Encountering a glitch with your Mail app is a common experience for iPhone users, whether it is failing to refresh new messages or becoming unresponsive. Knowing how to restart mail app on iPhone provides a simple solution to clear temporary memory and reset network connections. This action often resolves minor software issues without affecting your data or settings.
Why Restarting is the First Step
When an app behaves erratically, it is usually due to a temporary software conflict or a cached state that needs refreshing. Restarting forces the system to close all background processes and reload the application cleanly. This troubleshooting step is recommended by Apple support as the primary method for resolving app-specific errors before proceeding to more complex fixes.
Standard Method: Swiping Up
The most direct way to restart the application is to close it completely and then reopen it. This method ensures the app is not running in the background, allowing the iPhone to fully reset its connection to the mail servers.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Access the app switcher by swiping up from the bottom of your screen and pausing slightly in the middle.
Locate the Mail app preview card in the row of recently used apps.
Swipe the preview card upward off the top of the screen to force quit the application.
Navigate back to the home screen and tap the Mail icon to launch the app again.
Alternative Method: Using the App Switcher
If the standard swipe-up gesture does not work as expected, you can utilize the device’s physical buttons or gestures to access the app switcher. This approach is particularly useful for older iPhone models or when the screen is unresponsive.
How to Force Quit Using Buttons
Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then press and release the Volume Down button.
Press and hold the Side button until the app switcher appears.
Swipe the Mail app cards up to close them.
Tap the Mail icon to relaunch the application.
Dealing with a Frozen Screen
If the Mail app is completely frozen and you cannot access the app switker, a different sequence is required to restart the device itself. This hard reset will close the app and refresh the iOS environment without deleting any data.
iPhone 8 and Newer Models
Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then quickly press and release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo. This sequence safely restarts the phone, clearing the temporary state causing the freeze.
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Specifics
Devices without a physical Home button require a specific combination to trigger the restart. Unlike other models, you must hold the Side button and Volume Down button simultaneously to initiate the process.
Steps to Restart
Press and hold the Side button located on the right side of the phone.
While holding the Side button, press and hold the Volume Down button.
Continue holding both buttons until the screen goes black and the Apple logo appears.
Release the buttons and wait for the phone to boot back up.
iPhone 6s and Earlier Models
For older devices, the restart process relies on the physical Home button combined with the top-side button. This method effectively closes the current session and allows the system to reboot.
How to Perform the Restart
Press and hold the Top (Side) button and the Home button at the same time.
Keep both buttons pressed until the screen turns off.
Release the buttons once you see the Apple logo.
