Gmail Account Not Working on Mac: Troubleshooting Guide

If you use Gmail as your primary email account, and you've set it up in the macOS Mail app, chances are you may encounter a “Gmail won’t load” error on  your device. While this setup generally works well for most users, there may be instances where your Mac Mail does not display all your Gmail emails. In this article, we’ll guide you through some effective fixes to address this problem.

Why won’t my Gmail load Gmail won't load?

There are several potential reasons why some of your Gmail not loading, or appearing in the Mac Mail app. We've identified four main causes, and each can be resolved with a few simple steps.

 

• Email server problems

• Unstable or poor internet connection

• Incorrect IMAP settings in Gmail

• Outdated Mail app version

Gmail Won’t Load: Troubleshooting Steps 

To resolve the issue of Gmail Not Loading in your Mac gmail app, you can follow these steps:

 

Restart your Mac device

Begin by restarting your computer, as this can often resolve hardware and software-related issues, including Mac Mail's failure to display all Gmail emails.

Update macOS

If you haven't been keeping up with macOS updates, now is an opportune time to start. It's crucial to regularly update your Mac's operating system. To install the latest updates, navigate to System Settings > General > Software Update. If you're not yet running macOS Ventura, you'll find this option in System Preferences.

 

Check Mail app on your iPhone

Try accessing the Mail app on your iPhone to verify if all your Gmail messages appear there. If your iPhone displays all the messages correctly, the problem likely lies with the Mac Mail app, not your Gmail account.

 

Advanced Troubleshooting for Mail App

After completing the basic steps mentioned above, let's explore more advanced troubleshooting techniques. These additional steps are recommended by Apple for situations where you can't send or receive emails on your Mac.

 

Check for status icons

Find the  status icons on your email. If you spot a status icon, click on it and follow the corresponding steps based on the information provided.

• If the status indicates "Network is Offline," check your internet connection and then reopen the Mail app.

• If the status states "Login Failed," verify that your Gmail account is correctly set up in the Mac Mail app.

• If the Mail app rejects your password, review your Gmail account's password settings.

• If Gmail is experiencing a temporary outage, check Gmail's status for any relevant messages.

 

You can also utilize Apple Mail's Connection Doctor to gather more information about login failures or network issues.

 

Adjust Gmail security settings

Improper IMAP settings can cause problems with Mac Mail displaying all Gmail emails. To ensure your Gmail messages appear correctly in Mac Mail, follow these steps:

• Open any web browser and visit https://mail.google.com/

• Go to the "Settings" , and from here, click on the "See all settings" option. 

• Next, navigate to the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tabs.

• In the "IMAP access" section, choose "Enable IMAP."

• Finally, click on "Save Changes."

 

Alternatively, you may consider using practical software like Mailbird, which simplifies the email experience by allowing you to sync emails and contacts from multiple accounts into a single inbox.

 

Delete and manually set up your Gmail account

If the above steps didn't resolve the Gmail not loading issue in your Mac Mail app, you can try deleting your Gmail account and setting it up again manually. 

• To remove your Gmail account, go to Mail > Settings > Select Gmail > Remove.

• To add your Gmail account back to the Mac Mail app, navigate to Mail > Add Account > Select Google > Enter Required Account Information.

Hopefully, after following the above troubleshooting steps, you will be able to fix the Gmail won’t load error. In case you still encounter an issue, do not hesitate to contact the experts and get a piece of advice.