Mail not working after update iOS 18.1.1

Why on earth would they change the workflow to update an important function like email passwords???

To update the email passwords, go to Settings. Go to Apps (at the bottom). Click on Mail. Then click Mail Accounts. Then you can update the email password.

[Edited by Moderator]

I found this online but Apple won’t let me paste the link.

I think the only solution is to contact your third party email provider with this information below and demand they fix the issue at their end. I’m not sure why some users are having a problem with iCloud.com accounts since that’s an Apple product.

A lot of users have pointed out that the problem seems to stem from how Apple Mail handles connections with IMAP servers after the iOS 18 update. 

The heart of the issue? It looks like iOS 18 has become a bit pickier with security certificates — especially if you’re using a self-signed certificate.

Essentially, the system may no longer trust these certificates, even though they worked just fine in iOS 17.

The strange part is that it’s not only the self-signed certificates causing trouble. Even users with legitimate SSL certificates (the kind you expect to work without issues) are facing the same syncing errors. 

The Mail app seems to have difficulty “talking” to the IMAP servers, and in some cases, it’s flat-out refusing to fetch new messages.

Possible Culprits

While Apple hasn’t officially commented on the situation, there are a few things that could be contributing to this glitch:

Stricter Security Requirements: iOS 18 may have tightened its policies on how it handles email server connections, particularly with certificates. 

This could explain why previously accepted certificates are now getting rejected.

TLS Version Issues: Some users have speculated that the issue might relate to TLS (Transport Layer Security) protocols. If your email server is using an older TLS version, it might be incompatible with iOS 18’s updated standards.

Lkj2024 wrote:

Mine wouldn’t work properly in Low power mode, I think it was something to do with this new sorting option added to mail app.

i didn’t actually do anything or make any changes, i would just switch the batter from low power to normal power when i wanted to check for new emails (when my battery was low, when green it would work normally)

i recently updated the iOS to 18.1.2 and recently noticed I was getting emails pushed to my phone when I had low battery.

You should not routinely let your iPhone so low that low power mode comes on, charge if it gets dow to 20%. Frequent trips below 20% will shorten the life of your battery.

BopCat wrote:

Updated to 18.3. Removed VPN app. Still no mail. I have 5 accounts, from different providers, and none of them work at all.

Have you deleted them and reinstalled them?

completely removed any VPN Profiles?

reset network settings?

same for me. Switched to app Edison mail, spark mail is also similar. Email works fine with now.

Just finished the password reset and my email works again. Login thru a different method and change your password. Then change the password on your phone and it should fix it

I have the same problem but it is when it is on low battery mode, when low battery is switched off it works fibe

Everybody having similar problems should report this directly to Apple by using the Feedback link, and

include your findings and troubleshooting you did.

This is the only way to make them aware of iOS issues.

Feedback - iPhone - Apple

*SOLUTION* This issue seems to be limited to accounts that were configured to use the IMAP protocol when they were created on the iPhone. Accounts using POP3 are not affected. Unfortunately there is no way to change an existing mail account from IMAP to POP3 so the only option is to create a new mail account on your iPhone using POP3. Way to go Apple! You become more and more like Microsoft every day!

CheechLaPort wrote:

When is Apple going to fix this problem, I’m have email issues as well. This is frustrating

When you contact Apple about the problem with your phone. This is not a problem affecting hundreds of millions of of iPhones; it is a problem with YOUR iPhone and a few other people’s and from reading this thread it is many different problems, not one problem that affects everyone.

Contact Apple support, using the Support link at the bottom left on this page.

Mine wouldn’t work properly in Low power mode, I think it was something to do with this new sorting option added to mail app.

i didn’t actually do anything or make any changes, i would just switch the batter from low power to normal power when i wanted to check for new emails (when my battery was low, when green it would work normally)

i recently updated the iOS to 18.1.2 and recently noticed I was getting emails pushed to my phone when I had low battery.

Well, if you have really done everything then I guess your email will never work again.

If you tell us specifically what you did, rather than “everything”, I’m sure someone can help resolve the problem.

Here’s what would be helpful:

• Have you updated to iOS 18.2.1 (the latest)?
• Who is the email provider (Gmail, Microsoft, Yahoo, AOL, CenturyLink, iCloud, etc)
• How many email accounts aren’t working, if you have more than one?
• What specifically do you mean by “not working?” Can’t receive mail, can’t send mail, can’t set up mail, or something else?
• Do you use VPN?
• Is the problem on both cellular data and Wi-Fi, or on one or the other?
• Have you tried deleting and adding back any email accounts that aren’t working?
• Does your email account provider use 2 factor authentication?

Switch to Microsoft Outlook. It works fine.

Did you also remove the VPN PROFILE? That is more likely to cause problems than the vpn app.

How many of us having this issue are using oauth 2.0 token for authentication? My wife’s email on her iPhone is still working and her account is using imap and a password. She has no issues.

goto mail/accounts/account settings/advanced/incoming settings