Gmail is one of the most used and trusted web-based email services available in the market. People use Gmail for their personal or office related emails exchange. But, just like all the other application, Gmail app is also not completely flawless. Now and then, people often face different kinds of issues with their Gmail application. Among them, one of the most common and most troublesome problems is the Gmail app not working issue.
So if you also facing the same problem and not able to get rid of it, then you are in the right place. Because we have something for you which will help you to get rid of the problem instantly. So, check the rest of the article carefully.
Reason of Gmail App not Working Issue
The Gmail app not working problem can occur for various reasons depending on which type of device you are using or what types of error notification you are getting. It can be possible that a particular problem is occurring for different reasons in different devices. That’s why down below we have listed all the possible reason for the Gmail app not working issue. So, check them out:
- Network connection errors.
- Server downtimes.
- Account security issues.
- Incorrect settings.
- Bad updates.
- Software glitches.
- Random bugs.
- Security Issue.
Methods to Fix Gmail App not Working
Now, coming to the main topic, fixing an application related problem in a mobile device is a little bit difficult for many users. Unlike desktop, you will not get too many options such as a built-in tool, safe mode or command prompt to identify the problem and fix the issue in mobile. You have to rely on some basic troubleshooting method to get rid of the issue. That’s why the methods of fixing problems like Gmail App not working becomes very long and tiresome. Down below we have listed all the things you need to check to get rid of the problem. So, go through it one by one carefully.
Method #1: Get the Latest Gmail Version Installed
Android or iOS, no matter what type of device you are using when the Gmail app not working issue occurs in a device the first thing you need to do is check if you are using the latest Gmail app for your device or not. Most of the time outdated Gmail application prevent users from using Gmail’s function. So, if you are having trouble like sending or receiving mail, then it could be an issue with the Gmail version you’re running on the device.
Check if you are using the latest application or not open the Google Play app (For Android device). Then, tap the three lines from the top-left side of the screen. After that select the ‘My apps & games’ option, and then give a look at the list of the pending updates. If you find the Gmail application name in the list, then it indicates you are using an old version application and probably that’s the reason you are facing the problem. So, click on the Update button to download the latest update in your device and check if the problem is fixed or not. If the problem is still occurring or if you don’t find any update for the Gmail, then it means the problem is occurring for a different reason, so move on to the next step.
If you are using an iOS device, then you can follow the same step by opening the App Store.
Method #2: Restart the Device
Restarting your phone or tablet will often solve weird in-app bugs. A general thumb rule is to always try the simplest fix before you get to fix complicated hacks for desired results. For Android, you can perform the restart device by pressing the power button for a few seconds. Once the notification pops up you can select the Restart option. If you are using an iPhone, then you need to perform the soft restart to fix the issue.
Method #3: Clear Storage Space on the Phone
For instance, if you’re having trouble syncing your Gmail, it could be that you’re running out of storage space on your Android/iOS device. In this case, you can create spaces in your device in order to run the Gmail application. You can make space in your device by the following methods:
- Uninstall apps that you don’t use anymore.
- Delete downloaded files such as video, games, image, etc which you don’t use anymore from your device. Else you can also move those files to your computer if you don’t want to delete them.
- Clear the cache or ads files from your device with the help of a space cleaner/ phone boosting application.
Method #4: Remove the Gmail Account
Sometimes, the Gmail app not working issue can also occur for invalid account setup. If that’s the case for you, then deleting and re-adding your Gmail account will likely fix the problem for your device. Here are the steps you need to follow to remove and re-adding a Gmail account (For iOS).
- At first, tap on the Settings app from your device’s home screen.
- Now, scroll down and then click on the ‘Accounts & Passwords’.
- Next, navigate to the Accounts section and after that select your Gmail account.
- After that select the Delete option to click on the ‘Delete from My iPhone’.
Reboot your iPhone after deleting your email account, and then continue with the steps below to set up your email account on the phone.
- Go back to the Settings page again from your home screen.
- After that select ‘Accounts & Passwords’, and then choose the Add Account option.
- Now, select Google from the given email providers and enter your Gmail/Google account credentials.
- Next enable the permission to access mail, contacts, and calendars for your Gmail, and then press the Save button when you are done.
Now, your device will automatically start to set up your email account so wait a few minutes. After the setup, check if the problem got solved or not. If the problem is still there, then follow the next step.
Method #5: Reinstall Gmail App
It’s possible that the app is totally corrupted and so it’s no longer going to work unless you install a fresh application. So, you have to consider deleting or uninstalling the problematic Gmail app from your device and then install the latest version of the application from the app store.
Method #6: Restart Network Setting ( For iOS)
Reset network settings on your iPhone can help you to fix the problem if it’s occurring due to invalid network configurations and server errors. By following the method all the networks you’ve set up on the phone will be deleted in the process. So, you need to set them up again after following the below-steps:
- At first, head over to the Settings option
- Then, open the General section and click on the Reset button.
- After that select the ‘Reset All Settings’ option to start the reboot process.
Using this method won’t affect your saved data on the phone, so you don’t need to create a backup for this process.
Step #7: Review the Device
If the problem is occurring when you are far away from your home, while trying to open the Gmail from a new location, then it explains why you are getting the problem. When you try to open the Gmail from a new location, Google considers that other people were trying to access your account from a new location. Therefore, it is perceived as a possible threat to your email account’s and due to security, Google blocks the sign-in attempt.
In that case, you need to review your device in order to fix the problem. If you don’t know how to do that then follow the below steps.
- At first, try logging into the same email account through Gmail’s official website with the help of chrome or any other web browser
- After logging into your email account, find the alert mail from your inbox that is labeled as “some has attempt sign-in with an xxx device from xxx location”.
- Once you find such email from Google team, click on the provided link inside the Review Your Devices Now section, That Was Me, or any other relevant clause
- Alternatively, you can view your recent devices on Google’s website. and then head over to the ‘Device activity & notifications’ section under My Account
- From there you should see a list of all recent devices that have attempted to sign into your email account.
- Unblock the ones that were accessed by you.
After following this method you will be able to access your Gmail without any restriction
Step #8: Clear the Gmail Information
For some unknown reason, sometimes Gmail’s files might get corrupted which prevent users from using some basic function of Gmail. If that’s the case for you, then you have no other choice except to clear your Gmail information. But, keep in mind that following this step can erase your drafts, your Gmail signature, ringtone, and other settings. So, use this method only when you don’t have any other choice left. To clear the data of Gmail you have to open the Device settings, and then select the Apps section. After that, select the Gmail application to open the information page. Now, from the information tab, click on the Clear data and wait for a few seconds. Once the process is complete, press the OK button from the pop-up notification. After that, restart your device to complete the whole process.
Additional Method:
In some cases checking and enable/disable a few things also help you to find the root cause of the problem. So, if none of the above methods works for you then check the below-listed things:
- Make sure your internet connection is working. Unstable network connection creates different types of issue for Gmail.
- Check if the Airplane mode is disabled or not. If you accidentally enable the function. then it will prevent your device from connecting with any kind of network.
Wrapping Up
Generally, using these basic hacks you can solve the Gmail app not working issue. But somehow, if you are still getting the same problem again and again; then it is possible that your device is facing some major problems. In that case, we will advise you to get in touch with an experienced professional or with the Gmail support team for better guidance.
