Inbox Stopped Downloading New Messages — IMAP Sync Fix

<h2>Problem</h2><p>Airmail suddenly stops receiving new emails. Your inbox is not updating, even though emails appear when you check via webmail.</p><h2>Solution</h2><h3>Step 1: Check for Connection Errors</h3><ol><li>Look at the sidebar — is there a <strong>red circle</strong> next to your account?</li><li>If yes, there's a connection or authentication issue</li><li>Try clicking on the account to re-authenticate</li></ol><h3>Step 2: Enable Real-Time Inbox Monitoring</h3><ol><li>Go to <strong>Settings → Real Time Inbox Monitoring</strong></li><li>Make sure it's <strong>enabled</strong> for the affected account</li></ol><h3>Step 3: Refresh Manually</h3><ul><li><strong>Mac</strong>: Press <strong>Cmd+Shift+N</strong> or click the refresh icon</li><li><strong>iOS</strong>: Pull down on the inbox to refresh</li></ul><h3>Step 4: Re-authenticate the Account</h3><ol><li>Go to <strong>Settings → Accounts</strong></li><li>Select the affected account</li><li>For Gmail/Outlook: Try re-signing in (the OAuth token may have expired)</li><li>For IMAP: Verify your password and server settings haven't changed</li></ol><h3>Step 5: Remove and Re-add the Account</h3><p>If nothing else works:</p><ol><li>Remove the account from Airmail Settings</li><li>Restart Airmail</li><li>Add the account again</li></ol><p><strong>Note:</strong> Removing an account from Airmail does NOT delete your emails — they're stored on the server.</p>

Updated on: 03/28/2026