What's this about? Is your AOL email slow to update on your iPhone? I'll tell you why it happens and how to get it working again, step by step. You can usually fix this in minutes, and you don't need to be a tech expert.
New emails don't show up on their own.
Your inbox only changes when you refresh it yourself.
Notifications are late.
You see old emails, but not the newest ones.
This usually means your iPhone isn't grabbing new info from AOL in the background.
Syncing just means your account is linked. Updating is when you get new emails automatically. Your AOL account might be synced fine but still not update because of your iPhone's settings.
If Push is off, or Fetch is set to manual, your email won't update on its own.
A weak Wi-Fi signal can stop updates.
If you change your AOL password, your iPhone might stop updating until you enter the new password.
If Low Power Mode is on, or if Background App Refresh is off, email updates might pause.
Old versions of iOS can have issues with AOL's security stuff.
Sometimes, it's just a problem on AOL's end, and it fixes itself.
Open Safari and go to a few websites. Try both Wi-Fi and your phone's data.
See if AOL is having problems. Check their help page.
This can fix small problems that stop email updates.
Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > AOL.
Make sure Mail is turned ON.
Settings > Mail > Accounts > Fetch New Data
Turn Push ON.
Set Fetch to Automatically.
This is the most important thing to check!
Go to Settings > General > Software Update and grab the newest version of iOS.
Settings > Mail > Accounts > AOL
Tap Account
Type in your password again and save.
If it's still not working:
Delete the AOL account.
Restart your iPhone.
Add the AOL account again.
Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings
This can fix hidden internet problems (but you'll have to re-enter your Wi-Fi passwords).
Make sure these are correct:
IMAP: imap.aol.com (Port 993, SSL turned on)
SMTP: smtp.aol.com (Port 465 or 587, SSL turned on)
A bad port number will stop updates. You can check the correct settings here: https://help.aol.com
If Apple Mail is being slow, the AOL Mail app might work better because it's made for AOL.
1. Why does my AOL email only update when I open the app?
Push is off, or Fetch is on manual.
2. Does Low Power Mode stop email updates?
Yep, it slows down background stuff.
3. Can iPhone updates mess up AOL email?
Sometimes, but it usually fixes itself.
4. Will deleting my AOL account delete my emails?
No, they stay on AOL's servers.
5. Is the AOL Mail app better for updates?
Lots of people find it more reliable.
6. What if it STILL doesn't update?
Call AOL Support or use the AOL Mail app.
It's annoying when your email doesn't update right away, but it's usually fixable. Most of the time, it's about your Fetch settings or something turned off in the background. Follow these steps, and you should be back to getting your AOL emails in real-time!