How to fix Google Pixel 2 that cannot send or receive emails? [Troubleshooting Guide]

Email apps are there to let you send and receive emails on the go. For as long as you have your smartphone with you and that it is connected to the Internet, then you should be able to process emails anytime and anywhere. However, not all the time that you’ll be able to get your email app working perfectly fine as there are some factors that can inflict troubles with mobile email processing. This is when you will be unable to send or receive some emails on the phone.

What factors can cause email problems to occur and how to deal with them? If you have the same questions in mind with Google Pixel 2 as your device in use, then read on to learn more.

Before we proceed with our troubleshooting, if you have other concerns regarding your phone, visit our Google Pixel 2 troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most common issues with this device. Browse through the page to find issues that are similar with yours and feel free to use our solutions. If you still need our help, then contact us by completing our questionnaire.

Why does your Google Pixel 2 unable to send or receive emails?

There are many factors to consider when dealing with email problems on the phone. You will need to dig into details from the email servers, email account, email app, and the device itself. To make it quick, here are the things that you need to consider looking into when troubleshooting emails on your Google phone.

• Invalid recipient. The email account of the recipient might be incorrectly typed or doesn’t exist.
• Incorrect server settings. Your device has not been correctly setup for POP3 (personal) email or Exchange (corporate) email. You may need to contact your email service provider or IT personnel (for corporate email) to verify the server information.
• Email servers (incoming or outgoing mail server) are currently unavailable. There might be an ongoing server maintenance or unexpected technical problems on the email servers. You don’t need to troubleshoot unless instructed by your email service provider/carrier.
• Email app or email account is corrupted. Some bugs or malware might have infiltrated and ruined the email app or email account itself.

Generally, the probable causes are related to the software thus end-users are likely able to fix it on their end using any applicable workarounds.

Potential Solutions to email problems on Google Pixel 2

Enumerated below are generic solutions and recommended workarounds to deal with different types of email problems like unable to send or receive emails on the phone. Don’t forget to create a test email after completing each method to find out if the problem is fixed. Proceed to the next applicable solution if necessary.

Before you begin performing any of the following troubleshooting methods, check your mobile Internet connection and make sure that your device is connected. You can open your mobile app browser then try to navigate to a website. If you cannot connect to the Internet, then you need to fix your Internet problem first as it’s most likely the main reason why you cannot send or receive emails on your phone. If you can access any online sites without bumping into any trouble, then you’re good. Also try to sign into your webmail (the same email) account and see if everything is working fine and that you are able to send and receive emails normally as intended. Doing so will help you determine whether or not it is isolated to your email app on the phone. If everything is working fine with your webmail, then troubleshoot your mobile email problems with the following workarounds.

Verify and ensure that the email recipient is valid

Sometimes you’ll get to see an error prompt when trying to send an email to an invalid email address as recipient. So make sure it’s not just a typo error on your part. Or you can also try to create a test email then send it to other email address. If you have other email accounts, then use any of that account as recipient of the test email. If you are able to send and receive the email on your other email account, then the problem is isolated to the current recipient’s email address.

Quit email app then relaunch

There are times when an application experiences momentary downtimes and errors as triggered by minor glitches on the software. And problems of this type are usually rectified by restarting the glitching app. Just like what you usually do when any of your computer programs is misbehaving. Quit it and then re-open it. That will likewise give the app a fresh start and serve its purpose. For starters, here’s how to quit your email app on Google Pixel 2:

1. Tap the Arrow icon from the Home screen to view all apps.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap System.
4. Tap Developer Options.
5. If you don’t see Developer options from the System’s menu, go to Apps-> Settings-> System-> About phone-> then tap Build number 7 times. Tap the Back icon to return to the System’s menu and you should now see Developer options added among the menu option. Tap on it then continue to the next step.
6. Tap Running services.
7. Locate the email app that you want to quit.
8. Tap Stop.
9. If prompted with Stop system service? message, tap OK to confirm action.

Wait for about 30 seconds then open the email app again. Then try to create a test message to see if you are now able to send and receive emails properly. If not, then try the next method.

Reboot your phone

A reboot or soft reset process involves turning the device off for a few seconds then back on. It’s an effective simple solutions to minor software issues transpiring in mobile devices. None of your critical information stored on the device will be affected in this process, thus it is definitely safe. Here’s how a soft reset is done on your Google Pixel 2 device:

1. Press and hold the Power button on the right side.
2. Then tap Power off.

In the case where the device screen in unresponsive, a force restart would be necessary. To do so, press and hold the Power button for about 20 to 30 seconds or until the phone power cycles. No data will be affected by a force restart as well.

Once your device boots up completely, try to open the mail app then create a test mail to see if you are now able to send and receive it on the phone. Otherwise, proceed with the next method.

Verify that the server settings on your email client are correct and properly configured

Now this requires a little bit of information digging unless you already have the information written on your notes. If not, then you will need to contact your email service provider and gather the necessary information for your server settings. Information may vary depending on which type of email you are using, like whether it’s a personal email account (POP3) or corporate email account (Exchange).

Here’s how to troubleshoot a POP3 and IMAP account (personal email):

1. Verify if you have configured another device to receive emails.
2. Check your login credentials (username and password). You can use a computer to browser your webmail for testing.
3. Check to see if you can send and receive messages on the same email account through webmail.
4. Logout from your webmail account.
5. Check and make sure that your incoming and outgoing settings on your phone are using the same login credentials used in your webmail. Contact your email service provider for the correct settings configuration.

After making necessary changes to the server settings, send a test email message but this time from your mobile phone to see if it’s able to send. If you find no luck in any of the above steps, then you should consider the next option which is to reset the email application or reconfigure your email account on the phone.

Here’s how to troubleshoot an Exchange email account (corporate/work email):

1. Verify and ensure that your login credentials are correct.
2. Navigate to the Email settings and check if the Sync option is enabled.
3. Verify and ensure that the sync settings are correct.

Reboot your phone. After the reboot, create a test email to see if it’s now able to send or receive.

Reset the Email app on your Google Pixel 2

Assuming that the underlying cause of the problem is within the email app in use, resetting the app can help fix the glitch. You have to note though that this process will likewise reset all email accounts and erase all data from the email accounts on your device. If you’re okay with these downsides and still willing to give it a shot, then here’s how it’s done:

1. Navigate to your phone menu then tap Settings-> Applications-> Manage Applications-> All.
2. Locate and tap Email.
3. Tap the option to Clear Data. This will remove all data from the email app along with all other corrupted information that might have caused the app to glitch.

When done clearing data, re-enter your email account information. Reboot your device again then try to create a test mail using your email app on the phone.

Remove then add the email account on your device again

If the problem persists after doing all prior methods, then your next option and potential solution is to remove the account then add it again on your phone. This should eliminate any incorrect settings and corrupted data that might have triggered email sending or receiving problem to occur. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Tap Settings to open the app.
2. Tap Users & accounts.
3. Tap the email account you want to remove.
4. Tap the option to Remove account.
5. If prompted, enter your device’s pattern, PIN, or password for security purposes.

After the email account has been successfully deleted, reboot your phone then add the email account again. Here’s how to do so:

1. Tap Settings to open the app.
2. Tap Users & accounts.
3. Tap Add account.
4. Tap the type of account you want to add like Google, Personal (IMAP) or Personal (POP3), etc.
5. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the email account setup process.
6. If necessary, enter your device’s PIN, pattern or password for security.

Contact your email service provider or carrier if you need further assistance in setting up the email account especially with the server information.

Everything associated with that account such as email, contacts, and settings will also be deleted from your device upon removing the account. Create a test email afterwards to see if it’s already working properly. If it’s still not, then consider the last resort.

Factory reset your Google Pixel 2

If the problem is caused by complex problem on the device software, then a factory reset might be necessary. Please note though that while this reset will likely get the problem fixed, it will also erase everything from your device. This means you will lose all your critical data including settings, apps, media, and personal data. That being said, backup your device before you proceed with these steps:

1. Tap the Arrow Up icon from the Home screen to show all apps.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap System.
4. Tap Reset.
5. Tap Factory data reset.
6. Select the Reset Phone option.
7. If prompted, enter your current PIN, pattern, or password to continue.
8. Tap Erase Everything.

Your device will now reset. It could take longer to finish the reset especially if you have a lot of files stored on the device. Just wait until the reset is complete then proceed with the initial setup.

If nothing else works and you’re still unable to send or receive emails on your Google Pixel 2, then you should already escalate the problem to your service provider. You actually have more options here. You may opt to contact the support team of the email client you are using, service provider/carrier, or Google Support for further assistance and recommendations. Any of these supports groups likely has the tool to reset and fix your email account on their end.

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