Outlook iOS app stuck on "Downloading Your Messages" for Gmail

Question

Outlook iOS app stuck on "Downloading Your Messages" for Gmail

Connor Bailey 26

Hello,

I have been using the Outlook app on iOS recently for my Gmail account with no issue. But today, I updated my Google password, then all of a sudden my Outlook app was not syncing with Gmail any longer. I reset the account through Outlook, deleted and re-added the account, and I even deleted the whole app from my iPhone and redownloaded it to start from scratch.

Every time I re-add my Gmail account to the Outlook app, it says "Downloading Your Messages" with a small bar at the bottom that says "Updating...", but nothing ever updates. I've let it sit for 30+ minutes and nothing is happening.

For reference, my desktop Outlook application is still syncing just fine after I re-signed it into my Gmail account.

Has anybody else experienced this issue with Outlook for iOS, and is there a fix?

Thank you!

Alastair Hopkins 6 Reputation points

2022-05-17T13:32:39.687+00:00

I am also having this issue.
seth9341 6 Reputation points

2022-05-17T23:44:09.25+00:00

I'm also having the same issue.
Alex 6 Reputation points

2022-05-18T04:23:03.803+00:00

I am also having this issue.
Using the newest iphone gigamax whatever, everything updated.
Outlook on ios app around this last saturday gave me issues signing into one of my IMAP accounts. I have 7 emails I use through outlook, 1 outlook, 3 gmail, 3 custom IMAP domains. I can log into all accounts, but the 3 custom IMAP domains (running through gmail backend) are just stuck on "downloading messages". I've tried all sorts of uninstall, reinstall, remove outlook and other MS apps, etc, and nothing has worked. It appears to be an outlook problem as others are having the issue as well.
Lloyd G 21 Reputation points

2022-05-18T08:03:21.357+00:00

I have also been experiencing the same issue for 2 weeks.
I have upgraded the iOS App 3 times, with a complete App Delete, I have also:
Reset Account
Removed Account
Re-added Account
I have increased my Gmail Storage

I have tried everything but have found no solution.

I have been able to add Gmail for business accounts.

It is only my personal GMAIL account.

I have also tried to open a support ticket via the app but this has not been possible.

This seems to be affecting many users - when will be get some support and a fix from MS.
Kamen Lichev 6 Reputation points

2022-05-18T21:02:34.717+00:00

I have same issue - iOS and Outlook.com fail but the Windows 11 Mail app works. I saw that on Outlook.com the server is returning Internal server error after authorization with Google.

So, best keep pushing with support. Not that it has helped me
Lloyd G 21 Reputation points

2022-05-19T13:35:04.463+00:00

So - my gmail on Outlook iOS has mysteriously started working today.

No updates run (although I see there was a release yday that I am not going to risk installing now it’s working).

All very strange

Hope it’s also fixed for others too.
Kamen Lichev 6 Reputation points

2022-05-19T16:02:56.5+00:00

Indeed, it has! Could add my Gmail account to Outlook for iOS!

Thanks for the heads-up!
Lloyd G 21 Reputation points

2022-05-19T17:42:50.343+00:00

…. great news is it it, but why is it I wonder.

I really want to make sure this doesn’t happen again
Gian Waldbaum 1 Reputation point

2022-07-13T09:57:26.553+00:00

I am experiencing the exact same problem. I was experiencing the same problem on my O365 for Mac until I added my Google workgroup account manually with IMAP which sorted that but cannot get my gmail personal to work on O365 for IOS at all. Im at the point of deleting O365 and reverting to IOS apple apps
Pete Grace 1 Reputation point

2022-08-03T20:11:36.187+00:00

I have recently experienced this issue. From Monday 1 Aug at about 11am I spotted that I could send no messages. I use my outlook.com mail address from Windows Mail and Iphone Outlook App and it does nothing - so having been through virtually every step in the play book since the last complete remove and start again both of the above methods are sat in "updating" and not syncing at all.

If I access via web browser (Chrome or Edge tested) I have no issues and everything is fine, and similarly from the Mail App on the Iphone equally no issues.

Very strange - not yet miraculously fixed.
Iurii Katkov 1 Reputation point

2022-08-04T11:55:16.76+00:00

It's possible that you have recently wiped your mobile outlook but it ended up hanging.

Go to your outlook web mail: https://outlook.office.com/mail/
Click a Gear icon somewhere up, go to Settings -> View All Outlook Settings.
You will get to the Settings screen. There you need General -> Mobile Devices

See here I have one item with wiping pending? Thrash it and save changes.
Pete Grace 1 Reputation point

2022-08-04T13:26:37.71+00:00

No I'm afraid that is all good too:
LunaMoth 6 Reputation points

2022-10-16T19:58:16.867+00:00

Hello,

I had the same issue under my Focused email folder, but not the other folder. I use more than one email account on Outlook.

One thing worked for me. I attempted to add a duplicate of the email account giving me problems. This account requires an Authenticator login from time to time and asked for me to fill in the security numbers. Once I did, it showed "duplicate accounts" and shut down adding the duplicate.

After this, my email loaded completely. I assume it has something to do with Authenticator...or the refresh...or both. Anyway, this worked for me.
Richard Weber 5 Reputation points

2023-01-15T17:07:37.36+00:00

How do I get someone on the phone to help in getting my outlook to download my gmail email?
William Knull 0 Reputation points

2023-02-22T22:56:33.0133333+00:00

I am having similar issues. Outlook for Mac loads perfectly for both my gmail accounts. Outlook on iPad and iPhone suddenly stopped loading emails. Have deleted and restored Outlook, Mail and followed all the other suggestions I have found, but iOS devices are still not receiving the emails. Instead I get a constant message that the emails are downloading, which never ends.
Nikki Grote 0 Reputation points

2023-05-02T12:40:21.5966667+00:00

This worked!!
Anonymous

2023-06-10T20:10:21.5066667+00:00

had the same issue when i got my new phone. i logged out and logged back in and it fixed itself
Thomas Willemsen 0 Reputation points

2023-06-24T09:52:02.12+00:00

I had the same issue. Well similar. Got outlook on a new phone, said it was downloading for more than an hour, which is odd because I have a gigabit line. I deleted and reinstalled the app, after signing in it loaded all my mail almost instantly. Hope you can figure out a solution too!
Nayan Sharma 0 Reputation points

2023-07-18T09:55:25.4466667+00:00

i just deleted it and everything was working
John Smith 0 Reputation points

2024-03-06T13:49:43.42+00:00
got the same problem, tried:

reboot iPhone

reinstall outlook

reset account

remove the account and add it back in

goto web interface and have everything in the mobile device section removed

having everything deleted and log back in

non of these would work.

the customer service chat was extremely not helpful

the guy: ok what version of outlook you are using?

me: what? it's ios

the guy: so we have two outlooks, outlook and outlook new

me: what? what is that

the guy: can you check what office plan you are on

me: what? it's ios

the guy: yes I understand but outlook is part of office and it requires subscription

me: what are you even talking about, I am on free account and trying to read my email on ios

the guy: yes but you only mentioned it's free account without telling me the subscription

me: (screenshot)

the guy: ok it looks like you are using outlook legacy, you need to go to the corresponding team for that

me: so hold on, what is that new app? I didn't see that in the app store.

the guy: the new outlook is a new windows application and not working on your device

THEN WHY THE HELL asking me like a paranoid in the first place? you know it's a new windows app, you know I am on ios, you know that Outlook email doesn't need any sort of subscription, why the hell you ask? if you are Windows team or outlook.com team, and you know I am on the ios, why the hell do you have this useless conversation continue?

WHY?
Maurita Dow Massey 0 Reputation points

2025-11-02T13:11:51.3433333+00:00

Does anyone have Android solutions?

1 answer

Your answer

Alastair Hopkins 6 Reputation points

2022-05-17T13:32:39.687+00:00

I am also having this issue.
seth9341 6 Reputation points

2022-05-17T23:44:09.25+00:00

I'm also having the same issue.
Alex 6 Reputation points

2022-05-18T04:23:03.803+00:00

I am also having this issue.
Using the newest iphone gigamax whatever, everything updated.
Outlook on ios app around this last saturday gave me issues signing into one of my IMAP accounts. I have 7 emails I use through outlook, 1 outlook, 3 gmail, 3 custom IMAP domains. I can log into all accounts, but the 3 custom IMAP domains (running through gmail backend) are just stuck on "downloading messages". I've tried all sorts of uninstall, reinstall, remove outlook and other MS apps, etc, and nothing has worked. It appears to be an outlook problem as others are having the issue as well.
Lloyd G 21 Reputation points

2022-05-18T08:03:21.357+00:00

I have also been experiencing the same issue for 2 weeks.
I have upgraded the iOS App 3 times, with a complete App Delete, I have also:
Reset Account
Removed Account
Re-added Account
I have increased my Gmail Storage

I have tried everything but have found no solution.

I have been able to add Gmail for business accounts.

It is only my personal GMAIL account.

I have also tried to open a support ticket via the app but this has not been possible.

This seems to be affecting many users - when will be get some support and a fix from MS.
Kamen Lichev 6 Reputation points

2022-05-18T21:02:34.717+00:00

I have same issue - iOS and Outlook.com fail but the Windows 11 Mail app works. I saw that on Outlook.com the server is returning Internal server error after authorization with Google.

So, best keep pushing with support. Not that it has helped me
Lloyd G 21 Reputation points

2022-05-19T13:35:04.463+00:00

So - my gmail on Outlook iOS has mysteriously started working today.

No updates run (although I see there was a release yday that I am not going to risk installing now it’s working).

All very strange

Hope it’s also fixed for others too.
Kamen Lichev 6 Reputation points

2022-05-19T16:02:56.5+00:00

Indeed, it has! Could add my Gmail account to Outlook for iOS!

Thanks for the heads-up!
Lloyd G 21 Reputation points

2022-05-19T17:42:50.343+00:00

…. great news is it it, but why is it I wonder.

I really want to make sure this doesn’t happen again
Gian Waldbaum 1 Reputation point

2022-07-13T09:57:26.553+00:00

I am experiencing the exact same problem. I was experiencing the same problem on my O365 for Mac until I added my Google workgroup account manually with IMAP which sorted that but cannot get my gmail personal to work on O365 for IOS at all. Im at the point of deleting O365 and reverting to IOS apple apps
Pete Grace 1 Reputation point

2022-08-03T20:11:36.187+00:00

I have recently experienced this issue. From Monday 1 Aug at about 11am I spotted that I could send no messages. I use my outlook.com mail address from Windows Mail and Iphone Outlook App and it does nothing - so having been through virtually every step in the play book since the last complete remove and start again both of the above methods are sat in "updating" and not syncing at all.

If I access via web browser (Chrome or Edge tested) I have no issues and everything is fine, and similarly from the Mail App on the Iphone equally no issues.

Very strange - not yet miraculously fixed.
Iurii Katkov 1 Reputation point

2022-08-04T11:55:16.76+00:00

It's possible that you have recently wiped your mobile outlook but it ended up hanging.

Go to your outlook web mail: https://outlook.office.com/mail/
Click a Gear icon somewhere up, go to Settings -> View All Outlook Settings.
You will get to the Settings screen. There you need General -> Mobile Devices

See here I have one item with wiping pending? Thrash it and save changes.
Pete Grace 1 Reputation point

2022-08-04T13:26:37.71+00:00

No I'm afraid that is all good too:
LunaMoth 6 Reputation points

2022-10-16T19:58:16.867+00:00

Hello,

I had the same issue under my Focused email folder, but not the other folder. I use more than one email account on Outlook.

One thing worked for me. I attempted to add a duplicate of the email account giving me problems. This account requires an Authenticator login from time to time and asked for me to fill in the security numbers. Once I did, it showed "duplicate accounts" and shut down adding the duplicate.

After this, my email loaded completely. I assume it has something to do with Authenticator...or the refresh...or both. Anyway, this worked for me.
Richard Weber 5 Reputation points

2023-01-15T17:07:37.36+00:00

How do I get someone on the phone to help in getting my outlook to download my gmail email?
William Knull 0 Reputation points

2023-02-22T22:56:33.0133333+00:00

I am having similar issues. Outlook for Mac loads perfectly for both my gmail accounts. Outlook on iPad and iPhone suddenly stopped loading emails. Have deleted and restored Outlook, Mail and followed all the other suggestions I have found, but iOS devices are still not receiving the emails. Instead I get a constant message that the emails are downloading, which never ends.
Nikki Grote 0 Reputation points

2023-05-02T12:40:21.5966667+00:00

This worked!!
Anonymous

2023-06-10T20:10:21.5066667+00:00

had the same issue when i got my new phone. i logged out and logged back in and it fixed itself
Thomas Willemsen 0 Reputation points

2023-06-24T09:52:02.12+00:00

I had the same issue. Well similar. Got outlook on a new phone, said it was downloading for more than an hour, which is odd because I have a gigabit line. I deleted and reinstalled the app, after signing in it loaded all my mail almost instantly. Hope you can figure out a solution too!
Nayan Sharma 0 Reputation points

2023-07-18T09:55:25.4466667+00:00

i just deleted it and everything was working
John Smith 0 Reputation points

2024-03-06T13:49:43.42+00:00

got the same problem, tried:

reboot iPhone

reinstall outlook

reset account

remove the account and add it back in

goto web interface and have everything in the mobile device section removed

having everything deleted and log back in

non of these would work.

the customer service chat was extremely not helpful

the guy: ok what version of outlook you are using?

me: what? it's ios

the guy: so we have two outlooks, outlook and outlook new

me: what? what is that

the guy: can you check what office plan you are on

me: what? it's ios

the guy: yes I understand but outlook is part of office and it requires subscription

me: what are you even talking about, I am on free account and trying to read my email on ios

the guy: yes but you only mentioned it's free account without telling me the subscription

me: (screenshot)

the guy: ok it looks like you are using outlook legacy, you need to go to the corresponding team for that

me: so hold on, what is that new app? I didn't see that in the app store.

the guy: the new outlook is a new windows application and not working on your device

THEN WHY THE HELL asking me like a paranoid in the first place? you know it's a new windows app, you know I am on ios, you know that Outlook email doesn't need any sort of subscription, why the hell you ask? if you are Windows team or outlook.com team, and you know I am on the ios, why the hell do you have this useless conversation continue?

WHY?
Maurita Dow Massey 0 Reputation points

2025-11-02T13:11:51.3433333+00:00

Does anyone have Android solutions?

Answer 1

Philip nicoles 381

You can try the below solutions to fix this problem:

Restart your iPhone
Verify your connectivity
Toggle airplane mode
Make sure you are connected to the correct wifi
Restart Mail app
Check Mail Fetch settings
Check Notification Settings
Remove and Re-Add the Email Account

If the reply helped you, please remember to accept as answer.
If no, please reply and tell us the current situation in order to provide further help.

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Outlook iOS app stuck on "Downloading Your Messages" for Gmail

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