Gmail Email In Outbox Not Sending

Gmail Email Stuck in Outbox How to Fix ItHaving an email stuck in the Outbox can be frustrating, especially when you’re trying to send important messages. If you’re using Gmail and experiencing issues with emails not sending from your Outbox, you’re not alone. This problem can occur due to various reasons, such as network issues, account settings, or email size. In this guide, we will walk you through the possible causes and solutions to fix this issue.

Table of Contents

Why Do Emails Get Stuck in the Outbox?

Before diving into the solutions, it’s important to understand why emails might get stuck in the Outbox. Some common reasons include

Poor or No Internet Connection Without a stable internet connection, Gmail may fail to send emails, causing them to stay in the Outbox.
Large Attachments If your email contains large attachments that exceed Gmail’s size limit, the email may fail to send.
SMTP Server Issues Problems with Gmail’s outgoing mail server (SMTP) can prevent emails from being sent.
Incorrect Settings Misconfigured email settings, such as the outgoing mail server or authentication settings, may cause emails to fail.
Syncing Issues Sometimes, syncing problems between your device and Gmail’s servers can cause delays in sending emails.

How to Fix Gmail Emails Stuck in the Outbox

If you’re facing the issue of emails not sending from your Outbox, here are some steps to fix the problem

Step 1 Check Your Internet Connection

A slow or unstable internet connection is one of the most common reasons for emails to remain in the Outbox. To fix this, ensure that your device is connected to a reliable Wi-Fi network or cellular data.

Wi-Fi Issues If you are connected to Wi-Fi, try switching to a different network or restarting your router to improve the connection.
Mobile Data If you’re using mobile data, ensure you have a stable connection. If necessary, switch to Wi-Fi to improve your email sending capabilities.

Once you’ve ensured a stable connection, try resending the email from your Outbox.

Step 2 Check for Large Attachments

Emails with large attachments are more likely to get stuck in the Outbox, especially if the total size exceeds Gmail’s limit. Gmail allows attachments up to 25 MB. If your email exceeds this limit, it won’t send and will remain in the Outbox.

To resolve this

Reduce Attachment Size Compress the files or split the attachments into smaller chunks.
Use Google Drive If the attachment is too large, you can upload it to Google Drive and share the link in your email instead.

After addressing the size issue, try resending the email.

Step 3 Force a Resend of the Email

Sometimes, simply forcing Gmail to try sending the email again can solve the problem. Here’s how to do it

On Desktop Open Gmail and go to your Outbox folder. Click on the email that is stuck and press the ‘Send’ button again.
On Mobile Open your Gmail app and go to the ‘Outbox’ folder. Tap on the email that is stuck, then tap the ‘Send’ button to try resending it.

If the issue is network-related or temporary, this may successfully resolve the problem.

Step 4 Clear Gmail App Cache (For Mobile Users)

For mobile users, Gmail app issues can sometimes be resolved by clearing the cache. This step can help resolve syncing problems that may be causing emails to stay in the Outbox.

Here’s how to clear the Gmail app cache

For Android
1. Go to Settings on your device.
2. Scroll down and tap on Apps or Apps & Notifications.
3. Find and select the Gmail app.
4. Tap on Storage and select Clear Cache.
For iOS Unfortunately, iOS doesn’t allow users to clear cache directly. However, you can try reinstalling the Gmail app to resolve any app-related issues.

After clearing the cache, open Gmail and try resending the email.

Step 5 Check Gmail’s Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP)

If Gmail is still not sending your email, it could be due to a problem with your outgoing mail server settings. Make sure your SMTP settings are correctly configured, especially if you’re using an email client like Microsoft Outlook or Apple Mail.

For Gmail, the correct SMTP settings are

SMTP Server smtp.gmail.com
Port 465 (SSL) or 587 (TLS)
Authentication Required (use your Gmail username and password)

If you’re using a third-party email client, ensure these settings are correctly inputted. If you’re unsure, you can try sending emails directly from Gmail’s web interface to bypass potential client configuration issues.

Step 6 Disable ‘Offline Mode’ (For Desktop Users)

Gmail has an offline mode that allows you to access and compose emails when you’re not connected to the internet. However, if your email was composed while in offline mode, it may get stuck in the Outbox once you’re reconnected.

To fix this, disable offline mode in Gmail

Open Gmail on your desktop.
Click on the gear icon and select See all settings.
Go to the Offline tab.
Uncheck the box for Enable offline mail.

Once offline mode is disabled, try resending the email.

Step 7 Use the Gmail Web Version

If you’re using an email client or a mobile app, and emails are stuck in the Outbox, it might be helpful to log into Gmail directly through a web browser. The web version of Gmail is less likely to experience syncing or configuration issues compared to third-party apps.

Once logged in, go to your Outbox, select the email, and hit the Send button again.

Additional Tips to Prevent Emails from Getting Stuck in the Outbox

While the above steps should help resolve the issue, here are some additional tips to prevent emails from getting stuck in the future

Keep Your Gmail Updated Ensure that your Gmail app (on mobile) and browser (on desktop) are both up-to-date. Updates can fix bugs and improve overall performance.
Check for Gmail Outages Occasionally, Gmail may experience server outages that can affect email sending. You can check the Google Workspace Status Dashboard to see if there are any ongoing issues.
Use a Different Email Client If you’re using a third-party email client, consider switching to Gmail’s official app or web interface to avoid configuration issues.

If you’re experiencing issues with emails getting stuck in the Outbox on Gmail, there are several steps you can take to fix it. Whether it’s checking your internet connection, resizing large attachments, clearing the cache, or adjusting email settings, you can troubleshoot and resolve the issue. By following these steps, you can get your Gmail working smoothly again and ensure your emails are sent without any hiccups.