Gmail Not Receiving Emails: Why Is Gmail Not Working? (FIXED)
Experiencing Gmail not working when you’re expecting important emails can be incredibly frustrating. Gmail issues can disrupt your day, whether you’re waiting on work-related messages or personal correspondence. Many users quickly wonder, “Is Gmail down?” but the cause could lie elsewhere. In this guide, we’ll explore common reasons why Gmail might not be receiving emails and how you can get your inbox back on track.
Is Gmail Down?
Some Gmail issues are caused by the service being down. In other words, it’s Google’s problem to fix, not yours. But, how do you know if Gmail is down? It’s easy. Here are a few things to check:
- Check Google Workspace Status Dashboard. This is the easiest and most reliable way to see if Gmail is down because it’s operated by Google. Find Gmail in the list and then check the symbol to the right. If it’s anything but green, Google’s Gmail issue isn’t yours to fix and you can simply wait for it to pass.
- Check social media. X/Twitter is often the first place people go to report Gmail issues (here’s an example search) and other problems with services like this one. If there’s a lot of talk about Gmail not working, take it as evidence that Google is responsible.
Basic Checks if Gmail is Not Working
If you’re unable to receive emails on your Gmail account, run through the following basic checks.
- Check Gmail on other devices. If it’s not working on your tablet, for example, try from a phone or computer. Ideally, you’d also switch networks to rule that out; if you’re on Wi-Fi on your phone, turn it off to switch to the mobile network. If it doesn’t work from a different device or network, there’s a good chance Gmail is down.
- Access Gmail directly. If you’re trying to receive messages via a Gmail account configured with an email client, try to access it in your browser instead and check if you’re getting messages.
- Check the spam folder. Emails may be going to the spam folder. If so, select an email and click the not spam option to move them to the inbox.
- Check other Google services e.g., YouTube and Google Drive to see if they connect. If not, it is possible Google’s services are down or being blocked by your ISP or country.
- Try sending an email: Send a message and see if it is sent successfully. You can try sending an email to yourself.
- Use a VPN and check if your messages start to arrive. If so, Gmail is probably being blocked by your ISP or government.
- Try accessing Gmail in a different browser. It is possible that your default browser has corrupt files or an extension or add-on that you’ve installed is blocking incoming messages from showing up.
- Try connecting to a different network and check if your messages start arriving.
9 Quick Fixes if Gmail is Not Working
If you’re still unable to receive emails in Gmail after running through the basic checks above, try the following fixes:
1. Check Internet Connection
Gmail requires an active internet connection to download mail. This is true whether you’re using Gmail.com or a dedicated email app on your computer, phone, or tablet. If the internet connection is to blame for Gmail not receiving emails, you’ll need to fix the internet problem.
Here are some things to try to confirm whether this is why Gmail is not working:
- Check other websites. If reputable places like Facebook.com or your local news websites are also down, then this isn’t a Gmail-specific problem.
- Move closer to the router. This is where you’re getting Wi-Fi. You might be too far from the source to reliably access Gmail’s servers.
- Switch to a different network. If you’re using mobile data, use Wi-Fi instead, or vice versa.
2. Restart Device
A quick reboot if often a first step in troubleshooting tech issues such as this one. Since you’ve already confirmed Gmail isn’t down, restart your device to see if that helps. A reboot clears everything from memory (don’t worry, your files/apps won’t get deleted) and provides a new opportunity to reach Google’s mail servers.
Restarting works differently depending on the device. Use the physical power button on your phone/tablet, and the restart option within the Windows or macOS operating system.
3. Clear Cache/Data
Clearing the cache can resolve Gmail issues by removing outdated or corrupted temporary data stored from previous sessions. Over time, cached files can cause loading errors, login problems, display issues, or email syncing delays. By clearing the cache, Gmail is forced to reload fresh data, which often resolves problems like missing elements, broken buttons, and email sync issues, ensuring that the latest version of the site and your emails are properly displayed and functional.
We have a guide on how to clear the cache on various platforms and some more information on what it means.
4. Disable Plugins
Disabling plugins can fix some Gmail issues by eliminating potential conflicts between the plugins and Gmail’s functionality. Some browser plugins, like ad blockers or security extensions, can interfere with Gmail by blocking essential scripts or altering how the site loads and functions. This can lead to issues such as buttons not working, emails not loading properly, or Gmail failing to sync. Disabling plugins temporarily allows Gmail to run in a more neutral environment, making it easier to identify whether a specific plugin is causing the problem.
Learn how to uninstall (disabling is similar) Chrome extensions if you use Chrome. Other browsers work similarly.
5. Check for Updates
Updating your browser or email app can fix Gmail issues, such as buttons not working, by ensuring compatibility with Gmail’s latest features and security updates. Older versions of browsers or apps may not support new functionality or could have bugs that interfere with Gmail’s performance. By updating, you get the latest fixes and improvements.
Visit your device’s app store to see if there’s a new version of your email app. If you’re using Gmail from a web browser, open its menu and check the About or Help menu for any mention of an update.
6. Disable Antivirus
If you’re using Gmail with a desktop email client, and you’re messaged aren’t being delivered to your inbox, try disabling the antivirus you’re using. On Windows, you can use Windows Defender as it doesn’t block Gmail and related services.
Other antivirus apps may be more strict with what is and isn’t allowed. If you’d like to keep using your antivirus instead of Windows Defender, add Gmail’s domain to the antivirus’s whitelist.
7. Check Gmail Storage Limit
Emails are small but attachments are comparatively larger. Gmail caps received emails at 50 MB each, but, even so, your Gmail storage can fill up. If it is full, it will prevent messages from being delivered to you.
- Visit this link in your browser and sign in with your Gmail account.
- If your storage is full, you need to free it up before you can receive emails.
Storage is shared between Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. You can free up space by deleting older emails, removing files from Google Drive, or removing photos from Google Photos.
8. Remove Filters for Messages
Filters in Gmail are an automation tool for sorting messages into labels or folders. If you’ve set up filters incorrectly, you may be sending your messages to a label/folder, archiving them automatically, or deleting them.
- Click Gmail’s cogwheel button at the top right.
- Select See all settings.
- Go to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab.
- Remove the active filters and check for new messages.
9. Check and Disable Email Forwarding
If you have email forwarding set up for your Gmail account, it may be interfering with messages. Normally, email forwarding doesn’t prevent a message from arriving in the inbox. It simply forwards the new message to a pre-defined email address. That said, it can still cause problems.
- Select Gmail’s cogwheel button at the top right.
- Select See all settings.
- Go to the Forwarding and POP/MAP tab.
- Select Disable forwarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is my delete forever not working in Gmail? This option may not work if you’re experiencing a temporary issue with Gmail’s servers or if you’re trying to delete emails from a folder other than Trash or Spam, where “Delete forever” is usually available.
- Why isn’t the Button on top not working in Gmail? If Gmail’s top buttons, such as archive or delete, aren’t responding, it could be due to browser issues, such as outdated cookies or extensions, or a slow internet connection causing the buttons to fail.
- Why can’t I drag emails to Gmail folders? Dragging emails to folders may not work if you’re using an outdated browser, experiencing a temporary glitch, or if a browser extension is interfering with Gmail’s drag-and-drop functionality. It could also be a physical mouse issue, such as dirt collect at the bottom.
