Software bugs or old apps can also cause this error. In this article, we will talk about different solutions to solve this error.
1. Relaunch the Mail App After Force Closing It
A temporary glitch between the iPhone’s Mail app and the email server might cause the message download issue. To resolve this, force close and relaunch the Mail app. This action clears minor issues and refreshes its connection to the server, enabling it to try downloading messages again.
2. Update the iOS of Your iPhone to the Latest Build
If your iPhone’s iOS is not updated to the latest version, it may have compatibility issues with the email server, causing the problem. In this case, updating your iPhone’s iOS to the latest version may resolve the issue. Before updating, make sure to create a backup of your iPhone in case the update does not go well or has bugs.
3. Set the Mail Preview to 5 Lines
Changing the mail preview to 5 lines can help the app load message content better. By downloading less data at first, the app uses less bandwidth and processing power, which can fix loading problems, especially with slow or unstable connections. This change makes it more likely for emails to load correctly without errors.
4. Enable Fetch in the Phone’s Settings
To make sure your emails load consistently, set your phone to “Fetch,” so it checks for new messages regularly. This keeps your inbox updated and reduces delays from server sync issues, helping fix the “Message has not been downloaded from the server” error.
5. Enable Download Complete in Send/Receive Group Settings
Emails may not fully download due to limited sync settings. Enable “Download Complete Item including Attachments” in your settings to ensure your email app gets the whole message, avoiding the “Message has not been downloaded from the server” error.
6. Enable ‘Recent Mode’ of Gmail
Switching Gmail to “Recent Mode” makes sure your email app gets only the newest messages. This prevents sync issues that make emails look undownloaded and ensures you don’t miss messages because of old data.
7. Enable ‘Keep the Copy on the Server’ Setting
To keep your emails accessible, enable the “Keep a Copy on the Server” setting. This creates a backup on the email server, so you can access your messages from any device, even if your local app has problems. Keep in mind that after enabling this setting, if you delete a message from the Deleted folder on your phone or computer, that email message may be removed from the other device as well, and if you try to access that message on the other device, that may cause the message download issue.
8. Disable Anti-Spam Product of Your Device
Sometimes, anti-spam software can wrongly block real emails, causing download issues. Temporarily turning off your device’s anti-spam lets emails through, helping you check if filtering is the problem. Remember to turn it back on afterward to keep your device secure. Warning: Proceed at your own risk as disabling the anti-spam or security product of your system/device may expose the system to threats like viruses, trojans, etc.
9. Re-Add the Email Account to the Mail App
The Mail app may fail to download messages from the email servers due to a temporary communication glitch or corruption of the email account on the device. In this case, turning the email account off and on or re-adding the email account to the Mail app may solve the problem.
9.1 Turn Off and Turn on the Email Account
9.2 Re-Add the Email Account
10. Reinstall the Mail App
Reinstalling the Mail app resets it, fixing any problems with its files or settings. This also updates the app to the latest version, making it work better and improving message downloads.
11. Check the Mailbox Size Limit on Your Email Account
Many email providers limit how much data your mailbox can hold. If you exceed this limit, your device might not be able to download new messages.
12. Verify Your Email Account’s Server Settings
Incorrect server settings can stop the email app from downloading messages. Checking and updating these settings makes sure your device can connect to the server correctly, so messages load properly.
13. Large Email Attachments May Cause Download Issues
Large attachments can slow down your email app, especially with a weak connection or full storage. Removing these attachments or using a faster connection can help reduce download problems and speed up email loading.
