Unofficial archive. This is a read-only, community-run archive of the Apple Support Community. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple Inc.

iPhone 14 not receiving email

Hi - iPhone 14 suddenly not receiving emails on the phone (but they are coming over on my computer): "Cannot Get Mail, the mail server imap.gmail.com is not responding. Verify ... entered the correct account info in Mail Settings.. Server code: Authentication Failed ... invalid credentials." I go to Mail App and have looked at Settings too, but I'm stumped - cannot find the spot to see if something can be adjusted. P.S. I have the most recent IOS update. Thank you!

3 replies

If you are on iOS Mail app and have two step verification enabled on Google account.



Please check your email account to confirm that two-step verification is enabled and that the application generation process is app-specific. If so, follow the instructions provided.





An app-specific password is a unique password generated by a service provider, such as Apple or Google, that allows you to grant access to a specific application or service without using your main account password. It is typically used when you want to use a third-party app or service that requires access to your account but doesn't support the usual authentication methods, like two-factor authentication.


Here's how an app-specific password differs from your email password:


  1. Purpose: Your email password is used to access your email account directly through email clients or webmail interfaces. It allows you to read, send, and manage your emails. On the other hand, an app-specific password is used to grant access to a specific app or service that requires access to your account, but doesn't support standard authentication methods.
  2. Security: App-specific passwords are designed to enhance security by limiting access to specific applications or services. They are generated for individual apps or services, and if compromised, they can be revoked without affecting your main account password. In contrast, your email password is the primary key to access your email account, and if it's compromised, an attacker could gain unauthorized access to your emails and potentially other account-related information.
  3. Management: App-specific passwords are typically managed separately from your main account password. Service providers like Apple or Google allow you to generate, view, and manage app-specific passwords through their account management interfaces. These passwords can be created, revoked, or regenerated as needed. Your email password, on the other hand, is managed directly through your email service's account settings.
  4. Limitations: App-specific passwords have limitations to ensure security. They are usually one-time-use passwords, meaning that once you enter them in an app or service, you may not need to remember them or enter them again. Some service providers also impose restrictions on the number of app-specific passwords you can generate or the duration of their validity. Email passwords, on the other hand, remain consistent until you decide to change them.


It's important to note that not all service providers offer app-specific passwords, and their availability and implementation may vary across different platforms and applications. If you need to grant access to a third-party app or service and are unsure about the authentication requirements, it's recommended to check the documentation or support resources provided by the service provider for specific instructions.


Thank you but I've not enable two-step authentication on anything.

I'm working now with an Apple Support on Chat and I think we're getting closer! Appreciate your assistance, however.