Gmail Not Syncing with iPhone/Android? Here's How to Fix It (2025)

Fix Gmail not syncing on iPhone or Android with our 2025 guide. Learn common causes and easy steps to restore email notifications fast.

Your phone buzzes. You glance at the screen expecting to see that important email, but there's nothing there. Yet when you check Gmail on your laptop, there it is. Sent three hours ago.

This is absolutely frustrating.

Gmail sync problems can derail your entire day. Maybe your emails aren't updating unless you manually refresh. Perhaps you're missing crucial notifications. Or you're seeing that dreaded "Account not synced" error message that makes your stomach drop.

Most Gmail sync issues can be fixed with some targeted troubleshooting, though. We've seen these problems countless times. There's usually a straightforward solution waiting to be uncovered.

This guide walks through exactly why Gmail stops syncing and how to get your email flowing properly again on both iPhone and Android devices. We'll start with the most common causes, then work through specific fixes for your device.

What Causes Gmail to Stop Syncing on Your Phone?

Gmail relies on a background sync process to shuttle emails between your phone and Google's servers. When this process gets interrupted, you'll notice problems immediately.

What typically breaks:

Your internet connection isn't stable

This might seem obvious, but poor WiFi or cellular connections are behind most sync failures. Gmail needs a steady connection to push and pull messages. Without it, you're stuck in email limbo.

Sync settings got turned off accidentally

Both Android and iOS have multiple layers of sync controls. If any of these settings are disabled, your emails won't update. Simple as that.

Battery optimization is too aggressive

Modern phones are smart about preserving battery life. Sometimes too smart. If your device decides Gmail is using too much power, it'll restrict background activity until you open the app.

Your apps or operating system are outdated

Old versions of Gmail often have known bugs that Google has already fixed in newer releases. Outdated iOS or Android versions can have email-related issues too.

The app's cache is corrupted

Over time, Gmail's local data can become corrupted, causing sync to stall completely. This is especially common on Android devices.

Google's security systems are being cautious

If you recently changed your password or signed in from a new location, Google might temporarily block access until you verify it's really you.

Your Gmail storage is completely full

This one catches people off guard: when your Google account storage hits 100%, Gmail stops delivering new emails entirely. You won't just miss notifications. Emails sent to you will bounce back to the sender.

Critical insight: Your phone's internal storage matters too. If your device is critically low on space, Gmail will pause syncing to prevent crashes. Keep at least 500MB free for smooth operation.

Alright, now you understand what's likely going wrong. So how do we fix it? We'll tackle Android first, then iPhone, since the troubleshooting steps differ between platforms.

How to Fix Gmail Not Syncing on Android Phones

Android devices typically handle Gmail syncing well since it's Google's own platform. But when things go wrong, you need a troubleshooting roadmap.

Check Internet Connection and Force Gmail Refresh

Check your internet connection first. Open Chrome and load a webpage to confirm you're actually online. If you're on WiFi, try switching to cellular data (or vice versa) to rule out network issues.

Force a manual refresh. Open Gmail and swipe down in your inbox. This forces the app to attempt fetching new mail. If emails appear after manual refresh but don't arrive automatically, you've got an auto-sync problem.

Restart your phone. Yes, it's the oldest IT advice in the book. But restarting your device clears temporary glitches and resets sync services. It takes two minutes and fixes more problems than you'd expect.

How to Fix Gmail Sync Settings on Android

This is where many Android sync issues get resolved:

Verify Gmail sync is enabled. Open the Gmail app, tap the menu (three lines), then Settings > [Your Gmail account] > Data usage. Make sure "Sync Gmail" is checked.

Enable global auto-sync. Go to Settings > Accounts (or Users & Accounts), and ensure "Automatically sync app data" is turned on. If this was disabled, all your accounts stopped syncing, not just Gmail.

How to Stop Battery Optimization from Blocking Gmail Sync

Android's battery optimization can be overly aggressive with email apps.

→ Turn off Battery Saver mode if it's active. You'll find this in your quick settings or under Settings > Battery.

→ Remove Gmail from battery optimization. Navigate to Settings > Apps > Gmail > Battery > Battery Optimization. If Gmail is listed as "Optimized," switch it to "Not optimized." This ensures the app can run in the background without Android pausing it.

Update Gmail App and Clear Corrupted Cache

Update Gmail to the latest version. Open Google Play Store, search for Gmail, and install any available updates. Newer versions often fix known sync bugs.

Clear Gmail's cache (not data, just cache). Go to Settings > Apps > Gmail > Storage and tap "Clear Cache." This removes temporary files without affecting your emails or settings.

If clearing cache doesn't help, you can try "Clear Storage/Data" in the same menu. But heads up: this will sign you out and reset all app settings. Your emails will still be safe on Google's servers, but you'll need to log in again.

Fix Gmail Storage Issues That Stop Email Sync

Free up device storage if your phone is nearly full. Check Settings > Storage and delete unused apps or large files if you have less than a few hundred MB available. Remember: Gmail needs breathing room to sync properly.

Check your Google account storage. Visit one.google.com/storage to see if you're approaching the 15GB limit. If you're at or over 100%, new emails will be rejected. Empty your Trash and Spam folders first since these count toward your quota.

Pro tip: If storage is tight, consider using Inbox Zero's bulk email unsubscriber to automatically clean up your mailbox with AI-powered organization and remove unnecessary newsletters that consume storage space.

Remove and Re-Add Google Account to Fix Sync Problems

If nothing else works, remove and re-add your Google account:

① Go to Settings > Accounts > Google

② Select your Gmail account and choose "Remove account"

③ Restart your phone

④ Go to Settings > Accounts > Add Account > Google

⑤ Sign in with your credentials

This refreshes the connection and often resolves authentication issues that were preventing sync.

Advanced Android Gmail Sync Troubleshooting

Still having problems? Try these additional steps:

• Test Gmail in Chrome on your phone to isolate whether the issue is app-specific

• Update Android via Settings > System > System Update

• Clear Google Play Services cache if you suspect a deeper system issue

• Check for app conflicts from VPNs or security apps that might be interfering

Quick Reference	What to Check
Sync Settings	Gmail app sync + global auto-sync
Battery	Disable optimization for Gmail
Storage	Device space + Google account quota
Updates	Gmail app + Android system
Connection	WiFi/cellular stability

How to Fix Gmail Not Syncing on iPhone

iPhone users have two ways to access Gmail: through Google's official Gmail app or through Apple's built-in Mail app. The troubleshooting approach depends on which one you're using.

Comparison	Gmail App	Apple Mail
Push Notifications	✅ Full support	❌ Fetch only
Background Refresh	Required for sync	Required for fetch
Security	Direct Google auth	IMAP/OAuth
Sync Speed	Real-time	15-minute intervals
Best For	Gmail power users	iOS ecosystem fans

Fix Gmail App Not Syncing on iPhone

If you use Google's official Gmail app, follow these steps.

Check internet and refresh manually. Verify you're online by opening Safari, then open Gmail and pull down to refresh. This tests whether the sync issue is automatic or complete.

Enable Background App Refresh. This is crucial for the Gmail app to fetch emails when you're not using it. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and ensure it's turned on for Gmail. If this was off, your emails were only updating when you opened the app.

Restart your iPhone to clear any iOS glitches. Hold the power button and volume button, then slide to power off. After restarting, launch Gmail and wait a minute to see if emails start flowing.

Update the Gmail app. Check the App Store for Gmail updates by going to App Store > Your profile > Updates. Install any available updates since they often contain sync fixes.

Check sync settings in the Gmail app. Open Gmail, tap the menu, then Settings > your account > Data usage. Make sure the sync period is set appropriately (like "Last 30 days" or "All").

Remove and re-add your account within the Gmail app. Tap your profile picture, then "Manage accounts on this device." Remove the problematic account, then add it back by signing in again.

Fix Apple Mail App Not Syncing with Gmail

Many iPhone users prefer Apple's built-in Mail app, but it requires different troubleshooting.

Confirm the account is active. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, select your Gmail account, and ensure the Mail toggle is turned on.

Understanding push vs. fetch limitations. This is important: Gmail doesn't support push notifications in Apple's Mail app. Your iPhone must "fetch" emails at intervals instead. This means there's always a slight delay.

Configure fetch settings properly. Navigate to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Fetch New Data. Make sure Fetch is enabled and set to a reasonable interval like "Every 15 minutes." The more frequent the fetch, the more current your emails will be (but it uses more battery).

Enable background refresh for Mail. Just like with the Gmail app, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and ensure it's enabled for the Mail app.

Verify IMAP is enabled in Gmail. Log into Gmail on a computer, click the gear icon, then See all settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP. Ensure IMAP access is enabled and save changes.

Fix Google Security Issues Blocking iPhone Gmail Access

Sometimes Google blocks iPhone Mail app access for security reasons.

Complete a security check. Open Safari and go to gmail.com. If Google prompts you to verify the device or complete a security challenge, do so immediately.

Try the CAPTCHA unlock trick. Visit accounts.google.com/DisplayUnlockCaptcha in Safari, log in, and click Continue. This temporarily relaxes Google's security to allow device connections. After doing this, immediately check the Mail app to see if Gmail starts syncing.

Remove and re-add the account. If security issues persist, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, delete your Gmail account, then add it back via Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account > Google.

What to Do When iPhone Gmail Sync Still Won't Work

Update iOS to the latest version via Settings > General > Software Update.

Reset network settings if you suspect connection issues: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. You'll need to re-enter WiFi passwords afterward.

Consider switching to the Gmail app. Apple's Mail app works fine with Gmail, but Google's own app is specifically designed for seamless Gmail integration and offers true push notifications.

How to Prevent Gmail From Stopping Sync in the Future

Once you've got Gmail working again, you'll want to keep it that way.

Keep Gmail and Your Phone Updated

Enable automatic updates for both apps and your operating system. Updates frequently fix sync-related bugs before they become major problems.

Don't ignore app update notifications. When you see Gmail update available, install it. Google continuously improves sync reliability with each release.

Monitor Gmail Storage to Avoid Sync Problems

Watch your Google account storage. Set a reminder to check your storage capacity monthly. When you hit 80% capacity, start cleaning up. Don't wait for the crisis at 100%.

Keep device storage healthy. Maintain at least 1-2GB of free space on your phone. Low storage can pause email syncing entirely.

Empty Trash and Spam regularly. These folders count toward your storage quota even though you rarely see them. For more comprehensive email cleanup strategies, check out Inbox Zero's guide on email management tips.

Manage Battery Settings for Better Gmail Sync

Use battery saver mode strategically. It's fine for preserving power. But remember it can delay email notifications. If you're expecting something important, disable battery saver temporarily.

Don't over-optimize apps. Be selective about which apps you allow Android to "optimize" for battery. Email apps should generally be excluded from aggressive optimization.

Network Connection Best Practices for Gmail Sync

① Stick to reliable networks when possible. Weak WiFi or cellular signals cause more sync failures than you'd think.

② Be patient on new networks. When connecting to hotel WiFi or public networks, Gmail might need a few extra minutes to authenticate and resume syncing.

The bottom line: A stable connection is half the battle.

How to Manage Email Overload After Fixing Gmail Sync

Once you fix Gmail sync issues, you might get hit with a backlog of emails that built up while sync was broken. Suddenly your inbox goes from empty to overwhelming.

This is where having a proper email management system becomes crucial. Inbox Zero can automatically organize incoming emails using AI-powered automation, draft responses for common messages, and clean up promotional emails that pile up.

The platform handles the flood of emails that often follows sync restoration by:

• Automatically sorting emails into categories so you see what's important first using smart email organization

• Bulk unsubscribing from newsletters and promotional emails that accumulated

• Drafting replies for routine messages using AI

• Blocking cold outreach so your inbox stays focused on real communication

• Providing email analytics to help you understand where your email volume comes from

Remember: Fixing sync gets emails flowing to your phone again. But implementing the inbox zero method ensures only the emails that matter actually demand your attention.

For businesses dealing with high email volumes, Inbox Zero's enterprise email management solutions can help teams stay organized and responsive even when handling thousands of messages daily.

Final Thoughts: Stay Connected, Stay Organized

Email sync problems are incredibly frustrating because they cut you off from crucial communication. But most issues stem from a few common causes that can be resolved with systematic troubleshooting.

For Android users, the solution is usually related to sync settings, battery optimization, or app cache issues.

For iPhone users, it often comes down to background refresh settings and understanding the fetch vs. push limitations of different email apps.

The key is working through the fixes methodically. Don't jump around randomly. Start with the simple stuff (internet connection, manual refresh), then move to settings and cache clearing. Finally try the account removal/re-adding approach if needed.

Once your Gmail is syncing properly again, consider implementing effective email management strategies to handle the organized chaos of modern email. There's no point in having perfectly synced email if you're still drowning in messages that don't deserve your attention.

Learn more about achieving mental clarity through inbox zero and discover productivity hacks that can transform how you handle email.

Your email should work for you, not against you.

Fix the sync. Organize the flow. Get back to focusing on what actually matters.