No sound for email notifications on iPhone 15 Pro after iOS 18.4 update

i’m still having an issue also and have tried everything. I was using sonar and pinball for my sounds for two separate email accounts. I I saw that those sounds are no longer available even though on the main screen, it showed sonar, but when I clicked it, the checkbox was marked for none. I selected new sounds and went through everything and I still don’t get notification sounds for both email accounts. Surprised after all these years they still managed to screw stuff up on updates.

Temporary Solution: Restore VIP Notifications in the Mail App on iPhone (iOS 18.4.1)

Step 1 – Temporarily disable Mail for all accounts:

1. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts

2. Select each account (iCloud, Gmail, Outlook, etc.)

3. Toggle off the Mail option for all accounts

Step 2 – Delete the Mail app:

1. Press and hold the Mail app icon on the home screen

2. Select “Remove App” and confirm

Step 3 – Reinstall the Mail app:

1. Open App Store

2. Search for “Apple Mail”

3. Download and reinstall the app

Step 4 – Re-enable Mail for your accounts:

1. Go back to Settings > Mail > Accounts

2. Select each account and toggle Mail back on

Step 5 – Adjust VIP notification sound:

1. Go to Settings > Notifications > Mail > VIP

2. Choose a different sound (e.g., “Crystal”)

3. Wait a few seconds, then switch back to your preferred sound

Done!

VIP notifications with sound should now work as expected again, including push delivery for iCloud Mail.

Was just able to resolve this issue on my iPhone 15 Pro running ios 18.4. Try this:

Delete and Reinstall the Mail App

1. Tap and hold the Mail app icon from your Home screen to reveal a Delete App option. Tap that to remove the app, then restart your iPhone.
2. After your iPhone starts up again, download Mail from the App Store.
3. You may also need to return to the Passwords & Accounts settings to turn Mail on for each of your email accounts again.
4. Go to Notifications and check to see that “Allow Notifications” is turned ON for all eMail accounts.
5. For safety make sure iCloud Backup is still active as well (for some reason it was turned off after updating to the latest ios a few days ago and I was unaware of this issue).

I had the same issue on my iPhone 15 Pro Max after installing the 18.4 update.

To fix the issue open Settings, tap on Notifications, tap on Mail, scroll to the bottom and tap on Customize Notifications, tap on the mail account with the issue (in my case it was iCloud), turn on Alerts. This will enable the audible alert.

I have two iPhones. After deleting the app and reinstalling from the App store on the first iPhone, I don't even have the line Notifications anymore in the Mail App! Check the differences between both iPhones.

First iPhone:

Second iPhone:

Therefore, trying to get the custom notification back, the situation is worst than before I deleted the app!

This is a duplicate of my answer on first page. I used the reply button at the wrong place.

I have two iPhones. After deleting the app and reinstalling from the App store on the first iPhone, I don't even have the line Notifications anymore in the Mail App! Check the differences between both iPhones.

First iPhone:

Second iPhone:

Therefore, trying to get the custom notification back, the situation is worst than before I deleted the app!

I don't know what to do anymore besides hoping next update will resolve the problem.

Shame to you Apple.

I did and i got the notification alert to sound now but I have no banners on lock screens or unlock screen

Yes, I spoke to them about 3 weeks ago and after checking all my settings the tech told me Apple was aware of the problem and was working on it but didn't have a date it would be fixed.

It took a while after I reinstalled the app. I think maybe it had something to do with folders sycning, etc. I did two tests and had no luck. Then had to get back to work, and noticed a bit later that I started to hear the sound for new mail coming from my pocket.

Sorry for the delay

Yes, i deleted and reinstalled the Mail app.

I now have the alert sound when mail arrives from VIP but am missing the banner that shows up when my iPhone screen is off.

when I click to open iPhone there is also no banner. I have to open mail to see the email.

What I am want is when a VIP emails me I want the alert sound and a banner that shows up when my iPhone screen is off. This used to work always with my iPhone 6s but isn't working with my iPhone 16

I have selected on all the show banners in the notification center, etc.

thank you

I have the same issue after this update & others, I’m to the point that Apple can’t support their own in house apps, where 3rd parties help & resolve quickly. Apple, advise get rid your in house apps, every update yall do is mess every in house setting up. I understand new privacy acts, but every time update hits, nothing works, now my hotspot won’t work, like this getting dumb, might as well go to android

I had the same issue for more than one month, I've read Jtropic's post and tried removing Apple mail app from iPhone 16 pro once and reinstalled it. Then mail notification came again! In addition, my wife's iPhone 16e has also the same issues, and re-installing mail app in the same way made her mail alerts to come back too.

I guess that after iOS updates ,there're some settings information was untouched by operations via GUI and it did harm to the notification functions.

Temporary Solution: Restore VIP Notifications in the Mail App on iPhone (iOS 18.4.1)

Step 1 – Temporarily disable Mail for all accounts:

1. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts

2. Select each account (iCloud, Gmail, Outlook, etc.)

3. Toggle off the Mail option for all accounts

Step 2 – Delete the Mail app:

1. Press and hold the Mail app icon on the home screen

2. Select “Remove App” and confirm

Step 3 – Reinstall the Mail app:

1. Open App Store

2. Search for “Apple Mail”

3. Download and reinstall the app

Step 4 – Re-enable Mail for your accounts:

1. Go back to Settings > Mail > Accounts

2. Select each account and toggle Mail back on

Step 5 – Adjust VIP notification sound:

1. Go to Settings > Notifications > Mail > VIP

2. Choose a different sound (e.g., “Crystal”)

3. Wait a few seconds, then switch back to your preferred sound

Done!

VIP notifications with sound should now work as expected again, including push delivery for iCloud Mail.

you don’t need to delete all mail accounts, just temporarily switch off all mail accounts before you delete mail app and then switch them on again after re download the app. See instructions below, tested together with apple senior advice team.

I forgot to mention toggling Schedule Summary on and off. I tested the audible mail notification with and without having an Apple Watch on and so far the mail notification sound is working. However there are times it is delayed.