Can't Send or Receive Email — What to Do
Email that suddenly stops working is usually caused by one of a handful of fixable problems.
At a Glance
Check your internet connection first
~16sTry opening email in a web browser
~24sQuick Tip
This is a quick way to determine whether the problem is your app or your account.
Sign out and sign back in
~18sCheck your storage
~28sQuick Tip
Emails with large photo or video attachments take up the most space. Search for emails with attachments to find the big ones quickly.
Check if the email service is having an outage
~18sUpdate or reinstall the email app
~18sYou Did It!
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Email problems tend to fall into a few categories: your internet connection is down, your account password has changed, the email service itself has a temporary outage, or your storage is full. Each has a clear fix.
The most common scenario is that nothing is actually wrong with email itself — the internet connection is the real problem. Before doing anything else, try opening a website in your browser. If it doesn't load, fix your internet connection first (restart your router) and then check email again.
Another very common cause: your email account got signed out automatically. This happens after password changes, security updates, and app updates. Sign back in.
This guide works for the major free email services — Gmail (Google), Yahoo Mail, and Outlook (Microsoft) — whether you are using them in a web browser or in a phone's mail app.
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