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4 Ways to Fix Emails Stuck in Gmail Outbox

Quick Tips
  • Ensure your Google account storage isn’t full and that you are not using Gmail in offline mode.
  • Clear the cache of the Gmail app or website stored on your device, and try refreshing the Gmail Outbox again.
  • Ensure you have allowed Gmail to use data in the background on your Android or iPhone.

Try Basic Fixes

  • Verify the recipient’s email address: This may seem too obvious, but if you have misspelled the email address, Gmail won’t be able to send the message. This can give you the false impression that there’s a problem with Gmail. Double-check the recipient’s email address and make sure it is correct.
  • Check the total attachment size: It’s important to know that Gmail caps the maximum attachment size at 25 MB. So, if the total size of your attachments exceeds this limit, the email will not go through. In that case, your best option is to use a cloud storage service like Google Drive or OneDrive to share large files via email.
  • Update the Gmail app (mobile): The Gmail app on your phone may be buggy or outdated. Head over to the Play Store (Android) or the App Store (iPhone) to update the Gmail app and check if that solves the problem.

Fix 1: Check Your Google Account Storage

Is your Google account storage full? If so, you may have trouble sending emails, and they may become stuck in your Gmail outbox. On the Gmail page, scroll down to the bottom of the page to view your account’s storage status.

Gmail Storage Status

If you are using Gmail on your phone, tap the profile icon in the top right corner to view the storage status.

Fix 2: Turn Off Offline Mode in Gmail

While Gmail’s offline mode feature in Google Chrome allows you to read, respond, and delete emails without an internet connection, it can sometimes malfunction. When this happens, your new emails may not go through as expected. To overrule this possibility, you can temporarily disable offline mode in Gmail using these steps:

Step 1: Open Google Chrome and navigate to Gmail.

Step 2: Click the gear icon in the top right corner and select See all settings.

Open Gmail Settings

Step 3: Switch to the Offline tab and uncheck the Enable offline mail option. Then, click the Save Changes button.

Disable Offline Mode in Gmail

Fix 3: Clear Gmail Cache

Outdated or corrupt Gmail cache data can also cause such unusual behavior. You can try purging the existing cache data associated with Gmail on your phone or computer to see if that gets things moving again.

On Desktop

Step 1: Open Gmail in your web browser. Click the padlock icon on the left of the website URL and select Site settings.

Gmail Site Settings

Step 2: Click the Delete data button.

Delete Gmail Site Data

On Android

Step 1: Long press on the Gmail app icon and tap the info icon from the resulting menu.

Step 2: Go to Storage and tap the Clear cache option at the bottom.

Fix 4: Allow Background Data Usage (Mobile)

It’s possible that your emails are getting stuck in the outbox due to background data restrictions applied to the Gmail app on your Android or iPhone. To fix this, you need to allow Gmail to use data even in the background.

Android

Step 1: Long press on the Gmail app icon and tap the info icon from the resulting menu.

Step 2: Tap on Mobile data and enable the toggles next to Allow background data usage and Allow data usage while Data saver is on.

iPhone

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Scroll down to tap on Gmail and toggle on the switch next to Background App Refresh in the following menu.

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Last updated on 25 July, 2024

2 Comments

  1. Have had sent emails stuck in gmail outbox with Android for years. Have tried all suggested fixes no help. I’ve tried it all and gmail stinks. There is nothing but the same community help know it alls who suggest the same “simple” fixes, connection, clearing caches and cookies, restart gmail app, blah blah. Google Gmail has known of this pathetic issue for nearly 10 years and only leaves it to the community to resolve. Guarantee you i will not buy another android pos

    1. I’m with you man this is the second time for me..I gave up on my other phone and now it’s doing the same on my new phone

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