How to Set up Push Gmail in iPhone Mail

Have your Gmail messages sent to your iPhone automatically

What to Know

  • Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account. Choose your client; enter the email address and other info.
  • Return to the Accounts screen, select Fetch New Data, and enable Push. Ensure Gmail has Fetch next to it.
  • In the Fetch section, select Automatically to receive emails sent to your account as quickly as possible. 

This article explains how to receive Gmail messages in the Mail app for iOS. How you set up the Mail app to receive and manage Gmail differs slightly depending on whether you have a free Gmail or paid Exchange account.

How to Set up Push Gmail Exchange Account in iPhone Mail

Paid Exchange accounts are primarily business accounts. To add Gmail as a push Exchange account to iPhone Mail:

  1. Tap Settings on the iPhone Home screen.

  2. Select Mail > Accounts.

  3. Choose Add Account.

  4. Select Microsoft Exchange from the options presented.

    iOS Push Access Microsoft Exchange
  5. Enter your Gmail address in the Email field. Optionally, add a description in the field provided. Tap Next.

  6. In the next window, select either Sign In or Configure Manually and follow the prompts.

  7. Enter the information requested on the screen to set up your Exchange account, and then tap Next.

    Gmail setup in iOS Mail with fields, next, and configuration options highlighted
  8. Indicate which Exchange folders you want to push to iPhone Mail and how many previous days' messages you want to sync.

  9. Return to the Accounts screen. Tap Fetch New Data, and slide Push to the on (green) position.

  10. Confirm that the Exchange account says Push or Fetch next to it.

  11. At the bottom of the screen, select Automatically in the Fetch section to receive the email sent to your email account as quickly as possible.

Set up Push Gmail in the iPhone Mail App

You can also add a free Gmail account to iPhone Mail. It will be assigned a separate inbox.

  1. Tap Settings on the iPhone Home screen.

  2. Select Mail > Accounts.

  3. Tap Add Account.

  4. Select Google from the options presented.

    iOS Push Gmail Access Google

    You may see a message that Settings wants to use Google.com to sign in. Tap Continue to proceed.

  5. Enter your Gmail address (or phone number) in the field provided. Tap Next.

    If you're already signed in to Google accounts on your device, you'll be asked to choose an account. Tap an account to continue.

  6. Enter your Gmail password in the field provided. Tap Next.

  7. Slide Mail to the on position (green). Indicate which Gmail folders you want to push to iPhone Mail (Contacts, Calendars, and Notes are options).

  8. Tap Save.

  9. Return to the Accounts & Passwords screen and tap Fetch New Data.

  10. Tap Push to turn it to the on position (green). Confirm that the Gmail account says Push or Fetch next to it.

  11. At the bottom of the same screen, select Automatically in the Fetch section to receive the email sent to your email account as quickly as possible.

    iPhone accounts adding Gmail with options, Fetch New Data, Push, and Automatically highlighted

iOS versions earlier than iOS 11 didn't have the Automatically option. You had to select from the other options, the shortest of which was Every 15 Minutes.

Gmail Alternatives

If you use iOS 8.0 or later on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you can use the free Gmail app from the App Store instead of configuring the Mail app. The app is easy to set up and offers a range of features that aren't available in the Mail app. The official Gmail app supplies real-time notifications and offers multiple account support. Other features include:

  • Undo Send capability.
  • Ability to switch between multiple accounts.
  • Swift notification of new email by notification or badge.
  • Response capability to Google Calendar invitations from the app.
  • Fast email search with predictions as you type and spelling suggestions.
FAQ
  • How do I add an email to an iPhone?

    To add another email account to your iPhone, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account. Choose the type of account or email client you want to add and follow the setup prompts.

  • How do I change the email password on iPhone?

    Open the iPhone Settings app and select Passwords. Find the email account whose password you want to change and select Edit. Replace your current password with a new password and tap Done.

  • How do I delete an email account on an iPhone?

    To delete an email account on your iPhone, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts. Select the email account you want to remove and tap Delete Account. Select Delete Account to confirm.

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