This post highlights potential solutions to email setup error on the iPhone XS Max handset that seems to be bugging some users. While this could be a very annoying problem, it’s not really that serious and you may be able to fix it on your own without any help from a tech. Continue reading as this post highlights the things you can do to fix this problem.
Apple’s iPhone devices are designed to handle multiple email accounts either iCloud or from different email providers like Gmail, Yahoo, AOL and others. Thus, adding a new email on your device won’t take time as it can be done automatically during setup. In addition, correct email account settings will be used by your iOS during the setup process. Just be sure to enter your current email username and password. As easy as it seems, email set up problems are inevitable and therefore errors do occur. May it be a system issue, handset’s firmware or the setup process itself is at fault, this post will aid you in correcting the problem.
Before we move on to our troubleshooting, if you happen to find this post while looking for a solution to a different problem, then visit our iPhone XS Max Help Guides page for we have already addressed some of the most common issues with this device. We may have already published articles that could help you fix your problem. Find issues that are similar with yours and feel free to use our solutions.
What causes email setup error on your iPhone?
Slow internet connection and email server issues are some of the common factors that can hinder the email setup process. So whether you are using a mobile data or Wi-Fi network, make sure that network connection is not an issue. You might as well check your email provider’s website to verify if it’s experiencing some downtime. In this case, try to access your email via webmail and see if everything is working fine.
If the internet connection is excellent and there is no ongoing problem with the email server, then it’s likely due to some random software glitches on your phone. And this is when you need to troubleshoot your device. Here are the possible solutions for you to try.
Solution #1: Soft reset your iPhone to fix email setup error
The soft reset or reboot process will eventually delete cached files on your phone and minor system glitch that might have caused the problem. Doing so will also refresh your phone’s memory. Here is how it is done:
- Press and hold the Side button and either the Volume up/down buttons simultaneously for a few seconds.
- When the Slide to Power Off command appears, release both buttons.
- Drag the power off slider to the right.
- Then after 30 seconds, press and hold Side button again until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Once your phone is already back on, go to the Mail app and try adding the new email again. Note that if you are adding a third-party email account like Yahoo or Gmail, you have to make sure that you select the correct email provider. Once you have set up the email successfully, you will then be redirected to the Mail screen. However, if this is the first email that you set up on your iPhone, you will be routed to your email inbox.
ALSO READ: How to fix an Apple iPhone XS Max that’s stuck on white Apple logo
Solution #2: Refresh the internet connection to fix email setup error
The Mail app on your iPhone is among the apps that requires internet connection to become functional. Thus, slow or intermittent connection can also be the reason for the unsuccessful adding of new email process. To correct this problem, simply turn your Wi-Fi off and on again.
- From the Home screen, go to Settings.
- Select Wi-Fi.
- Toggle the Wi-Fi switch indicator to turn it off.
- Perform a soft reset on your phone while the Wi-Fi is off.
- Once the phone has turned back on, go back to Settings, then Wi-Fi and toggle the switch indicator to turn it ON again.
Otherwise, turn your data off and on if you are using your cellular data. You can do it directly through the Control Center. Just swipe your finger upward to launch the Control Center, and then tap the cellular data icon to turn it off/on. Alternatively, you can also do this same tweak by navigating your phone Settings–> Cellular menu and then tap the switch indicator to turn the feature off/on.
Solution #3: Manually add your email account.
Often times, users tend to do the usual way of setting up an email account on their iPhones which is automatic. While this saves you time from manually entering email server information, it can also give you some headache if some crucial details aren’t set or ruined by some system inconsistency. Thus, it is important to know the respective email settings for your email accounts so you can verify if the settings that are automatically entered during setup are correct. You can check your email settings using the Apple’s Look up settings which is available on their website, or you can directly contact your email service provider to obtain the correct information. If you have the correct email settings handy, then you can proceed retry setting the email manually instead. Here’s how it’s done:
- From the Home screen, go to Mail app.
- Then, tap your email provider.
- If the email provider isn’t available in the list, select Other and then tap Add Mail account.
- Enter your email username and password, and then tap Next.
- Select either IMAP or POP for the new email account. (This information can be acquired from your internet service provider).
- Type in the information for Incoming Mail Server and the Outgoing Mail Server.
- Make sure that the supplied information are correct and then tap Save to complete the process.
You will be prompted with a message asking to edit the email settings if you have supplied incorrect information. Should that happens, double check and validate your inputted server settings are correct. If there’s still an email setup error even after doing this procedure, then move on to the next solution.
Solution #4: Update iOS version to fix email setup error
This solution is recommended especially if the problem exists on all the email accounts that you have attempted to add or set up on your iPhone. Most likely, the problem is caused by some sort of malware in the Mail app or relevant services that can be corrected by doing an iOS software update. This process can be done through your phone’s settings:
- From the Home screen, go to Settings.
- Select General.
- Then tap on Software Update.
You will be prompted with the latest update when it’s available. Take time to read the update information. Once you agree with the terms and conditions, tap on Download and Install. Then follow the onscreen prompts to complete the update process. After the iOS update has been completed, retry to add your email and see if it will be successful. If there’s still and email setup error after this, try the next solution.
Solution #5: Reset all settings.
When you recently customized the settings on your phone, there might be some values on the settings that were changed and caused conflict with the Mail app settings on your iPhone. As it is hard to point out which settings value to correct, it is better to just reset all the settings back to its default. Here is how you reset all settings on your iPhone XS Max:
- From the Home screen, go to Settings.
- Select General.
- Tap on Reset.
- Enter the device code when prompted.
- Then, tap on Reset All Settings to complete the process.
Your iPhone will reboot itself after the process. Once it has boot up completely, it is now running with the default settings. Then, proceed on adding the email account. Make sure as well that you are already connected to a Wi-Fi network or the cellular data has already been enabled prior to doing the email set up process.
Still cannot add or set up new email on your iPhone?
If none of the given solutions above is able to correct the problem, then you can ask more help from your email service provider. You can ask a technical support representative to walk you through a step-by-step process of manually setting up email on your iPhone XS Max.
Or you may report the problem to Apple Support for further recommendations.
I hope that we’ve been able to help you fix the problem with your device. We would appreciate it if you helped us spread the word so please share this post if you found it helpful. Thank you so much for reading!
