
• .xls – Microsoft Excel
• .xlsx -Microsoft Excel (XML)

FAQ:

Why can’t I receive emails from my iPad?

• If you have just set up the account verify that all your email account information is correct. If you need any help with finding the information to enter contact your email provider. Here is a list with most email settings and links to help pages of popular email service providers.
• Make sure you have a data connection (Wi-Fi or 3g).
• Turn iPad off, and then on again. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button for a few seconds until a red slider appears, then drag the slider. Then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.
• If you use one or more computers to check the same email account, it may create a lock-out. For more information, go to this support page.

Why can’t I send emails from my iPad?

After you have verified that all your email account information is correct, go to “Mail, Contacts, Calendars”, tap on your email account, tap on the Outgoing Mail Server, tap on the Primary Server, enter your user name and password where it says Optional.

Make sure you have a data connection (Wi-Fi or 3g).

Turn iPad off, and then on again. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button for a few seconds until a red slider appears, then drag the slider. Then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.

Here is another article with more detailed email troubleshooting information.

How can I create email folders on the iPad?

Creating email folders is currently not available on the iPad. However, there are a couple of other good options but they involve webmail or changing to IMAP mail. Here is some more detailed information.

Thanks for all your comments and questions. I have started a new topic in the forum for email issues. That will allow the comment on the home page and increase the visibility of the question.

Related posts:

• How to Access iPad Files on a Mac From Finder
• Apple releases iOS 5 Beta 4
• Best iOS 5 features for iPad