Apple Mail Not Syncing with Gmail? Guide Updated 2026

Updated On - September 22, 2026 by Nasir Khan | Reading Time: 9 minutes

Quick Answer

If Apple Mail is not syncing with Gmail, check your internet connection, Fetch New Data settings, and Gmail authentication. Re-authenticate your Google account and update your device. If the issue persists, remove and re-add the Gmail account. Before doing so, use the Regain Gmail Backup Tool to back up your important Gmail emails.

User Query: I have been an Apple user for a long time. Recently, I’ve encountered issues with Apple Mail. To safeguard my emails, I attempted to sync them with Gmail. However, Apple Mail isn’t syncing with Gmail. Could you please provide a reliable solution to resolve this issue? My Apple Mail contains vital emails.

If you are a user of Apple services and experiencing issues such as Apple Mail not syncing with Gmail, you have come to the right place to resolve your problem. This article will outline the most practical methods to address the syncing issue with Apple Mail. Additionally, we will discuss the reasons behind this problem. Moreover, use the Regain Gmail Backup Tool to back up Apple Mail to Gmail reliably. Stay tuned to discover the most suitable approach for your issue.

Apple and Gmail are among the most widely used email services globally, boasting numerous users. Gmail is favored for its user-friendly interface and diverse features. Conversely, Apple Mail is popular among Apple users, being utilized on Macs, iPhones, iPads, and other devices. In the next section, we will delve into the reasons behind Apple Mail’s syncing issues with Gmail.

Why Mail is Not Syncing With Gmail?

It is quite frustrating when you are unable to sync your Apple Mail to Gmail. This issue can be caused due to various reasons. However, in this section we will explore the most prominent reasons for this issue to occur.

  • Inaccurate Settings: In many cases, wrong settings cause Apple Mail not to sync with Gmail. It is very necessary to align the Apple Mail settings with Gmail for a hassle-free sync.
  • Old Software: Old or outdated Apple Mail is also one of the prominent reasons for Apple Mail not syncing with Gmail.
  • Internet Connection Problems: Sync failures can occur due to a poor or unstable internet connection. Ensure that your device is connected to a reliable network before troubleshooting further.
  • Gmail Account Storage: If your Gmail account is nearing its storage limit, it may affect synchronization capabilities. Manage your Gmail storage to prevent this from causing issues.
  • Two-Factor Authentication: While two-factor authentication (2FA) enhances security, it may impede syncing if not configured correctly.
  • Security Settings and Firewall: Excessive security settings or firewall configurations on your Apple device or network can block email synchronization. Adjust these settings to allow for proper synchronization.

Additionally, Mac Outlook is also used by many users and they seek reliable solutions to open OLM Files to Apple Mail.

Approaches to Fix Apple Mail Not Syncing With Gmail

This section will outline the methods to resolve the issue of Apple Mail not syncing with Gmail for both desktop and mobile users. After extensive research, we have identified the simplest methods to address this problem. Read on to discover the most practical solution based on your specific needs.

Approach 1: Review the Push Settings

In many cases, it is observed that incorrect push settings cause Apple Mail to not sync with your Gmail account. With a few simple steps, you can easily fix the push settings.

  1. Unlock your phone and navigate to Settings.
  2. Search the Password & Accounts in the menu.
  3. Now, browse the option Fetch New Data.
  4. Finally, select Gmail and click the Fetch option.

Once you have performed the steps mentioned above refresh your Gmail. If the issue of Apple Mail Not Syncing with Gmail persists proceed to the next approach.

Approach 2: Restart Your iPhone

The approach to restarting a device is one of the most reliable and commonly used methods. In many cases, restarting your phone can resolve most issues. This occurs because restart forces all applications to close and start anew once the phone is powered on. Therefore, it is advisable to restart your iPhone and check whether the issue persists.

Approach 3: Check Your Internet Connection

Before proceeding to the more complicated approaches, it is essential to check whether your device is connected to the internet. Moreover, it is advisable to verify whether internet access is permitted for both Apple Mail and Gmail.

Approach 4: Review the Gmail Settings

Apple Mail not syncing with Gmail can caused due to incorrect Gmail settings. Therefore, review the settings of Gmail to resolve the issue. The steps are as follows:

  1. Firstly, launch Apple Mail on your system.
  2. Then navigate to the Mail > Preferences.
  3. Now, click on the option Accounts.
  4. Select the Desired Gmail Account.
  5. Authenticate whether your Gmail ID and Password are accurate.
  6. Additionally, click on Server Settings and verify that the incoming and outgoing mail server addresses are configured as imap.gmail.com and smtp.gmail.com, respectively.
  7. Ensure that the Use SSL option is enabled.

Approach 5: Update Apple Mail to the Latest Version

Outdated applications can cause synchronization issues. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that Apple Mail and Gmail are up to date. The steps to update Apple Mail on MacOS are as follows:

For Mac OS

  1. Firstly, open the Apple Menu on your system.
  2. Then click on the option System Preference > Software Updates.
  3. Finally, click on the button Update Now.

For iOS

  1. Unlock your phone and navigate to Settings.
  2. Now, click on the option General > Software Update.

Approach 6: Remove and Add Your Gmail Account

If all the above approaches fail to resolve the issue of Apple Mail Not Syncing with Gmail, then we advise you to remove and re-add the Gmail account. The steps are as follows:

  1. Open Apple Mail on your device.
  2. Go to the Mail menu at the top and select Preferences.
  3. In the Preferences window, click on the Accounts tab.
  4. Locate your Gmail account in the list of accounts.
  5. Select your Gmail account, then click the minus (-) button below the list to remove it.
  6. After removing the account, click the plus (+) button to add a new account.

Your Gmail account should now be re-added to Apple Mail, and the synchronization may begin again. If the issue persists refer to the next section.

Approach 7: Log In as a Test User

Corrected: If you’re facing issues with the server, you could log in as a ‘Test’ user. However, the ‘Test’ user is a temporary fix to manage your account.

  1. Navigate to your system preferences.
  2. Within the system preferences, go to Users & Groups and create a new user profile named Test User.
  3. Log out of your current user account and log in again, selecting the Test User profile.
  4. If prompted, skip any application installations and proceed to your email client.

If your email syncs successfully using this process, there might not be an issue with your email or syncing itself. Instead, recently installed applications may be causing the sync problem. In such a case, after logging in as the ‘Test User,’ you can remove the apps you installed just before encountering the sync issue.

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Conclusion

It’s time to conclude this concise article on how to fix Apple Mail not syncing with Gmail. Initially, we provided a brief overview of both Gmail and Apple Mail. Moreover, we highlighted the top reasons for Apple Mail not syncing with Gmail. Additionally, we explored various methods to resolve this issue. When performing major email migrations manually, it is recommended to maintain a backup. This can be achieved using the Regain Gmail Backup Tool.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1. Why is Apple Mail not syncing with Gmail?

Ans. Apple Mail may stop syncing because of authentication problems, incorrect Fetch settings, an unstable internet connection, outdated software, or temporary Gmail service issues. Checking the account authentication and Fetch New Data settings should be among the first troubleshooting steps.

Q2. How do I fix Gmail authentication failed in Apple Mail?

Ans. Open your Gmail account settings on your Apple device and re-authenticate the account. If the authentication problem continues, remove the Gmail account and add it again using the Google sign-in option rather than relying on an old password-based setup.

Q3. Does Gmail still work with Apple Mail?

Ans. Yes. Gmail can still be accessed through Apple Mail using Google’s supported account authentication and IMAP connection. Gmail’s changes to web-based POP fetching should not be confused with Gmail IMAP access through email clients such as Apple Mail.

Q4. Why are new Gmail messages not appearing in Apple Mail?

Ans. Check Fetch New Data under your Mail account settings and make sure the account is allowed to fetch new messages. Also check your internet connection and verify that new messages appear when you sign in to Gmail through a web browser.

Q5. Should I remove and re-add my Gmail account in Apple Mail?

Ans. Yes, if other troubleshooting steps do not work. However, make sure your important emails are available on Gmail before removing the account because locally downloaded messages may be removed from the device when the account is deleted.

Q6. Can outdated iOS or macOS cause Gmail synchronization problems?

Ans. Yes. An outdated operating system or Mail configuration can contribute to synchronization and authentication problems. Install available system updates and then check Apple Mail again.

Q7. Why does Gmail work in the browser but not in Apple Mail?

Ans. If Gmail works normally in a browser but not in Apple Mail, the problem may be related to the Mail account authentication, account configuration, Fetch settings, or a local Mail issue rather than the Gmail mailbox itself.

Q8. How can I protect my Gmail emails before troubleshooting Apple Mail?

Ans. Create a backup of important Gmail messages before removing an account or performing major troubleshooting. The Regain Gmail Backup Tool can be used to back up Gmail mailbox data to supported formats, providing a local copy of your emails for additional protection.

Q9. Can I back up Gmail before removing my Gmail account from Apple Mail?

Ans. Yes. Creating a backup first is a sensible precaution when troubleshooting involves removing and re-adding an email account. The Regain Gmail Backup Tool can help create a local backup of Gmail mailbox data before you make account changes.

Q10. What should I do if Apple Mail still does not sync with Gmail?

Ans. Check Gmail in a web browser, verify your internet connection, review Fetch New Data, re-authenticate your Google account, update your Apple device, and finally remove and re-add the Gmail account. If the emails are important, keep a Gmail backup before making major account changes.

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Author: Nasir Khan

I am Nasir Khan from India, working as a Content Developer in Regain Software. Here I am writing about our products and their updates. And writing some free solutions from converting emails or Cloud Migration process. We have tools like Email Converter, Emails backup and Cloud migration.