Troubleshoot Gmail not sending or receiving emails

Having trouble with Gmail not sending or receiving emails? Let’s troubleshoot the issue together.

Ensure Internet Connectivity

Check Gmail Settings: Review your Gmail settings to ensure that your email forwarding, filtering, and spam settings are configured correctly. Make sure that your email client is not blocking Gmail or sending emails to the trash or spam folder.

Run Antivirus Software: Perform a full scan of your computer with antivirus software to check for malware that may be affecting your ability to send or receive emails.

Restart Your Device: Sometimes simply restarting your computer or mobile device can resolve connectivity issues with Gmail.

Inspect Junk and Trash Folders

• Check the Junk folder for any missed emails
• Review the Trash folder to ensure no important emails were accidentally deleted
• Empty the Junk and Trash folders to free up space and improve Gmail performance
• Adjust Gmail settings to prevent future emails from being marked as junk or moved to trash
• Mark any mistakenly filtered emails as “Not Spam” to ensure they are delivered to your inbox

Review Storage Limits

Review Storage Limits: Make sure you haven’t exceeded your storage limit in Gmail. Check your storage capacity by clicking on the gear icon in the top right corner, then selecting “Settings” and navigating to the “Storage” section. If you are close to reaching your limit, consider deleting old emails or attachments to free up space.

Keep in mind that Gmail’s storage limit applies to all emails, including those in the trash and spam folders. Regularly review your storage usage to prevent issues with sending or receiving emails.

Adjust Email Filters and Forwarding Settings

To adjust email filters and forwarding settings in Gmail, go to Settings, then Filters and Blocked Addresses to create filters or block senders. To set up forwarding, go to Forwarding and POP/IMAP and add a forwarding address. Review settings regularly to ensure emails are delivered correctly.

Verify POP/IMAP Configuration

To verify your POP/IMAP configuration for Gmail:

1. Log in to your Gmail account and go to Settings.
2. Click on the “Forwarding and POP/IMAP” tab.
3. Make sure that POP and IMAP are enabled for your account.
4. Verify the server settings for incoming and outgoing mail.
5. Check if the port numbers and SSL settings are correct.
6. Test the configuration by sending yourself an email from another account.
7. If the email is not received, double-check the settings and try again.

Clear Browser or Change Device

If you’re experiencing issues with Gmail not sending or receiving emails, try clearing your browser cache or changing to a different device. This can help refresh your connection to the Gmail server and resolve any temporary glitches. Clear your browser’s cache and cookies by going to the settings menu and selecting the option to clear browsing data. Alternatively, try accessing your Gmail account on a different device to see if the issue persists. If the problem continues, you may need to explore other troubleshooting steps to pinpoint the cause of the problem.

Check Gmail and Google Services Status

Check the status of Gmail and Google services, ensure your internet connection is stable, check for blacklisted email address, scan for malware, clear browser cache and cookies, disable email forwarding settings, and check email settings.

Test with a Self-Sent Email

To test if Gmail is not sending or receiving emails, send yourself an email and check your inbox and spam folder. If the email does not arrive, there may be an issue with Gmail. If it does arrive, the problem may be with the recipient. Contact Gmail support for further assistance if needed.

Log Out and Re-Enter Your Account

If Gmail is not sending or receiving emails, try logging out of your account and then logging back in to refresh your account and potentially resolve connectivity issues. Click on your profile icon, select “Sign out,” and then log back in with your email address and password.

Examine Email Client or App Settings

Setting	Explanation
SMTP Server Settings	Ensure the outgoing mail server settings are correct. For Gmail, use smtp.gmail.com with SSL enabled on port 465 or TLS enabled on port 587.
IMAP/POP Server Settings	Check the incoming mail server settings. For Gmail, use imap.gmail.com with SSL enabled on port 993 for IMAP or pop.gmail.com with SSL enabled on port 995 for POP.
Authentication	Make sure your email client or app is set to authenticate using your Gmail account credentials.
Security Settings	Ensure that your email client or app is not blocking Gmail’s servers. Check for any firewall or security settings that may be preventing the connection.
Account Access	Verify that your Gmail account has not been blocked or suspended. Check for any notifications or alerts in your Gmail account settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why has my Gmail stopped sending and receiving emails?

Your Gmail may have stopped sending and receiving emails due to a variety of reasons. It could be because your Google Drive is out of storage space, your inbox settings are incorrect, or you have an unstable internet connection.

How do I fix Gmail Cannot receive emails?

To fix Gmail not receiving emails, check your Gmail storage and delete unnecessary emails or attachments to free up space. If the issue persists, contact Google Support for further assistance.

Why can’t I get or send emails?

You can’t get or send emails because your internet connection may not be working properly or your email password may need to be checked. Make sure to verify that your Wi-Fi is connected and that your authentication settings are correct before trying to send any emails.

How do I fix my email not working?

To fix your email not working, you can start by ensuring that you are connected to the internet, updating the email app, restarting your device, turning on email sync, checking storage space, verifying your email password, and resetting the email account if needed.