iOS 18.3.2: Email notifications not working

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With iOS 18.3.2 and iPadOS 18.3.2, Apple originally intended to fix bugs and close security vulnerabilities. However, since the release of the update, reports of problems with email notifications have been increasing. Many users complain that push notifications for new emails are either delayed or don't appear at all. This affects both iPhones and iPads, as well as various email services.

Numerous users are reporting the same issues in Apple's support forums and on social media platforms. Anyone who relies on reliable email synchronization currently faces a serious problem. Apple itself has not yet commented on the incidents, and a quick solution is not in sight.

Problems with push notifications

After updating to iOS 18.3.2, many users are finding that their mail notifications are no longer working reliably. Emails are delivered, but there is no push notification. Some users report a significant delay, while others fail to receive notifications at all. In Apple's support forum, one user describes that the push function in Apple Mail no longer works on both iPhone and iPad. Another user confirms the issue and mentions that it occurs with both iCloud Mail and Exchange accounts.

Various email services affected

The problem does not appear to be limited to a specific provider. It affects iCloud Mail, Exchange, and Fastmail. This suggests that the error is not related to the email services themselves, but rather to the update to iOS 18.3.2. Interestingly, only iPhones and iPads are affected. Mac users who installed macOS Sequoia 15.3.2, which was released at the same time, are not reporting similar issues. This suggests that the cause lies within the mobile operating systems (via Apple Support Forum).

Possible causes and affected devices

It's still unclear why the push notifications are no longer working reliably. What is certain, however, is that the issue is occurring on various devices. Affected users are reporting difficulties with the iPhone 16, iPhone 12, and various iPad models.

Possible solutions

Until Apple releases a fix, affected users are left with no choice but to search for solutions themselves. Some workarounds can help circumvent the missing push notifications, at least temporarily.

Manually refresh the Mail app by swiping down
Switch to hourly synchronization instead of push under “Settings” > “Mail” > “Accounts”
Restart the device
Remove and re-add the affected email account

There is no official solution from Apple yet. It's unclear whether and when a fix will be released in the form of a further update.

iOS 18.3.2 now available – Why the update is so important

Email bug after iOS 18.3.2: Users must be patient

The update to iOS 18.3.2 was supposed to fix existing bugs, but instead caused new problems. The bug is particularly annoying for users who rely on push notifications for emails. Until Apple fixes the issue, the only option is to use the workarounds mentioned above. Those affected should keep an eye on Apple's support forums and hope for an update soon. (Image: Apple)

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