Can’t Send Emails on iPhone or iPad – Troubleshooting Steps

Here are some basic steps to fix your problems with not being able to send emails from your iPhone or iPad device. After the iOS 9.3 update, some people couldn’t send or receive Emails. To fix this problem, you’ll have to get the correct Emails setting or download an Email App from the App store. Some common causes for not being able to send E-mails is having no Wi-Fi, wrong email passwords and wrong settings. In the guide below, we will explode various method in fixing this problem.
Turning iPad/iPhone off and Then on again
To turn the iPad off, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears, then drag the slider.
Give it a minute to shut down, then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.
In Settings, turn on other SMTP servers (iPhone & iPad)
1)Tap Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars and under Accounts, tap the account from which you’re trying to send email:
2) Scroll down to Outgoing Mail Server and tap the box that says SMTP:
3) Turn on all other SMTP Servers.
Add additional information to SMTP servers to Fix Receive/Send Email Problems
List of SMTP E-Mail Servers Or check Apple Email Setting Lookup to get the correct E-Mail Setting
| Service Providers | Incoming Server (imap) | Outgoing Server (SMTP) | imap Port | SMTP Port |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google G-Mail | imap.gmail.com | smtp.gmail.com | 993 | Port: 587 Port for SSL: 465 |
| Yahoo Mail | imap.mail.yahoo.com | smtp.mail.yahoo.com | 993 | 465 or 587 |
| iCloud: Mail server | imap.mail.me.com | smtp.mail.me.com | 993 | 587 |
| Outlook(Mircosoft) | imap-mail.outlook.com | smtp-mail.outlook.com | 993 | 587 or 25 |
| Hotmail | imap-mail.outlook.com | smtp.live.com | 995 | 587 or 25 |
| AOL | imap.aol.com | smtp.aol.com | 995 | 587 or 465 |
POP3 Email setting works best if you’re using email on 1 single desktop computer. IMAP E-mail setting is designed to sync for multiple tablets, computers and phones.
Add your email account on iPad or iPhone instead of syncing your mail settings from your computer. Start with the primary SMTP server, make sure all the correct information is entered, even the optional information. The optional username and password may be required here if SSL is turned on.

- In iTunes, select iPad in the source list on the left, under Devices.
- Select the Info tab.
- If selected, deselect Sync Mail Accounts.
- Click Apply.
- Disconnect iPad after it has finished syncing.
- Next select the type of email account and follow the instructions. When you enter your email address, iPad will look up your service provider’s settings for you. If the iPad can’t find your service provider’s settings, you can enter them directly or contact your email service provider for the settings.
Watch this video for video instructions on setting up Gmail Correctly on iPad Air 2
Make Sure Fetch New Data (Push is on) so you get Email updated
Sometimes, you might have Fetch New Data turn off. When this setting is off, you wouldn’t receive new E-mails until you turn it back on. You can also do Fetching manually or every 15 minutes.
Goto Mail, Contacts, Calendar -> Turn on Push
Make Sure you have a Wi-Fi connection or Cellular Data on
Sometimes your Wi-Fi connection could have a problem. So make sure you can browse the web/download an app. If you can visit other website with Safari this won’t be the problem.
Re-seting iPad/iPhone Setting
Sometimes resetting the settings will fix this problem. Make sure to make a backup on iTunes before you do this. So that you can restore your iPad if anything is wrong.
Goto General -> Reset->Reset All Settings (Make sure is NOT Erase All Content and Settings– this will also delete your apps and other data). If resetting the iPad doesn’t fix the Email problems, it could be your email provider or you’re entering the wrong setting.
If None of These Steps Work:
Check did you setup E-Mail Correctly
Fix Cannot Get Mail on Gmail for iPhone
Other Email Tips:
Check if you have the latest iOS version on iPhone 6, If you have iOS 8.0 try updating it to iOS 9.31 to get the latest various fixes on the iOS operation system.
I recommend using a free Gmail account, Outlook,add your other email addresses to the Gmail account, then add the Gmail account to your iPad or iPhone 6.
There are other advantages to doing this, such as, a unified inbox, folders and being able to view email from Safari.










It seems this issolved. It could be a Gmail – Apple clash. I downloaded the Gmail app for iPhone that is free and immediately all problems solved. Now the default Mail app is useless.
We had two factor login enabled, and that is certainly why our iphone didn’t sign in properly for the gmail account for iPhone 6.
Went to this particular URL to revoke old app specific password, then made a new one which I employed to set up the gmail account within the iphone.
I keep getting the msg “Cannot get mail – the mail server “imap.gmail.com” is not responding”. The correct account info is in Mail settings. Anyone know how to fix this problem?
I develop the EXACT same problem. Deleting gmail from iphone, so still no gmail. On Mac, it simply shows a problem with server. I continually get emails saying to long in direct which I do, but there aren’t any Google settings to permit access to Mac or Phone.
I too had been suddenly unable to send emails on my hotmail account on my iPad. I did what was suggested and changed to smtp.live.com , with the number 993. It seems to have fixed the problem however, I’m now sending 2 emails each time. How can I fix this? Thanks
Thank you Tony, very much
Thanks Susan, works perfectly now!
James O > tried all of the suggested fixes to SMTP settings, but device just hangs on “verifying”. Still cannot send mail
The problems is a software glitch somewhere that incorrectly sets the password for the outgoing SMTP server. It does not properly copy the password you supply for incoming mail. The solution is to manually erase the password for the outgoing server and retype the correct password in the blank. I did that and my iPhone instantly sent the outgoing message that was waiting.
Thank you!!
I was able to resolve my hotmail issue on my Ipad thanks to your post!
I can now send emails!!
Love it!
Cheers,
Suzanne
I went into the Mails, Contacts, etc. to do the process as suggested, but just can’t seem to find the “SMTP SERVER” as indicated herein on my iPad mini. It’s nowhere to be found. I am not sure if it’s only me who can’t see it or how does that not appear on my device.
Please advise. Thanks…
I am having the same problems. I have tried everything suggested but still no luck. I am now wondering if it is something to do with my broadband being with Sky. On my Ipad I am not trying to connect to the sky server, but my business server. On my main computer my business emails are not sending out and neither are my personal ones from Sky. Have checked the Sky forums as well, but now I just seem to be going around in a loop.
I have no problems receiving emails. Have tried all the steps. I’ve deleting email account making smtp changed to on and still can not sent emails. Keeps saying password incorrect.
Susan – you are a total life saver. I have tried a million things and read through a million forums, but your solution worked. Thanks x
I fixed the email problem by changing the port from 587 to 465. Now I can send emails again. Both ports are legitimate for use. My wife’s ipad2 was using 465 as the port and my ipad2 was using 587. Now both are using 465.
Help, I am unable to send emails through my hotmail account, but I receive them. When I have attempted to send email, it’s telling me that my user name or password is incorrect. I have checked this, but it’s still not working…
Having same problem on my iPad mini. I am going to delete my old gmail account and start agai n. I’ve tried everything else!
My iPad mini went through an update last night and I can no longer send email on it.
The error message states that it can’t reach the server. I’ve tried deleting the account to no avail. Powering up and down, nothing. Followed the steps above and still nothing. I use Gmail. I also have the Yahoo server as a secondary backup. Please help! thank you! Jane Swan
I have a different issue with sending mail. If I am in a website and want to send the link to my email for easy reference…it won’t…. but it always did before. Any advice?
Sorry … That was messy …here goes again
Settings
Mail, Contacts, Calendars
Account: Follow the link for your account
INCOMING MAIL SERVER: Enter your password
OUTGOING MAIL SERVER: Follow the SMTP link to get to those settings
PRIMARY MAIL SERVER: Follow the SMTP link (it will be “on” or “off”)
SERVER: Make sure it is “on” (green)
Under OUTGOING MAIL SERVER: Enter your password
Click DONE
I replied briefly earlier, but will restate showing the whole process. This is easy … Hope it works for you.
Settings Mail, Contacts, Calendars Account: Follow the link for your account INCOMING MAIL SERVER: Enter your password
OUTGOING MAIL SERVER: Follow the SMTP link to get to those settings
PRIMARY MAIL SERVER: Follow the SMTP link (it will be “on” or “off”)
SERVER: Make sure it is “on” (green)
Under OUTGOING MAIL SERVER: Enter your password
Click DONE
THANK YOU TONY!! I have spent hours trying to fix an account that would no longer send mail out on my new Ipad Air 2. After changing outgoing server to smtp.live.com, the problem is fixed. It wouldn’t accept the 993 port though.
Judy
The photos I email to my own email from my iPad are upside down. Help
When you take a photo make sure the button you press is on the right,otherwise the camera is upside down.
I had this problem with Hotmail on my iPhone.
To resolve it I
1) deleted the Hotmail account.
2) re-installed/set up the Hotmail account. (All details the same as previously)
3) changed the outgoing SMTP server from smtp-mail.outlook.com to smtp.live.com (this is the old Hotmail
smtp server)
4) in Advanced, check the ‘Use SSL’ is on and the Authentication is set to password. The server port should be 993.
and it now works
Good luck
I want to reset my Sent mail password (because I had to reset my password due to a hacked account). I’ve found where it shows that there is a box for the password of outgoing mail, but can’t find how to get to the point, where I would click on it, to change it.
Thanx
Helen
Please Advise urgently.
Shams Abbas
I am not being able to send mails.Tried everything.This is not the first time.It happens every time I change password.Have wasted few hours just on this.Very frustrated.
Thank you Susan, I forgot you have to put your pw in both spots! Easy.
Thank you Susan, I didn’t know about the outgoing password. After trying every other suggested fix, this was very simple and successful.
Make sure you enter (or re-enter) your password for BOTH your “incoming mail server” AND your “outgoing mail server.”
I am so fed up with Apple. First I could not get emails on my iPhone but I did on my desktop and IPad. Then I got them on phone but not on my iPad or desktop. The emails now are ok on phone and desktop, but not on my iPad. Could you please tell me if it has to be the same password for all three. It has asked me to reset my password so many timesI am unsure which is the correct one now
Problem started after I installed IOS 9
This didn’t fix my problem!!! I still can’t send emails!!!
Help as mine still won’t send! ?
My mail settings are correct and all has worked perfectly until 2days ago. (since 2013) I can receive in but not send out. Anyone help, its sooo frustrating.
In the past when this happened I would turn off the ipad, leave a minute and turn on and also delete a lot of emails, then it would always work.
I tried this fix three times still no success , I had no problem until I upgraded to IOS 8 two days ago. Any suggestions??
Setting up alt SMTP worked. I do wonder why my iPad suddenly decided not to send thru previously used SMTP. But am happy to have this fixed for now. Thanks!
I am having the same problem.
I get this message when trying to send emails from my IPad Air.
Cannot send Mail
The connection to the outgoing server “SMTP.google.com” failed.
Additional Outgoing Mail Servers can be configured in Settings>Mail, Contacts, Calenders.. Then click on OK. Please help me to correct this issue.
This fixed my mail problem, Thanks a bunch
why does an email that I BCC to myself does not show up on my ipad but only on my computer email?