iPhone Mail says cannot connect to server? Fixes that follow Apple's steps

You open Mail and see a message that it cannot get mail, or that the connection to the server failed. Or a message will not send. It is annoying, and it often turns up right after you change a password. The good news is that Apple has a clear list of steps, and most cases are solved before the last one. The one step to be careful with is the last, because it can delete email stored only on your phone.

iPhone Mail cannot connect to server: what it means

It means the Mail app cannot reach your email provider, or the provider refused the sign in. I read Apple's two Mail pages, one for sending and one for receiving. Apple does not use the words "cannot connect to server". It describes the problem as being unable to send or receive email, and it gives the same set of checks. Those checks are what this guide follows.

Before you start: protect your email

Apple gives a warning that matters. When you make an iCloud or computer backup, it backs up your mail settings, but not your email. And if you delete or change your email account settings, previously downloaded email might be removed from your device. So do not remove and re-add the account until you know your messages are saved with your provider. If you want a refresher on backups, see how to back up your iPhone.

Step 1: Check the connection and your provider

If the internet itself is the problem, our guide on an iPhone not connecting to Wi-Fi can help. The Airplane Mode step is a common fix, not something Apple's page lists.

Step 2: Check your email address and password

Apple's advice is simple. Sign in to your email provider's website with the same address and password. If that works, the account is fine and the password is right. If you still get a user name or password error, contact your email provider or system administrator. If the password changed recently, Mail may still have the old one, and you will be prompted to enter the new one.

Step 3: Ask about security features and special passwords

This is the step many pages skip. Apple says to ask your provider whether security features or restrictions, such as two-step verification, are turned on. You might need a special password or authorization before Mail can send and receive email on your device. If you use two-step verification, your normal password may not work in Mail until you create the special one your provider describes. Apple's pages do not give provider-specific steps, so look at your provider's help pages for the exact name, such as an app password.

• Is two-step verification turned on for this account?
• Do I need a special or app password for Mail?
• Are the incoming and outgoing server settings correct for my account?
• Is the account blocked, restricted or locked?

Step 4: Check Fetch New Data and notifications

If mail arrives slowly or only sometimes, check how your phone fetches it. Apple's receiving page gives these steps.

Apple says that if Push isn't offered for your account, it defaults to Fetch. On iOS 11 and later, Automatically is the default, and in that mode new mail is fetched in the background only while the phone is charging and on Wi-Fi. That alone explains many "my mail is late" cases. If alerts are the problem, open Settings, tap Notifications, tap Mail, and check Alerts, Sounds and Badges. For late mail, read our guide on Mail that is not updating.

Step 5: Check the Outbox if a message will not send

Apple says to open Mail, go to your list of mailboxes, and tap Outbox. If there is no Outbox, the email was sent. If there is one, tap the unsent email, confirm the recipient's address, and tap Send. Apple also notes that if Undo Send appears in your Inbox or mailbox list, the message has not been sent yet. Our page on an unsent message in Mail goes deeper.

Step 6: Remove the account and add it again (last resort)

This is Apple's final step, and the risky one. Apple says to first sign in to your provider's website on a computer and make sure all your email is there, or save it somewhere else, because removing the account can delete messages stored only on the device.

What about iCloud Mail?

Apple has a separate page for iCloud Mail. From its search excerpt, it suggests that you check that iCloud Mail is turned on in your iCloud settings and that Push is set under Fetch New Data. If that fails, turn iCloud Mail off, restart, and turn it on again. Because I read only an excerpt of that page, open Apple's iCloud Mail page for the full steps.

Gmail, Outlook and other providers

Apple does not list steps for each provider. Most failures with Gmail, Outlook or Yahoo come back to the same three things: the password, a security feature such as two-step verification, and an account setting at the provider. Our guide on Gmail not working on iPhone covers Gmail in more detail. If you use a work or school account, your administrator may control the settings, and Apple says to ask them.

Other things worth checking

These are common checks, not points from Apple's pages. A VPN can interfere with some mail servers, so turn it off and try again. See our guide on using a VPN on iPhone if you are not sure whether one is on. Also check that Low Data Mode is off in your Wi-Fi and cellular settings, and that your date and time are set automatically. If you recently updated iOS, restart the phone once.

Common mistakes

• Deleting the account first. Do it last, and only after your email is safe.
• Skipping the provider's website. It is the fastest way to test your password.
• Using the normal password with two-step verification. You may need a special one.
• Assuming a backup saves your email. Apple says it saves settings, not messages.
• Blaming Mail. A provider outage can cause the same error.

Which iPhones and versions does this cover?

These steps match Apple's current pages for iPhone and iPad. The menu path is Settings, Apps, Mail, Mail Accounts. On older iOS versions, the Apps level is missing and Mail sits directly in Settings. Apple's pages do not name specific iOS versions beyond the fetch default on iOS 11 and later.

When to contact your provider or Apple

If you still cannot connect after the six steps, contact your email provider or system administrator, as Apple says. Apple's pages point you to the provider for account-level problems. Contact Apple Support if Mail fails for every account, or if the problem started right after an iOS update and a restart does not help.

The short version

Check the connection, test your password on the provider's website, ask about a special password, then check Fetch New Data. Remove and re-add the account only as the last step, after your email is safe.