Android Gmail not Syncing? Try these fixes!

One of the most annoying Gmail problems is when the service is not syncing. And I assume you’re experiencing the problem right now, as you’re reading this article.

There could be various reasons for Gmail not syncing on Android. So, we’re going to explore a few possible solutions, and hopefully, fix the problem for you.

How to Sync Gmail on my Android phone?

The most common thing that will prevent Gmail from updating is a server outage. In this case, there’s nothing you can do except wait for Google to address the problem. In the meantime, here are some of the most common solutions for the Gmail syncing problem:

1. Update the Gmail app
2. Check the servers
3. Clear the app’s data
4. Check your settings
5. Check the internet connection
6. Enable automatic sync

Solution 1 – Update the Gmail app

Although not necessarily a solution to the syncing problem, keeping the Gmail app (and all other apps) up to date is essential for it to work flawlessly. And who knows, maybe there’s some interference inside the app’s code that will be resolved with an update.

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So, head over to the Google Play Store and update Gmail.

Solution 2 – Check the servers

Gmail uses Google’s servers to deliver new emails to your Inbox. So, if the server is down, naturally, you won’t receive the new mail. Before moving on to other solutions, check the G Suite server status. If you find out that the server is down, don’t worry, because Google will probably fix the problem soon.

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You can check the G Suite server status here.

Solution 3 – Clear the app’s data

And now, on to your favourite solution. I know clearing the app cache and data has become an unpopular solution because of its cliché status, but it may be helpful after all.

Here’s how to clear Gmail’s app data and cache in Android:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Head over to Apps or Apps Manager (depending on your phone). If you can’t find it, simply search for installed apps in the Settings search bar.
3. Locate Gmail in the Apps Manager (if you can’t find it, choose Show all apps or Show system services from additional settings).
4. Tap Gmail and choose Clear Cache. If clearing the cache doesn’t resolve the syncing problem, repeat the procedure, but this time choose Clear data. 

Just keep in mind that clearing the app’s data will erase everything, so you’ll have to set up Gmail on your phone once again.

Solution 4 – Check your settings

There are numerous settings that may interfere with the Gmail app, thus preventing it from receiving new emails or syncing. So, you’ll need to tweak these settings to make Gmail function again.

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The ones most likely to cause trouble are Airplane Mode and Data Saver. Here’s what you need to do with these features to prevent them from blocking Gmail:

1. Turn off the airplane mode

As you probably know, airplane mode drastically restricts the level of communication your device can establish. Meaning there are no calls or internet connection in airplane mode.

Sure, you won’t have this mode enabled all the time, but as it’s most commonly placed in the top settings panel, accidental taps may occur. So, disable airplane mode and check Gmail once again.

2. Check the data saver settings 

If your phone has the data saving feature, it will limit the performance of almost every app when you’re not connected to WiFi. There are two solutions in this case. You can either whitelist Gmail in data saver or only receive new emails when you’re connected to WiFi.

Sure, whitelisting Gmail will eat up more data, but Gmail itself is not a data-hungry app, so you won’t have to worry about it. Just make sure not to open any media-heavy emails.

Here’s how to whitelist Gmail in Data saver:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Network & Internet > Data usage > Data saver (this step may differ on your phone).
3. Tap Unrestricted data.
4. Find Gmail and toggle it on.

Solution 5 – Check the internet connection

Obviously, if you’re not properly connected to the internet, Gmail won’t work. So, make sure you don’t have any internet connection problems.

If you notice a certain problem, check out this article for additional solutions.

Solution 6 – Enable automatic sync

The automatic sync feature should be enabled by default. But if none of the previous solutions resolved the problem, check this option, as well. Here’s how to do that:

1. Open Gmail.
2. Tap the menu button in the upper left corner.
3. Go to Settings > account (your email address).
4. Make sure the Sync Gmail option is enabled.

That’s about it. I hope at least one of these solutions helped you resolve the Gmail syncing problem on your Android phone. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, just write them down in the comments below.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in April 2019. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.