AOL Email Not Updating on iPhone? Here's How to Fix It
What's this about? Is your AOL email slow to update on your iPhone? I'll tell you why it happens and how to get it working again, step by step. You can usually fix this in minutes, and you don't need to be a tech expert.
AOL's help page:👉 Click For Live Support
Is Your AOL Email Not Updating?
What to Look For
- New emails don't show up on their own.
- Your inbox only changes when you refresh it yourself.
- Notifications are late.
- You see old emails, but not the newest ones.
This usually means your iPhone isn't grabbing new info from AOL in the background.
What's the Deal with Syncing?
Syncing just means your account is linked. Updating is when you get new emails automatically. Your AOL account might be synced fine but still not update because of your iPhone's settings.
Why Your AOL Email Might Stop Updating
Check Your Fetch and Push Settings
If Push is off, or Fetch is set to manual, your email won't update on its own.
Internet Problems?
A weak Wi-Fi signal can stop updates.
Password Issues
If you change your AOL password, your iPhone might stop updating until you enter the new password.
Background App Stuff
If Low Power Mode is on, or if Background App Refresh is off, email updates might pause.
Old iOS Software
Old versions of iOS can have issues with AOL's security stuff.
AOL's Fault
Sometimes, it's just a problem on AOL's end, and it fixes itself.
Quick Things to Try First
Test Your Internet
Open Safari and go to a few websites. Try both Wi-Fi and your phone's data.
Check AOL's Status
See if AOL is having problems. Check their help page.
How to Fix It: Step-by-Step
Restart Your iPhone
This can fix small problems that stop email updates.
Turn On Mail for Your AOL Account
- Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > AOL.
- Make sure Mail is turned ON.
Check Fetch & Push Settings
- Settings > Mail > Accounts > Fetch New Data
- Turn Push ON.
- Set Fetch to Automatically.
This is the most important thing to check!
Update Your iPhone
Go to Settings > General > Software Update and grab the newest version of iOS.
Re-enter Your Password
- Settings > Mail > Accounts > AOL
- Tap Account
- Type in your password again and save.
Remove and Re-add Your Account
If it's still not working:
- Delete the AOL account.
- Restart your iPhone.
- Add the AOL account again.
Reset Network Settings
- Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings
This can fix hidden internet problems (but you'll have to re-enter your Wi-Fi passwords).
Still Not Working? Try These
Check IMAP & SMTP Settings
Make sure these are correct:
- IMAP: imap.aol.com (Port 993, SSL turned on)
- SMTP: smtp.aol.com (Port 465 or 587, SSL turned on)
A bad port number will stop updates. You can check the correct settings here: https://help.aol.com
Use the AOL Mail App
If Apple Mail is being slow, the AOL Mail app might work better because it's made for AOL.
AOL Email on iPhone: Common Questions
1. Why does my AOL email only update when I open the app?
Push is off, or Fetch is on manual.
2. Does Low Power Mode stop email updates?
Yep, it slows down background stuff.
3. Can iPhone updates mess up AOL email?
Sometimes, but it usually fixes itself.
4. Will deleting my AOL account delete my emails?
No, they stay on AOL's servers.
5. Is the AOL Mail app better for updates?
Lots of people find it more reliable.
6. What if it STILL doesn't update?
Call AOL Support or use the AOL Mail app.
In Conclusion
It's annoying when your email doesn't update right away, but it's usually fixable. Most of the time, it's about your Fetch settings or something turned off in the background. Follow these steps, and you should be back to getting your AOL emails in real-time!