Why My iCloud Email Isn’t Working?
There are several reasons why your iCloud email might not be working, with a common issue being a lack of storage in your iCloud account.
We'll discuss many potential reasons in this article. I'm Andrew, an ex-Mac administrator, and we will look deeper into possible problems with iCloud email and ways to fix them.
Shall we begin?
1. iCloud Services Are Unavailable
Occasionally, Apple's iCloud services may go offline. If your iCloud email isn't functioning, visit apple.com/support/systemstatus to see if there are any service interruptions.
Look up the status of iCloud Mail. Remember, issues with other iCloud services might also impact email. A green dot beside a service indicates it is operational and functioning correctly.
If the icon is not green, there is a problem with the service. Apple usually shares notes about the outage to give extra details.
Sadly, if Apple services are down, all you can do is wait for them to start working again. The positive side is that these outages don't happen often and usually don't last long when they do.
2. Your Device Is Not Connected to the Internet
iCloud Mail needs an internet connection to function, as do all email services.
Check if your device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi or mobile network. You can test this by opening a browser like Safari and trying to visit a website. If this doesn't work, make sure your Wi-Fi or mobile data connection is active.
If possible, use another device to see if you can go online. This can help you determine if the issue is with your device or the network.
3. There's an Issue with Your iCloud Account
If Apple’s services are running smoothly and your internet connection is fine, you need to check if the problem with your iCloud email is related to your account or a specific device.
A simple way to check this is to go to iCloud.com/mail using an iPad, iPhone, Mac, or Windows device and click on Sign In.
Type in your Apple ID and password, then click the arrow to submit them. If asked, type in a verification code sent to a trusted device.
After you're verified, you can start sending and receiving emails through the web interface.
If you can't use your iCloud email at iCloud.com, the issue is with your account and not just one client or device. Here are some potential reasons.
Your iCloud storage is at capacity.
When your iCloud storage is maxed out, you can't send or receive emails with your iCloud account. Here's a way to check the available space in your iCloud account.
From iCloud.com:
- Click your account avatar in the upper right corner and select iCloud Settings.
- Click on Your iCloud Storage at the top of the page.
- See how much Free space is available in your account.
On an iPhone:
- Oen Settings.
- Click on your name.
- Click iCloud.
Your iCloud storage usage is shown at the top of the screen.
If your iCloud storage is full, you need to clear some space or buy more storage from Apple to keep using your iCloud email.
Your account credentials may have an issue.
If you can't log into iCloud.com, your account credentials might be the problem.
If your Apple ID is locked or disabled, you need to reset your password to get back in. You'll see a message about this when you try to log in. Click the link and follow the directions to continue.
If you forget your password, you can click on the “Forgot Apple ID or Password?” link on the sign-in screen to reset it.
If you're struggling to get a verification code, see our guide on iCloud verification codes for details. (Editors: if available, link to the article on Bypassing Two-Factor Authentication for iCloud).
4. Your Mail Client or Device Is Set Up Incorrectly
If you are able to send and receive email through iCloud.com, it means there might be a setup error or another software issue with your device or email client. Consider these potential issues:
iCloud Mail isn't activated.
To access iCloud Mail on the default Mail app, you need to turn it on. Here’s how to check if it's activated:
On an iPhone:
- Open the Settings app.
- Click on your name.
- Click on iCloud.
- Under APPS USING ICLOUD, find and click on iCloud Mail.
- Use the toggle switch next to “Use on this iPhone” to turn it on.
On a Mac:
- Open the System Settings app.
- Click your name.
- In the right pane, select iCloud Mail.
- Click Turn On, then click Done.
Mail push is turned off.
Mail push lets mobile devices get new emails immediately after they're sent, unlike having to refresh your inbox manually or setting it to automatically check for new emails at certain times.
If push is turned off for your iCloud email, you won't get new emails right away. This might make it seem like your email isn't working right. To turn on push, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app.
- Click on Mail.
- Click on Accounts.
- Tap Fetch New Data.
- Turn on the feature by tapping the toggle next to Push.
- Tap iCloud.
- Press Push.
Push won't work if Low Power Mode is on, so turn it off if you're checking push functions on your iCloud email account.
The Mail app is blocked from using mobile data.
You can prevent apps from using mobile data to save data. If mobile data is turned off for Mail, you can't send or receive emails unless you're connected to Wi-Fi.
Here's how to turn on mobile data for the Mail app on your iPhone:
- Open the Settings app.
- Click on Cellular.
- Scroll down to the CELLULAR DATA section and find Mail.
Apps are listed by how much data they use, from highest to lowest.
- Click the switch next to Mail to allow it to use data over a mobile connection.
Keep in mind that Mail can use a lot of data, so watch your usage if your plan is not unlimited.
Your device has a software issue.
Your device may have a software glitch that is blocking your email. Here are three steps you can take to fix the problem.
1. Restart your device.
To forcefully restart an iPhone, press and release the volume up button quickly, then the volume down button. Hold the sleep/wake button until the Apple logo appears.
After your iPhone restarts, check if your iCloud email is working.
To restart a Mac, click the Apple menu at the top left of the screen.
2. Reboot the iCloud email service.
At times, just restarting the iCloud Mail service might make your email function again.. Deactivate the service following the steps in the section on enabling iCloud mail, then reactivate it.
3. Update your software.
Look for any available software updates for your device and install them. These updates often include fixes for bugs that could be affecting your iCloud email.

Jim's passion for Apple products ignited in 2007 when Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone. This was a canon event in his life. Noticing a lack of iPad-focused content that is easy to understand even for “tech-noob”, he decided to create Tabletmonkeys in 2011.
Jim continues to share his expertise and passion for tablets, helping his audience as much as he can with his motto “One Swipe at a Time!”