Mail is very slow downloading in iOS 18

My mail worked fast until IOS 18---now it takes forever to update on iPhone 14 pro max. When I say slow like 5 minutes to download, really terrible. I can go on my MacBook pro and boom it loads much faster. Told apple and was told no one else complained. Boo hoo---I am telling you the truth and this needs to addressed!!!

For me this started with the update from 18.1.1 to 18.2.

Mail shows xx unread messages, then after a while Downloading xx mails, then nothing happens for a very very long time and then the mails occur.

I tried to reboot and even to delete and re-setup the accounts, both with no effect.

I use to small providers with „normal“ imap and smtp servers.

Since the iOS 18 update, my iPad takes forever to download email. I do not have that problem on my other Apple devices, which are not running that update.

I am begging Apple to please admit they have a problem and fix it.

Try this solution:

https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/2024/09/27/how-to-fix-apple-mail-imap-not-working-in-ios-18/

Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts > [Your IMAP Account] > Account Settings > Advanced.
2. Locate the IMAP Path Prefix in the Incoming Settings section.
3. If the field has a greyed-out /, retype the forward slash (/) so it turns white. (or black for a white background display)
4. Back out of the menu and press Done.
5. Close the Settings and Mail apps, then reopen Mail to see if the issue is resolved.

It helped my gmail IMAP account load more quickly.

-evan

I’ve experienced the same thing on both my iPhone 15 and iPad Air. It sits at ‘Connecting’ for ages before it gets to ‘Checking…’. Apple need to fix this ASAP. Note that I am using 18.1.1 software.

Same here, it takes so long to download the email.

i also got problems deleting my email. When I highlighted selected emails, then choose “ move” then I can’t select “ trash message” because it keeps taking me back to previous page.

Turn off "Hide IP Address" located in "Settings - Apps - Mail - Privacy Protection" . This worked for me and over 10 other phones in the company.

If any kind of traffic blocking is enabled on your device or in your network (e.g. PiHole), whitelist

mask-h2.icloud.com

mask.icloud.com

might help. Mail seems to need this as of 18.2, even if private relay is not generally enabled.

Same problem here.

I was suspecting my email servers but it seems to be iOS the problem.

Totaly agree.

now is Apple email app almost useless.

why don’t you let downloading mails if we want? It’s our decision how much space we will assign to local mail. Why should I wait for mail 5 minutes? This was 20 years ago (maybe).

I just tested MAIL APP and office365 web mail in Safari. I’ve got approximately 500 mails in 2 seconds with all attachments included and ready to open ASAP (office365 in Safari), and let’s say the same number of results in MAIL app, but no option to see mail content wit attachments for at least 3 minutes. USELESS.

I can just conclude that Apple would like us to move from native app to alternatives.

big disappointment for me.

Same here. Email was fast and just loaded IOS 18 - slow as sh*t

This issue has made apple mail unusable on my iPad. Actively looking for a new email client and for customer service that Apple used to be known for. I use my iPad for business and this is costing time and money with no response or accountability from Apple. We pay a premium for Apple devices and services and expect a premium experience, not the blame the user run around.

I could not agree more about Apple mail, across all my Apple devices, has gotten painfully slow. It’s near impossible to conduct business, telling a Sender I’ve received their email, but I can’t read it until the content is downloaded. I’ve tried many suggestion and nothing seems to work.

Apple, PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT

I have the same problem in iPadOS 18.2 (iPad Pro with M2) and iOS 18.2 iPhone 14 PRO (started with version 18). Before iOS 18 I had the option “protect my privacy - hide Ip” activated and attachments would download at normal speed.

i have several emails from different providers and it is the same for all of them.

i have deactivated this option and it does not solve the problem. When I click on the attachment to download, we do not see the progress of the download anymore.

i used to do a lot of work with email from my iPad and now it is useless.

please solve this urgently or help us with a solution.

Ok, I have some new data: The Apple mail app works fine on my neighbor's WiFi and on AT&T 5G (both raw internet) - but NOT my home nor work WiFi. Apparently, the mail app has an issue with my pfSense router - specifically the pfBlockerNG firewall on it - and the work WiFi obviously washes through an enterprise level firewall (Cisco Layer 3) the app also has an issue with. At home, I can shut off the pfBlockerNG firewall and the mail app works just fine.

Funny thing is, the firewall is not returning errors nor alerts. The Layer 3 Cisco at work isn't either. I tried allowing all 17.x.x.x in both directions through the firewall, no dice. But, if I shut off pfBlockerNG, it works just fine. Ironically, it appears to work with Snort if you allow 17.x.x.x, but not pfBlockerNG. Obviously, I am not shutting off my firewall and risking letting the barbarians through the gate!

After contacting Netgate and Cisco, they did some testing and it appears the issue is on APPLE's side! Apparently, something on Apple's servers is trying to handshake through the firewalls and it is being dropped. However, none of us can see what exactly it is. Judging by the responses on here, other corporate/business firewalls also have the same issue. However, because it is on their side alone, no alerts are triggered on the end user's side so the IT folks (like me) can allow the mail app to filter through.

Apple better get their heads out of their apps and fix this - and FAST, lest they want to lose so many corporate customers. Our C-suite execs are already asking how involved switching to Droids will be. Yikes!!