**How to Fix AOL Mail Not Working on iPhone: 6 Proven Solutions**
Is your AOL email acting up on your iPhone? It happens! Lots of folks have trouble with their AOL accounts on iPhones. Here are six things you can try to get your AOL mail working again. Plus, I've added some troubleshooting tips and answers to common questions.
**Why Your AOL Mail Might Be on the Fritz**
First, let's see what might be causing the issue:
1. **Wrong Server Settings** (This is the most common reason)
2. **Old iOS Software** (Can cause issues)
3. **Login Problems** (Maybe your password expired or changed)
4. **Bad Network** (WiFi or cellular data problems)
5. **AOL is Down** (Sometimes their service has issues)
6. **Mail App Issues** (Could be a glitch)
**Fix 1: Double-Check Your Account Settings**
**Here's what to do:**
1. Open your iPhone's **Settings** app
2. Scroll down and tap **Mail**
3. Tap **Accounts**
4. Choose your AOL account
5. Check these settings:
- **Incoming Mail Server**: `imap.aol.com`
- Port: 993
- Use SSL: ON
- **Outgoing Mail Server**: `smtp.aol.com`
- Port: 465 or 587
- Use SSL: ON
- Authentication: ON
6. If anything is wrong, delete the account and add it again
**Quick Tip:** Use IMAP instead of POP3, so your email stays in sync across devices.
**Fix 2: Give Your Mailbox a Kickstart**
If your emails aren't showing up:
1. Open the **Mail** app
2. Swipe down from the middle of the screen
3. Keep swiping until it refreshes
4. Give it a sec to load new emails
If that doesn't do the trick:
- Close the Mail app completely (swipe up from the bottom, hold, then swipe up on the Mail app)
- Restart your iPhone
- Try refreshing again
**Fix 3: See If AOL Is Having Problems**
Before messing with your phone:
1. Go to the AOL Help page
2. Check DownDetector for AOL
3. Search on Twitter for #AOLdown
If AOL is down:
- Use the AOL website to check your mail
- Wait for AOL to fix things
**Fix 4: Update Your iPhone's Software**
Old software can mess with your email:
1. Go to **Settings > General > Software Update**
2. Download and install any updates
3. After the update:
- Restart your iPhone
- See if your AOL mail is working
**Note:** iOS 15+ works best with email. Think about updating if you're on an older version.
**Fix 5: Reset Your Network Stuff**
If you think it's a connection problem:
1. Go to **Settings > General > Reset**
2. Tap **Reset Network Settings**
3. Type in your passcode if it asks
4. Confirm the reset
5. After your iPhone restarts:
- Reconnect to your WiFi
- Check your AOL mail
This will clear:
- WiFi networks and passwords
- Cellular settings
- VPN and APN settings
**Fix 6: Try a Different Email App**
If Apple Mail isn't working out:
1. Get **Microsoft Outlook** (a good one!)
- Get it from the App Store
- Add your AOL account
2. Or try **Spark Mail** or **Edison Mail**
3. Set them up with:
- Incoming: `imap.aol.com` (port 993)
- Outgoing: `smtp.aol.com` (port 465)
**Why Use a Different App?**
- They're often more reliable than Apple Mail
- They have better notifications
- They have better ways to organize your mail
**AOL Mail Issues: Your Questions Answered**
**Q1: Why does my iPhone say Cannot Get Mail for AOL?**
A: It could be:
- Wrong password (reset it at AOL.com)
- Wrong server settings (double-check IMAP/SMTP)
- Network issue
**Q2: How do I get notifications for AOL?**
A: Go to **Settings > Mail > Accounts > Fetch New Data**:
1. Choose your AOL account
2. Pick **Push** (if you see it)
3. Or set it to **Fetch Every 15 Minutes**
**Q3: Why won't my attachments download?**
A: Could be:
- The file is too big (AOL's limit is 25MB)
- Bad network
- Try downloading on WiFi instead of cellular
**Q4: How often should AOL mail update by itself?**
A: That depends on your settings:
- Push: Right away (if available)
- Fetch: Every 15/30/60 minutes, or when you open the app
- Background App Refresh has to be on
**Q5: Will deleting my AOL account from my iPhone delete my emails?**
A: Nope! Your emails are safe on AOL's servers. They'll come back when you add the account again.
**Q6: Why does AOL keep asking for my password?**
A: Usually means:
- You changed your password (update it in your Mail settings)
- The security thingy expired (re-enter your info)
- Your account might be locked (check AOL.com)
**Q7: What are the right AOL server settings?**
A: Make sure to use:
- Incoming: `imap.aol.com` (port 993, SSL)
- Outgoing: `smtp.aol.com` (port 465, SSL)
**Q8: How do I fix AOL mail when it won't send?**
A: Check:
1. Your SMTP settings
2. If the outgoing server needs you to log in
3. If you're not in airplane mode
4. Try switching between WiFi and cellular
**Q9: What if nothing is working?**
A: As a last resort:
1. Back up your iPhone
2. Reset all settings (**Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings**)
3. Set it up as a new device
4. Call AOL support (1-800-827-6364)
**Q10: Should I just use the AOL app?**
A: The AOL app (from the App Store) often works better than Apple Mail for AOL, with:
- More reliable notifications
- Better at blocking junk mail
- Built-in calendar and news
**Keep AOL Mail Running Smoothly**
1. **Do some upkeep**:
- Update iOS when you can
- Re-enter your password now and then
- Clear the Mail app's cache (delete and reinstall it)
2. **Follow these tips**:
- Keep your mailbox below 90% full
- Check your email on the AOL website sometimes
- Set up email forwarding just in case
3. **Other things to try**:
- Use Outlook as your main email app
- Turn on two-factor authentication for AOL
- Keep your recovery email/phone number up to date
**When to Call AOL for Help**
Get in touch with them if:
- Nothing is working
- You think someone hacked your account
- You need to get back deleted emails
- You're getting account disabled messages
By trying these fixes, you should be able to solve most AOL mail problems on your iPhone. Keeping your account set up right and your iOS updated can help keep problems away. If one thing doesn't work, just try the next until your AOL mail is up and running again!