If your Mail app suddenly stopped working after updating to iOS 13.2.3 on your iPhone 11 Pro Max, you’re not alone. Many users have reported issues like emails not loading, the app crashing, or syncing failures. This guide walks you through all the possible fixes to get Mail working again — even if the issue started right after an update.
Force Quit Mail and Restart Your iPhone
Sometimes the Mail app just needs a fresh start, especially if it was running during the iOS update.
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle to open the app switcher.
- Swipe left or right to find the Mail app.
- Swipe up on the Mail app to close it.
- Now restart your iPhone:
- Press and hold the Side button and Volume Up until the power slider shows up.
- Drag the slider to turn off your phone.
- After 30 seconds, press and hold the Side button again until you see the Apple logo.
Open Mail again and check if it’s back to normal.
Refresh Your Internet Connection
Mail won’t work without a solid internet connection. If you’re having Wi-Fi hiccups, try toggling your connection:
- Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and turn it off, then back on after a few seconds.
Or try the Airplane Mode trick:
- Go to Settings > Airplane Mode and turn it on.
- While it’s on, restart your iPhone.
- After the restart, go back and turn off Airplane Mode.
- Reconnect to your Wi-Fi network.
Once you’re online again, open Mail to see if it’s fixed.
Double-Check Your Mail Account Settings
iOS updates sometimes mess with email settings. Here’s how to make sure yours are still correct:
- Open Settings > Mail > Accounts.
- Tap your email account.
- Tap your email address again to view server settings.
- Make sure the Incoming and Outgoing Mail Server settings are correct.
If you’re not sure what they should be, check your provider’s help page or use Apple’s Mail Settings Lookup tool.
Make Sure Mail Isn’t Restricted
A Screen Time restriction might be blocking the Mail app without you realizing it.
- Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Enter your Screen Time passcode if asked.
- Tap Allowed Apps.
- Make sure Mail is turned ON.
Delete and Re-add Your Email Account
If your account settings got corrupted during the update, removing and re-adding the account can help.
- Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts.
- Select your email account.
- Tap Delete Account.
- Restart your iPhone.
- Go back to Settings > Mail > Accounts and tap Add Account.
- Choose your email provider and sign in again.
If Mail can’t find the correct settings automatically, try setting it up manually with your email provider’s server info.
Reset Network Settings
If Mail still isn’t working, your iPhone’s network settings might need a reset:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your passcode and confirm.
Note: This will erase all saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, so be ready to re-enter those.
Try Resetting All Settings
Still no luck? Reset all your system settings without deleting your data:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
- Tap Reset All Settings.
- Enter your passcode and confirm.
This will return all settings to their defaults (like Wi-Fi, sound, and privacy settings), but won’t delete your photos or apps.
As a Last Resort: Factory Reset
If nothing else works and Mail is still broken, you might need to do a full reset:
- Back up your data via iCloud or iTunes.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
- Follow the prompts to erase your device.
- Set it up as new, then re-add your email account.