Why isn't the Gmail app receiving emails and how to fix it step by step?

Have you stopped receiving emails in the Gmail app and don't know why? This situation can be frustrating, especially if email is your primary method of communication. Whether it's for work, family, or any important business, not being able to access new messages quickly becomes a major problem.

The good news is that most cases can be solved with a few adjustments. on your mobile phone or in your account settings. In this article, we'll go over all the reasons why Gmail stops receiving emails on your mobile phone. Android and what exactly you can do to fix it for good.

Check if you have an Internet connection

It may seem obvious, but the first point to check is your network connection. If your phone is not connected to the Internet, Gmail will not be able to update your inbox.. You can try opening a page in the browser or seeing if other apps are working normally. Make sure Wi-Fi or mobile data is active and working properly.

Is sync enabled in Gmail?

Gmail needs you to synchronization is enabled to regularly connect to the servers of Google and bring new emails. If for some reason this option is disabled, your inbox will freeze without receiving new messages.

To check:

• Go to the Settings of your phone.
• Look for the section Accounts and select your Google account.
• Sign in Account sync and make sure the Gmail option is turned on.

You can also do this from the app itself. Open Gmail, tap the three-line menu, select Settings, and then activate Synchronize Gmail if it is unchecked.

Force manual synchronization

If automatic sync fails, you can try forcing it manually. To do this:

• Go to Settings > Accounts > your Google account.
• Click on Sync now or turn Gmail sync off and back on.

This will force the device to initiate a query with the Gmail servers and may unblock pending emails.

Files, spam, or trash: check other folders

It's not always that the messages don't arrive, but that They may be in other trays and you just haven't noticed:

• Spam folder: Access it from the Gmail side menu and review messages that may have been marked as spam.
• Paper bin: Sometimes when you accidentally delete an email (or use an antivirus), it can end up in this inbox.
• All: The "All" folder contains archived messages. You can find emails there that don't appear in your inbox.

A lost message is sometimes simply misclassified..

Has your account exceeded its storage limit?

Google accounts offer 15 GB free across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. If you reach that limit, you will stop receiving emails.A warning will appear at the bottom of the web or mobile interface.

To solve it you can:

• Delete old files from Drive or emails with large attachments.
• Empty the trash.
• Expand the storage by hiring a Google One plan.

Update the Gmail app and Android System WebView

Having older versions of Gmail or WebView can cause technical errors.. Go to Google Play Store and check if you have any pending updates for Gmail. Do the same for Android System WebView, an app that affects the internal functioning of many system apps, including Gmail.

You can also reinstall Gmail or remove updates, which helps when a new version has caused instability:

• Go to Settings > Apps > Gmail.
• Press the three dots at the top right and select Uninstall updates.
• Restart your phone and update Gmail again from the Play Store.

Free up space on your mobile

Without enough space on your device, the app may fail to sync.Deleting unnecessary files, cache, or infrequently used apps can help restore performance:

• Go to Settings > Storage.
• Free up space by deleting temporary data, downloads, duplicate photos or heavy videos.

The Gmail app requires resources to properly download, open, and view messages. Also, if you want to learn how to attach photos from your iPhone, check out our guide.

Restart your phone or sign out of your account

A simple but effective solution is reboot the deviceThis usually resolves one-off or synchronization issues.

Alternatively Sign out of your Google account and sign back inThis forces Gmail to reconnect to the servers and may retrieve messages that weren't arriving.

Clear Gmail cache and data

With There, the app accumulates temporary data that can become corrupted. Clearing the cache and data can fix multiple errors.:

• Open Settings > Apps > Gmail.
• Tap on Storage.
• Choose Clear cache y Delete data.

Please note that deleting data will reset some personal app settings., such as signatures, notification tones, and drafts. If you want to avoid setup issues, learn about How to disable Gmail sync.

Check if Gmail or Google have general errors

Sometimes it is not the user's problem. Google servers may experience temporary outagesYou can check it out on services such as:

• Google Workspace Status Dashboard
• Downdetector

On these portals you can see if other users are reporting similar problems.

Check your IMAP/POP filters, forwarding, and options.

In Gmail's advanced settings, Filters may have been set up that automatically move emails to other folders or even delete them without you realizing it.

From a computer:

• Sign in to Gmail.
• Click on the gear at the top right and enter See all settings.
• Check the tabs Filters and blocked addresses and also Forwarding and POP / IMAP to correct any incorrect settings or remove filters you may be using unintentionally.

Turn off battery or data saving

Some system settings limit background functions. If Gmail can't run in the background, you'll stop receiving real-time emails.. To avoid this:

• Go to Settings > Battery > Battery saver.
• Find the Gmail app and choose the option Without restrictions.
• Do the same in Settings > Mobile Data > Data Saver.

In addition, it activates the automatic start for Gmail in the app's permissions menu.

Do you have an active VPN?

The VPN can interfere with connectivity and therefore with mail synchronizationIf you're using a VPN, try temporarily disabling it and see if Gmail returns to normal.

Other tools and diagnostics

Google offers additional resources to help you:

• Gmail Help Center: Help center with official guides.
• Google Workspace Status Dashboard: Check the status of the service.

These resources are helpful if you need to know whether the problem is general or personal.

Alternatives if Gmail still doesn't work

If after trying everything Gmail still doesn't receive emails, you can try other email apps:

• Spark: Highly appreciated by advanced users.
• Protonmail: With a focus on privacy and encryption.
• Spike: Make email a more conversational experience.

These apps can be configured to manage your Gmail account as a temporary or permanent alternative.

The Gmail app on Android can crash for a variety of reasons, some simple and others more technical.From an incorrectly activated setting, an unexpected filter, or an unstable app version, to crashes due to insufficient space or sync issues, all can be resolved if the correct steps are followed in order. Remember to keep your app updated, check your system settings, and don't rule out the possibility that in some cases the error may come directly from Google.