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How to fix fetch mail not working issues on iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 for many users?

By: Author Alex Lim

Posted on

Categories Troubleshooting

Key Takeaways:

  • iOS 18 has bugs affecting Fetch Mail.
  • There’s no fix yet, but you can report the issue to Apple.
  • Consider switching to Push mail for now.

iOS 18 brought some exciting features, like changes to the Photos app, a new Calculator, and the introduction of a Password app. It also included tweaks to Control Center and a cool way to theme your home screen. However, it hasn’t been all good news. A handful of bugs came along, and one of the biggest headaches is with the Mail app. Specifically, users are facing issues with the Fetch mail option.

How Apple Mail Fetch Works

Apple Mail offers three different ways to get your emails:

  • Push: Emails arrive instantly, the moment they hit your inbox.
  • Fetch: Your iPhone grabs emails at intervals you set—every 15 minutes, for example.
  • Automatic: Emails are fetched only when your iPhone is charging and connected to WiFi.

Most users have Push as the default setting, but many prefer Fetch because it allows more control over how often their phone checks for new mail. The problem? Fetch isn’t working for a lot of people on iOS 18 and iPadOS 18.

Most users have Push as the default setting, but many prefer Fetch because it allows more control over how often their phone checks for new mail. The problem? Fetch isn’t working for a lot of people on iOS 18 and iPadOS 18.

What’s the Issue?

Many users report that the Mail app isn’t fetching emails at the set interval. You might still see the unread email count on the app icon, but when you open the app, the emails aren’t actually downloaded yet. Some users don’t even get the notification badge at all.

And this problem isn’t just on iPhones. People using iPads with iPadOS 18 are facing the same frustration.

Is There a Fix?

Not yet. At this moment, there’s no official fix from Apple, and the developers haven’t even acknowledged the issue publicly.

What Can You Do Now?

Here are a few things you can try:

  1. Delete and Re-add Your Email Account: Some users have attempted this, but results have been hit or miss. Still, it’s worth trying.
  2. Send Feedback to Apple: The more people report the problem, the faster Apple may act. You can do this by visiting apple.com/feedback.
  3. Use Push Instead: If you need emails urgently, switching to Push might be a temporary workaround until Apple releases a fix.

While it’s frustrating, getting Apple’s attention on bugs like this can speed up the process. Hopefully, a fix is around the corner.

Hang in there—Apple’s usually quick with updates, and this one should be resolved soon.