Gmail not receiving emails? 9 things to check
Missing emails have usually arrived somewhere you did not look, or are being bounced because your Google storage is full.
Why is Gmail not receiving emails?
The fix
9 checks, quickest first
- 1
Search All Mail.
Type the sender’s address in the Gmail search bar. Search covers every folder, including archived mail.
- 2
Check Spam and Trash.
If the email is in Spam, open it and tap Report not spam so future emails arrive in your inbox.
- 3
Check the Promotions, Social and Updates tabs.
Gmail sorts many emails into these tabs automatically.
- 4
Check your Google storage.
Visit one.google.com/storage. If you are at 15 GB, delete large emails, Drive files or photos, or buy more storage.
- 5
Review filters.
On a computer, open Gmail, click the gear icon, then See all settings › Filters and Blocked Addresses. Delete filters that skip the inbox, delete or forward mail.
- 6
Check blocked addresses.
In the same tab, unblock the sender if they are listed.
- 7
Check forwarding.
In Settings › Forwarding and POP/IMAP, make sure mail is not being forwarded elsewhere and deleted.
- 8
Check sync in the Gmail app.
On Android, open Gmail › Settings, tap your account and make sure Sync Gmail is on. On iPhone, pull down in the inbox to refresh and make sure the app is updated.
- 9
Ask the sender to check the address.
A small typo in your address, or a bounce message on their side, explains many missing emails.
Frequently asked questions
What happens when Google storage is full?
Your 15 GB is shared between Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos. When it is full, new emails are returned to the sender and you stop receiving mail until you free up space or buy more storage.
Why do emails go to the Promotions tab?
Gmail sorts newsletters and marketing mail there automatically. Drag an email to Primary and choose to do this for future messages from that sender.
Related guides
Instagram keeps crashing
Instagram keeps crashing or freezing? Check for an outage, update the app, clear its cache on Android or reinstall on iPhone, and try 5 more fixes.
Netflix app not working
Netflix app not working, stuck loading or showing an error? Check for an outage, sign out and back in, clear the app data and try 6 more fixes on your phone.