Mail not working on iPhone after iOS 18 Update

Hello, somehow, self-signed certificates don't work anymore (even though they could be trusted before and most likely adhere to the requirements).

I was able to provide MDM payload with a Step-CA root certificate, its intermediate certificate and the signed certificate of the mailserver - it seems to be important that the chain of trust be completely working, including working DNS and alt name of the host. With iOS18.0.1, i have my mail back working.

If there are other bugs (like Prefixes on IMAP paths) i don't know, but i did not experience them and by looking in the SMTP/IMAP server logs, i was confirmed enough that TLS did not work.

Correct. The problems were created with very much tightened email security measures (need for which was prompted by nefarious international hackers) unevenly implemented across programmers and service providers. I’m sure they are still working their way through the necessary fixes but it is best for everyone notify their own relevant providers/companies.

This is driving me nuts. Bug is still there in 8.1b6. I submitted feedback on Apple’s main feedback page. I also shared feedback on Apple’s feedback app on the 18.1b6 device. This is beyond infuriating

I was able to temporarily fix my email issue. Instead of creating my email accounts as IMAP, I made them POP3 accounts.

It sucks because my emails won’t sync with my Mac email but at least I’m getting mail on my phone.

I hope Apple will get this fixed soon because there are many people having issues with the Mail app since iOS 18 was released.

It seems that after EVERY UPDATE there is a new “glitch”. (I’m scared to even get an update now!)

I can access my different email accounts individually but when I try “All I boxes” all I get is my screen flashing and it keeps saying “connecting” at the bottom - sometimes for more than an hour - I’VE TRIED!!!

Im technologically challenged so hopefully there is a simple walk through soon on how to actually fix it.

My only workaround is looking at each individual email - SO FRUSTRATING !!!

So, I have had three 90 minute sessions with Apple support, initially on-line then at the Genius Bar and then next level support by phone from the Bar. None acknowledged an issue with iOS 18 and ended up blaming my ISP. I have deleted and re-entered the email account maybe 20 times under “support” or “””genius””” direction. I want to see an acknowledgment that iOS18.?.? Fixes this issue before investing mote of my life in this vexing and apparently trivial issue. Quite appalling effort from Apple.

Out of curiosity, has any spoken to an Apple tech? To my knowledge, Apple has not officially acknowledged a problem ....

I suspect people may be having different symptoms due to their phone configuration and obviously some never had the problem. I have posted this before, but below is how I resolved the issue on my phone:

 - Go to your phone …

 - Go to Settings … scroll all the way down to Apps …

 - Go specifically to: Settings>Apps>Mail>Mail Accounts>Select your mail account>Account Settings>Advanced

 - In the group “INCOMING SETTINGS,” the second line should read: "IMAP Path Prefix /“

 - You may notice the forward slash “/“ is grayed out and not the same contrast as the three words prior.

 - Type a forward backslash “/“ next to the grayed out /

 - Now delete the grayed out forward backslash “/“ - Just tap to the left of the new backslash you typed and backspace to delete the grayed out backslash.

 - Finally, perform a hard reboot of your phone in the following order: 1. Press and release the left outside volume up button. 2. Press and release the left outside volume down button. 3. Press and HOLD the right outside power button UNTIL the phone shuts down, restarts AND you see the Apple. DO NOT slide the power down “slide button” during the shutdown. Keep your finger on the power button UNTIL you see the Apple upon restart.

Mail from the same Mail server works on my other devices using a different mail client without all the Voodoo and secret decoder rings. Apple just needs to look at it so they can fix their bug. This is their own message board, so they should also be reading this thread. Maybe they're waiting for us to figure it out so they can fix it?

I do not think that this solves all our cases. Maybe some.

If that would be the answer (on the provider side and not on Apple side) then how do you explain the fact that I have two e-mail accounts with the same provider and only one has problems?

They are both configured in the same way, one functions with Apple Mail, but the other not.

I do not think that my provider needs to modify whatsoever. Moreover, the problematic account was not problematic before the update and is not problematic with Outlook or Spark.

I am so absolutely disgusted with Apple. I just received my brand new Iphone 16 pro max 1 T and mail doesn't work and nor does the share location map on my messages app for those who have shared their location with me. Works on my other devices. I have been an apple user since for decades. It's time for me to start looking else where. Almost $2000 for this device. Apple is not good!

I am still unable to collect email on my iPhone whilst it works perfectly with identical settings on my MacBook. This is incredibly frustrating as I’m out and about a lot so rely on my phone for emails. I tried the slash in IMAP field but that hasn’t improved things for me. I’ve deleted and recreated my email accounts several times with no joy.

Seems to be taking a long time for Apple to resolve this. Beginning to lose faith in Apple and certainly wish I hadn’t updated iOS. Anyone know if there is a fix imminent?

Thanks

polkamatic wrote:

WHOA…. This evening, my iPhone (18.1) started getting mail from my IMAP account. It started around 9:40 central time. It has so far updated and gotten new mail a couple times since — it seems like it is going really slow or delayed, but it IS grabbing it. I checked my iPad (also 18.1) and was NOT getting anything new from that account.

…

well, as of this morning neither the iPhone nor the iPad fetched any new mail since 10 PM last night.

so now it’s an an even stranger bug. Why’d it work momentarily? It’s back to nothing new despite that account getting about 60 new emails since then. None have appeared in the mail app.

Finally resolved with help from my email provider (names.co.uk). Posting in case this helps others.

I had always used mail server addresses as imap.(my domain) and smtp.(my domain). I had to change server addresses to the umbrella mail host (Unified Layers) who host for quite a number of different providers: us2.imap.mailhostbox.com and us2.smtp.mailhostbox.com with my username and password for login. This has resolved the problem on my iPhone.

MacBook still works using my domain name mail server addresses, for now at least 😁

One other thing, I don’t like the way Mail accounts are now within the Apps menu 🤨

No its not. Adding "/" makes no difference on my iPhone15 Pro. Still no iMAP connection - will move to AirMail. Works perfectly and their Customer Service is first rate. Apple ... writing Software in Mumbai is a disaster. Not only is the Apple Software degraded but Apple's Customer Service to bugs becomes non-existent! What do they do there all day? Drink tea??

THIS FIXED IT FOR ME!

I tried every possible fix and nothing helped. Then I came across your comment. I am from Germany and we have letters in our alphabet that are not included in ASCII. For example ä,ü,ö. I changed all the folder names in my webmail client that had these letters in them to something else. It immediately worked. I also send a couple of these mail and the immediately push in.

I hope this helps someone.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASCII

Go to Character set so see what's "allowed".

Thanks again for the idea - whoever had it!