How to fix email / Mail app problems on the Apple iPhone SE [Troubleshooting Guide]

Having trouble using the built-in email function of your #Apple iPhone SE (#iPhoneSE)? If so, then this post might be able to help you. In this article, you will find a few recommended workarounds and steps to troubleshoot and fix email issues on the Apple SE handset. Read on to learn what to do if you can’t send or receive emails or having other relevant problems and errors while using the Mail app on your iPhone.

Apple-iPhone-SE-email-problems

Apple’s recently released iPhone branded as the iPhone SE is deemed by experts as the most powerful 4-inch multi-touch display iPhone to-date. Just like its predecessor iPhones, the SE also comes with essential built-in apps that are efficiently designed to use just a little portion of its storage space. One of the key services embedded into this new iPhone is the Mail application, which allows you to check and manage emails easily on the go. But just like any other robust apps, the iPhone SE’s stock Mail app also has its own share of flaws triggered by certain factors. As a matter of fact, some of the first few owners of this new iPhone have reported a number of email issues they have encountered while using the Mail app. Among the reported symptoms include the following:

 

  • unable to send emails
  • unable to receive emails
  • cannot send but receive emails
  • cannot receive but send emails
  • cannot open/view email attachments
  • cannot attach files to emails

 

  • Mail app randomly crashes

Recommended Solutions and Troubleshooting Methods

The following are recommended procedures generally used to determine the underlying cause and thereby obtain solution to the existing problem.

Note: Don’t forget to perform a test email after completing each step to see if the issue is already fixed. Proceed to the next step(s) if necessary.

Step 1: Verify and make sure your iPhone can connect to the Internet.

Email is among the mobile services that requires Internet connection. This means you need to turn on or enable Wi-Fi for your device to have access to the Internet. An indication that Wi-Fi is enabled is an active Wi-Fi icon located in the upper-left corner of your phone’s screen. If you are not seeing this icon, it means that Wi-Fi is off and therefore, needs to enable or turned on first. Here’s how:

  • Tap Settings from the Home screen.[Tap Wi-Fi.
  • Toggle the Wi-Fi switch to enable the feature.
  • Tap the name of the Wi-Fi network you want to join.
  • If you are trying to connect to a secure Wi-Fi network, you will be required to enter the correct password and then tap Join. Please note that entering the wrong password will prevent you from joining in to that network. In case you do not know the password for the Wi-Fi network, contact your network administrator.
  • Wait for your phone to establish connection to the selected Wi-Fi network.
  • To see if your iPhone has access to the Internet, open the Safari browser app and then try to navigate to any website. Follow these steps:
  • Tap Safari from the Home screen.
  • Enter a web page or website (URL) to browse.
  • If the Internet or data connection fails, try to update the profile (PRL). Instructions for updating data profile (PRL) may vary from carrier to carrier

If you are able to connect to the Internet, then try to create a test email and see if you can now send and receive email using the Mail app on your iPhone. But in case your iPhone SE is unable to connect to the Internet, it means a need for you to fix connectivity issue beforehand.

Step 2: Check and ensure mobile data or cellular data is turned on.

Some carriers require you to enable mobile or cellular data instead of Wi-Fi, in order to avail email-related services using the Mail app on your iPhone. Here’s how:

  • Go to Settings.
  • Tap Cellular.
  • Toggle the switch next to Cellular Data to enable mobile data services on your iPhone.

Step 4: Verify and configure Mail server settings.

Others who have troubles sending emails on their iPhones were able to obtain solution by re-configuring the password entry for Incoming and Outgoing Mail Servers. One of the reasons as to why other users are not able to send emails on your iPhone is due to password. This means that the password set for the Incoming Mail Server does not match with that of the Outgoing Mail Server or vice versa. Having that said, head on to your email account settings and ensure the passwords are the same. Re-type the password if needed. Follow these steps:

  • To get started, tap Settings.
  • Select Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
  • Tap the email account or email address next to Account for which you would like to change the settings.

Note: You may be required to tap on Account Info on the next screen if you configured your account using any of the built-in presets, IMAP, or Exchange.

  • While on the Account Info screen, navigate to the Outgoing Mail Server section and then tap the existing SMTP entry. You will then see a list of SMTP servers along with the Primary Server and Other SMTP Servers.
  • Under Other SMTP Servers, tap the option to Add Server…
  • Enter all necessary information for the SMTP server.
  • Tap Save to save the changes you’ve made.

Note: You will be required to enter a Host Name. If you’re not sure of what to enter, just use the information you’ve used for the outgoing server name. Otherwise, contact your email service provider for the correct details to use.

Step 3: Check your Outbox and try to resend any unsent emails.

Sometimes, network issues can also cause problems sending or receiving emails on any device. If you see an error message saying that the email was not sent, check your Outbox because that email will be placed in your Outbox and from there you can resend that email. Here’s how to check your Outbox for any unsent emails:

  1. Open the Mail app.
  2. From the Mail app screen, tap Mailboxes located in the upper-left corner.
  3. Scroll down to Accounts.
  4. Tap to select your email account and then tap Outbox. If you don’t see the email you’re trying to send in the Outbox, then it means it was successfully sent. Otherwise, continue to the next step.
  5. Tap an email in the Outbox. Verify and ensure you’ve entered the correct email address of the email recipient.
  6. Finally, tap Send to resend the email.

Step 4: Remove your email account and set it up again.

Other users who have encountered issues while using the Mail application on their iPhone were able to fix it by removing the email account and then adding it back again. Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Sign in to your email provider’s website on your computer. This is to verify that all of your email is there and see if your email is saved somewhere other than your iPhone.
  2. On your iPhone, tap Settings then select Mail, Contacts, Calendars to launch the Mail app.
  3. Tap the email account you want to remove.
  4. Tap Delete Account. If prompted with a confirmation message to delete the selected account, tap Delete Account again to confirm.
  5. Reboot or restart your iPhone.
  6. Add or set up your email account again. To add your account, just go to Settings-> Mail, Contacts, Calendars-> Add Account. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the email account setup process.

After re- adding your email account reboot your iPhone one more time and then try to create a test email to see if you can now send and receive emails.

Other Helpful Email Tips

  • For POP3 email account, you can only check email on one device at a time. This means you need to close any other email apps or programs and then sign out of the webmail sites you’ve opened. You will know if the current active email is a POP3 email if you see the label POP Account information when you tap your account.
  • If you see any error messages, codes, or prompts, read and take note of the details. These information can help you determine what went wrong and what should be done to fix it.
  • Also make sure your iPhone SE is running the most recent iOS firmware, in order to optimize its performance. Also, fix patches to the most recent software bugs are issued through software updates. And this denotes a need to install the latest iOS version available.

If the problem persists and still you cannot send or receive emails after performing all the aforesaid steps, contact your email service provider to see if they’re experiencing a service outage affecting email services, ensure there are no restrictions or security features activated for your email account, request authorization or special password, and the like. Also ask your email provider or system administrator to verify your email account settings are correct.

Engage with Us

We are here to help! Should you need our support in dealing with other issues on your iPhone or other iDevices, you may do so by filling up this form posted on our iPhone Troubleshooting Page. Just fill up that form with all the required information and then submit it to us. Your problem will be assessed based on the available details. That said, we would appreciate if you could provide us all significant details including error codes, warning messages, or any other prompts you may get, as they will help us determine what has possibly gone wrong with your device and what needs to be done in order to fix it. The more information we have, the easier would be for us to come up with more efficient solution and recommendations.

You may also browse for more solutions to other iDevice issues we’ve previously addressed through dedicated contents posted in our troubleshooting pages.

Leave a Comment