Simple Methods to Fix the Imap.gmail.com isn’t Working Error

Updated On - December 19, 2023 by Armaan | Reading Time: 3 minutes

Nowadays, Gmail is ruling the email niche, and almost every businessperson scrolls through their Gmail inbox multiple times a day. Several doctors, students, teachers, and business organizations prefer Gmail to collab and communicate with colleagues and clients. Today, Gmail has the most active users, but it is still not free from an error like many other email clients and online services; it also faces downtime and different errors. In this write-up, today we’ll discuss the most common error faced by several users in recent times is that Imap.gmail.com is not working. Before diving into the solutions, we’ll know the primary cause of this error. So, let’s start with the same.

Why does Imap.Gmail.com isn’t work

Most of the time, the error happens on mobile devices like iPhones. Even though these errors happen on desktop platforms, they don’t happen as often on mobile devices. After carefully looking at some of the most likely reasons for this error.

The “imap.gmail.com isn’t working” error typically occurs when users are unable to establish a connection with the Gmail IMAP server.

Other factors that contribute to the imap.gmail.com error are as follows:

• Internet connectivity issues.
• Incorrect IMAP settings.
• Firewall or antivirus software blocking the connection.
• Cached data and cookies causing conflicts.
• VPN or proxy settings interfering with the IMAP connection.

This error prevents users from accessing their emails through email clients such as Microsoft Outlook, Apple Mail, or Thunderbird, which rely on IMAP settings to synchronize emails.

These are some of the most likely reasons why “imap.gmail.com is not working” might happen. Now that we know why it happens. let’s look at how to fix it when imap.gmail.com can’t be verified.

Related Blog: How to Backup Gmail Emails Automatically for Free

Let’s look at how to fix this mistake (imap.gmail.com is not working)

1. Check Internet Connection

Ensure that your internet connection is stable and functioning properly. Try accessing other websites or online services to verify if the issue is specific to Gmail or if it’s a broader internet connectivity problem.

2. Verify IMAP Settings

Confirm that your email client is configured with the correct IMAP settings for Gmail. Double-check the server address (imap.gmail.com), port number (993 for SSL/TLS), and authentication method (password).

3. Disable Firewall or Antivirus

Temporarily disable any firewall or antivirus software installed on your computer. Sometimes, these security measures can block the IMAP connection to Gmail. After disabling the software, try accessing your Gmail account via the IMAP server again.

4. Clear Cache and Cookies

Clear the cache and cookies of your web browser or email client. These temporary files can accumulate over time and cause conflicts with the IMAP connection. After clearing the cache and cookies, restart your email client and attempt to connect to imap.gmail.com again.

5. Disable VPN or Proxy Settings

If you are using a VPN or proxy server, temporarily disable them and try connecting to Gmail via imap.gmail.com. VPNs and proxy servers can sometimes interfere with the IMAP connection and cause the “imap.gmail.com isn’t working” error.

Related Post: How to Resolve Gmail is Out of Space Issue?

Turn on Gmail’s IMAP settings

The Gmail IMAP setting is like a bridge that makes sending and receiving emails easy. It is turned on by default, but users can turn it off if they want to. If you have turned off your IMAP settings, the imap.gmail.com error will appear. You can turn it on by doing the following:

• Open your Gmail account and go to the Settings page.
• On the tab for Forwarding and POP/IMAP, click the “Enable IMAP” button.
• Click the Save button. You should now link your Gmail account back up with the email client.
• Log out of your Gmail account and log back in.

It’s the last way to eliminate the error with IMAP accounts. If the account gives you an error message, you can delete it and try again. However these methods are also prone to data loss and ask for technical knowledge.

Personal Suggestion

As a famous proverb Precaution is better than cure, I’ll suggest you back up your Gmail emails into the hard drive. Because sometimes, any unwanted error or action can lose your crucial information and having a backup will keep your data in these situations.

Regain Gmail Backup tool offers a simple and quick way to backup your Gmail emails into several popular file formats such as PST, EML, MSG, MBOX, PDF, etc.

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Try its free demo version now and evaluate the tool by yourself. The free version allows you to process the first 30 items per folder.