How to Fix Apple Mail Not Syncing with Gmail?
For Mac users, Apple Mail can be utilized to access and manage email conveniently. Therefore, users usually sync their Apple Mail with their Gmail account to collect all the email in the same place to have better management. But sometimes, Apple Mail won’t sync with a Gmail account, which could be a problem.
This is more than just a slight inconvenience. The impact of Apple Mail not syncing with your Gmail account can mean missed appointments or urgent replies, delayed client or co-worker communication, and out-of-sync conversational threads. If you use the two interfaces, getting sync working again matters; however, the fix may be swift in most cases.
Common user query: I have Gmail in Apple Mail on my Mac. When I delete or move messages in Apple Mail, they don’t show up in the Gmail web interface. New messages take forever to show up. What do I do?
Understanding the Issue – Apple Mail Doesn’t Sync with Gmail
What could be the cause of Apple Mail Not Syncing with Gmail? Several factors disrupt the synchronisation process, i.e., network issues, incorrect account settings, outdated Mac updates, or any issue with the third-party application.
Signs of Syncing Issues
- Emails are in Gmail but not in Mac Mail.
- Unable to send or receive email via Apple Mail.
- Repeated requests for password confirmation.
- Emails that are slow or not syncing consistently.
Why Does the “Apple Mail Not Syncing with Gmail” Problem
Some possible explanations as to why your Apple Mail isn’t syncing with your Gmail Account are:
- Internet Connection Issues: Problem with Internet Connection—weak or unstable internet connections can hamper the process of synchronisation between the Gmail account and Apple Mail.
- Incorrect IMAP settings: If you just set up the IMAP settings in Apple Mail to sync with Gmail, then check the settings again. Incorrect IMAP settings could lead to a synchronisation issue.
- Antivirus Interference Problem: Occasionally, the firewall or antivirus program installed can cause the issue of syncing in the email client.
- Using Older Software: Using an older version of Apple Mail or OS X can cause compatibility issues with Gmail that can result in synchronisation errors.
- Storage problem: If your storage is low on your device or in your Gmail account, it will prevent email syncing. Check your device storage and email client storage.
- App Password / Two-Factor Authentication Conflicts: If your Google account has 2-step verification turned on, Apple Mail might fail to authenticate using the normal Gmail password. Google requires a dedicated App password or block sign-in until the complete verification in a browser
Now, we need to check each of the reasons and the solution for them. Follow the troubleshooting steps below to find out why Apple Mail is not connecting to Gmail.
Tip: Sometimes the syncing problem occurs when Apple Mail itself is not properly performing. In such cases, follow the guide to fix the Apple Mail not working on Mac before troubleshooting Gmail-specific issues.
Troubleshooting Method to Fix Apple Mail Not Syncing with Gmail
After going through each of the reasons, you might have an idea about the causes of the syncing issue. Now, go through each of the methods and carry out the desired method to achieve the solutions.
1. Check the Internet Connection
Make sure the device is connected to a stable and reliable Internet connection. A poor internet connection can prevent Apple Mail from Syncing with Gmail properly.
2. Verify Gmail Settings and check that Apple Mail is not syncing with Gmail
To verify the Gmail setting in Apple Mail, go to the preferences and check the settings for the Gmail account. Confirm the configuration of IMAP settings properly:
Outgoing Mail Server: smtp.gmail.com
Verify that your username and password are both correct. Turn IMAP access on in your Gmail settings.
Go to Gmail > Settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP > Enable IMAP.
3. Restart the Device
One of the common solutions to this is to restart the iPhone or the Mac device. Once you restart the device, it will stop all the background processes that might be causing the issues of Apple Mail Not Syncing with Gmail
4. Update Apple Mail and macOS/iOS
The outdated software can cause syncing and compatibility issues. Look for any updates for Apple Mail as well as the Operating System.
- Navigate to System Settings > Software Update.
- Install the latest updates.
- Then, restart the Mac.
5. Disable Security Software
Occasionally, security software or firewalls can prevent Apple Mail from syncing with Gmail. Try disabling any third-party security software or changing your settings to give Apple Mail access to Gmail.
6. Re-Add Gmail Account to Apple Mail
In case the issue of Apple Mail Not Syncing with Gmail continues to exist, remove and add back your Gmail account to Apple Mail. Here’s how:
- Open Apple Mail, then select Preferences and Accounts.
- Choose the Gmail accounts you want the account to be deleted from and select the ‘–‘ button.
- Then, press the ‘+‘ button to add the account once more.
7. Check Gmail’s Service Status
There could be a chance that the syncing issues might not be on the user’s end. Before changing any more settings, check the Google Workspace Status Dashboard to confirm that Gmail isn’t experiencing any outage or delay. If it is affected, then the syncing issues will all resume once the service is restored.
8. Rebuild Mailbox in Apple Mail
If Apple Mail seems connected but the message is not coming through, rebuilding the mailbox index can resolve the corrupted local cache data.
- Open Apple Mail and select the Gmail account.
- Go to Mailbox > Rebuild in the menu bar.
- Now, wait for Apple Mail to re-index the account.
Expert Approach to Get Gmail Emails Easily
Use the recommended users to save all the emails from the Google account to a local device. Get the Gmail Backup Tool from the link mentioned below. It has all types of common file formats to save emails. Either save in a document or email file format. We don’t need any configuration with the software since it allows us to store important emails. More than that, you can transfer the email data from Gmail to Apple Mail directly with the tool itself. For more details, you can refer to: Transfer Gmail Emails to iCloud.
Why Should You Try the Expertise Approach?
Here are some of the reasons for using this professional method:
- Quick Solution: With the software, we can get a quick backup or migration of Gmail emails to another account. Checks that email data is saved locally, leaving no email behind.
- Multiple Formats to Save: Use different file formats to save your Google data in order to avoid issues, for example, Apple Mail not syncing with Gmail.
- Demo Version: Use the demo version to learn how to use it, then you may get the upgraded version, which works without limitations.
- Complete Backup Option: We can choose the email folders from the software panel as per the requirement. You can download the entire folder. For more details, check out: download Gmail emails to hard drive.
Conclusion
The syncing issues between email clients are one of the most frustrating things. Therefore, here we are with different steps to troubleshoot the issue with Apple Mail Not Syncing with Gmail accounts. Check the causes and follow through with each of the methods to apply as needed. With this guide, you are equipped with solutions to fix the issue within minutes.