How to Fix "This Message Has Not Been Downloaded" in Apple Mail

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Retrieve your emails so you can get back to business
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“This message has not been downloaded from the server” is an error message that most commonly occurs on Apple devices in the Mail app. This is usually caused by an issue with the internet connection or a software problem. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to resolve this issue. This wikiHow article teaches you how to troubleshoot and fix the error message “This message has not been downloaded from the server.”

Fix “This Message Has Not Been Downloaded…”

Check your internet connection and make sure airplane mode is off. Restart the Mail app and/or your device. Enable five lines in the Preview settings, and make sure Fetch is enabled. Disable Privacy Protection, remove and re-add your email account, and turn off your VPN.

Section 1 of 2:

What it Means

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  1. "This message has not been downloaded from the server" on your iPhone or iPad usually indicates a problem with your internet connection, but it may also mean the mail server you are using is having a problem. There could also be a problem with your settings. Regardless of the cause of the error, there is usually an easy fix.
    • This error message typically occurs in the Mail app on Apple devices. However, you may see it on Outlook for Windows.
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Section 2 of 2:

How to Fix "This Message Has Not Been Downloaded"

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  1. An unstable internet connection could lead to your messages not downloading from the server. If you are connected to mobile data, try connecting to Wi-Fi instead to see if the messages will download. If you are connected to Wi-Fi, try restarting your router. See if you are experiencing problems with any other internet apps. If there is a problem with your internet connection, contact your service provider to find out if there is an outage in your area.
    • According to computer and tech specialist Luigi Oppido, unplugging the router for 30 seconds, plugging it back in, and allowing it to boot for about five minutes will often clear up internet problems.
  2. 2
    Make sure airplane mode is turned off. If airplane mode is turned on, your iPhone or iPad will not be able to download new messages from the internet. To check if airplane mode is turned on, swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen to open the Control Center. If the icon that resembles an airplane is orange, tap it to turn airplane mode off.
    • If airplane mode is already off, turn it on, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back off. This will help re-establish an internet connection.
  3. 3
    Refresh the Mail app. The Mail app may not be refreshing. Go to your inbox in the Mail app and swipe down from the top of the screen. This will refresh your inbox and load any recent emails. See if this fixes the problem.
  4. 4
    Set Mail preview to 5 lines. Enabling a 5-line preview allows the Mail app to download more of the message from the server as a preview. This reduces the odds of errors occurring. Use the following steps to set the preview to 5 lines:
    • Open the Settings app.
    • Tap Mail .
    • Tap Preview .
    • Tap 5 Lines .
  5. 5
    Restart the Mail app. There may be a glitch with the Mail app. To restart the Mail app, swipe up from the bottom of the screen halfway and release to open the App Switcher carousel. Swipe left or right until you see the Mail app, then swipe up on the Mail app to close it. Once closed, tap the Mail app icon on your home screen to re-open it. See if the problem continues.
    • If you have an older iPhone or iPad model with a Home button, double-tap the home button to bring up the App Switcher carousel instead.
  6. 6
    Enable Fetch. The Mail app may not be implementing Push properly. Enabling Fetch will ensure the client continues to ask for mail. Use the following steps to ensure Fetch is enabled:
    • Open the Settings app.
    • Tap Mail .
    • Tap Accounts .
    • Tap Fetch New Data.
    • Ensure Push is enabled.
    • Select Automatically
  7. 7
    Delete and re-add your email account. There may be a problem with your Mail settings. You may be able to fix problems with the mail app by deleting and re-adding your Mail account. Use the following steps to do so:
    • Open the Settings app.
    • Tap Passwords & accounts .
    • Select the account you’re having issues with.
    • Tap Delete account .
    • Tap Delete in the pop-up menu.
    • Tap Add account .
    • Choose the account type.
    • Enter your email address and username.
      • If you have multiple accounts, you may need to enable Fetch for all of them.
    • Restart your iPhone or iPad.
  8. 8
    Restart your device. There may be a glitch with your iPhone or iPad. You can fix many minor glitches by restarting your device. Use one of the following steps to do so: [1]
    • iPhone X and later: Press and hold the side button and the Volume Down button until the Power Off slider bar appears. Tap and drag the Power Off slider to turn it off. Wait 30 seconds and press the side button to power it back on.
    • iPhone 6 through 8, SE 2 & 3: Press and hold the Side button on the right until the Power Off slider appears. Tap and drag the Power Off slider to turn your phone off. Wait 30 seconds and press the side button to power it back on.
    • iPhone 5S and earlier, SE 1: Press and hold the top button until the Power Off slider appears. Tag and drag the power off slider to power off your iPhone. Wait 30 seconds and press the top button to turn it back on.
  9. 9
    Disable your VPN. Your VPN may be interfering with the Mail app, preventing messages from downloading from the server. Open your VPN app and disconnect from the server, or use the following steps to disable a VPN on iPhone and iPad:
    • Open the Settings app.
    • Tap General .
    • Tap VPN & device management .
    • Tap VPN .
    • Tap the toggle switch next to VPN Status .
  10. 10
    Check the mail server status. The server may be temporarily down. If you are using Apple Mail, you can check the server status for various Apple services on Apple's System Status page . Make sure iCloud services, particularly iCloud Account & Sign In, iCloud Mail, iCloud Web Apps, and Mail Drop, are up and running. If you are using a third-party email service, you can check the server status using a website like DownDetector or the web page of your email service provider.
  11. 11
    Update your iPhone or iPad. iOS may be outdated. Keeping your device up to date helps it run more smoothly. It patches out any known bugs and security flaws. Use the following steps to update your iPhone or iPad:
    • Open the Settings app.
    • Tap General .
    • Tap Software update .
    • Tap Download and install if an update is available.
  12. 12
    Disable Mail Privacy Protection. Mail Privacy Protection may be interfering with your Mail. If you suspect Mail Privacy Protection may be interfering with your Mail app, use the following steps to disable it:
    • Open the Settings app.
    • Tap Mail .
    • Tap Privacy Protection .
    • Tap the toggle switch next to Protect Mail Activity .
  13. 13
    Check your email storage capacity. Your email storage may be full. If you are using Apple Mail, check your iCloud storage and make sure your storage capacity isn’t full. If you are using a different email provider, check your storage status in your account settings. If your storage capacity is full, you may need to delete some emails or purchase more storage space.
  14. There may be a problem with your account or settings. If you continue to experience this problem after you’ve tried everything, contact your email service provider. There may be a problem with your account that needs resolving. Additionally, if you are using a third-party email service, there may be specific settings that need to be applied to get your account to work with the Mail app, or there may be restrictions that prevent you from using the Mail app. Customer service can walk you through setting that up.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/118259

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