Authentication Failed Error When Adding an Email Account in Airmail for iOS - Troubleshooting Steps

If you receive an "Authentication Failed" error while trying to add your email account in Airmail for iOS, this usually means that the credentials or the connection method are not being accepted by your email provider.

This article describes the most common causes and the recommended steps to resolve the issue.

Common causes

• The wrong setup option was selected ("Other" instead of the dedicated provider option).
• - Two-factor authentication is enabled on the account, which requires an app-specific password instead of the regular password.
• - The email address or password contains a typo or extra spaces.
• - A temporary network issue is preventing the device from reaching the email server.
• - The provider has revoked the previous authorization (typical when the device or password has changed).

Recommended troubleshooting steps

1. Check your internet connection. Make sure your iPhone or iPad has a stable connection. If possible, try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data and try again.
2. Use the official provider option. When adding the account, select the dedicated provider button (Google, Microsoft / Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo) instead of "Other". This will open a secure sign-in page in your browser and use OAuth, which avoids manual server settings.
3. Use an app-specific password if required. If your account has two-factor authentication enabled, generate an app-specific password from the security page of your email provider and use it in place of your normal password. This is required for Yahoo, iCloud, and many Gmail or custom IMAP setups.
4. Verify your credentials. Re-enter your email address and password making sure there are no extra spaces and that the email address is typed correctly.
5. Restart Airmail. Swipe Airmail away from the App Switcher and reopen it before retrying the setup.
6. Re-add the account. If the account was previously added, remove it from Airmail and add it again from scratch using the steps above.
7. Update Airmail. Make sure you are using the latest version of Airmail from the App Store. Updates often include fixes for provider authentication changes.

Still not working?

If the problem persists after following the steps above, please contact our support team with the following details so we can investigate further:

• The email provider you are trying to add (Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo, custom domain, etc.)
• - The iOS version on your device
• - The exact Airmail version installed
• - A screenshot of the error message

Airmail is distributed through the Apple App Store and runs in a sandboxed environment, which means we rely on the standard authentication flows offered by Apple and the email providers. Following the steps above resolves the vast majority of authentication issues without any further action.

Updated on: 05/10/2026