If Gmail is not receiving emails, check four things first: your Google storage (if it is full, Gmail can stop receiving mail), the Spam and Trash folders, your filters, and your forwarding settings. Search with Mail & Spam & Trash selected to find messages that skipped the inbox, look for filters set to “Delete it” or “Skip Inbox,” and make sure no unknown forwarding address is copying your mail elsewhere. On a phone, also check the Promotions and Updates tabs and the app’s sync setting. This guide walks through each fix, based on Google’s own troubleshooting steps.
Quick checklist
- Storage: check one.google.com/storage. Gmail shares space with Drive and Photos.
- Spam and Trash: look there first; messages are deleted for good after 30 days.
- Tabs: check Promotions, Social and Updates.
- Filters and blocked addresses: look for rules that delete or archive mail.
- Forwarding and POP/IMAP: make sure Gmail keeps a copy in your inbox.
- Other devices and apps: an email app could be deleting or archiving messages.
- The sender: ask them to check for a bounce message.
Step 1: Check if your Google storage is full
Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos share the same 15 GB of free storage. Google warns that when it is full, you may not be able to send or receive email. Go to one.google.com/storage to see your usage. If you are at or near the limit, empty the trash, delete large attachments and clean up Drive. Our guide on Google Drive storage full but no files shows how to find hidden space quickly.
Step 2: Search everywhere, including Spam and Trash
- Open Gmail on a computer and click Show search options (the sliders icon in the search bar).
- Next to Search, change All Mail to Mail & Spam & Trash.
- Enter the sender’s address or a word from the subject and click Search.
If the email is in Spam, open it and click Report not spam so future messages from that sender reach your inbox. If it is in Trash, move it back.
Step 3: Check the inbox tabs
Gmail sorts mail into Primary, Promotions, Social and Updates tabs. Receipts, newsletters and verification codes often land in Updates or Promotions. To move a sender to Primary, drag one of their emails onto the Primary tab and confirm that future messages should go there too.
Step 4: Review filters and blocked addresses
- Click the gear icon, then See all settings.
- Open the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab.
- Look for filters with Delete it or Skip the Inbox (Archive it). Click Edit or Delete on any you did not mean to create.
- Check the list of blocked addresses below the filters and unblock anyone you want to hear from.
Filters are easy to create by accident, for example by clicking “Filter messages like these” or unsubscribing in a hurry.
Step 5: Check forwarding and POP/IMAP
- In See all settings, open Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
- If forwarding is on, choose Keep Gmail’s copy in the Inbox, then click Save Changes.
- If POP is enabled and set to delete or archive Gmail’s copy, change it to Keep Gmail’s copy in the Inbox.
Security warning: Google says that if you see a forwarding address you do not recognize, someone may have accessed your account. Disable forwarding, change your password and turn on two-factor authentication right away.
Step 6: Check connected apps and other devices
Gmail keeps one copy of each message, so if an email app on another phone or computer deletes or archives it, it disappears everywhere. Check any mail apps you use (Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird) for rules that delete or move messages. Then go to myaccount.google.com/connections and remove third-party apps you do not recognize.
Step 7: Fix the Gmail app on your phone
- Android: open Gmail, tap the menu, then Settings, choose your account and make sure Sync Gmail is on. Also check that your phone has storage space and that battery saver is not blocking background data.
- iPhone: update the Gmail app, check that Background App Refresh is on for Gmail, and turn notifications on in the app’s settings.
- Both: pull down to refresh, force close the app or sign out and back in. If mail appears on the web but not on your phone, the problem is the app, not your account.
Step 8: Ask the sender to check
If nothing shows up anywhere, the message may never have reached Google. Ask the sender whether they received a bounce message (“delivery failed” or “address not found”) and to confirm they used the right address. Emails that fail security checks, such as messages from misconfigured company servers, may be sent to Spam or rejected.
Common causes and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No new emails at all | Storage full | Free up space in Gmail, Drive and Photos |
| Emails from one sender missing | Filter, block or spam | Check filters, blocked list and Spam |
| Verification codes not arriving | Updates tab, spam or delay | Check all tabs, wait a few minutes, resend once |
| Mail shows on web but not phone | App sync | Turn on sync and refresh the app |
| Mail disappears after arriving | Another app or forwarding rule | Check connected apps and POP/IMAP settings |
Frequently asked questions
Why am I suddenly not receiving emails in Gmail?
The most common sudden cause is full Google storage. Next are new filters, emails going to Spam, or an app deleting messages.
Why are verification codes not coming to Gmail?
Check Spam and the Updates tab first. Some services also block codes if you request several in a row, so wait a few minutes before trying again.
Can someone else be hiding my emails?
Yes. If someone has access to your account, they can add a forwarding address or a filter that deletes mail. Check both, and review recent security activity in your Google Account. Learn how to recognize suspicious messages in how to spot a phishing email or text.
How long does Gmail keep deleted emails?
Emails in Trash and Spam are deleted permanently after 30 days, or immediately if you empty those folders.
Get your inbox working again
Start with storage, Spam and Trash, then filters and forwarding. Those four checks solve most cases in a few minutes. If you need to send big attachments without filling your mailbox, see how to send large files for free.
Sources
- Gmail Help: Gmail messages are missing
- Google One Help: How your Google storage works
- Gmail Help: Create rules to filter your emails
This article is based on the official documentation and reporting listed in the sources above, checked on November 1, 2026. Features and prices change, so confirm details on the official pages before you buy. ShokokoTech does not accept payment for coverage. Read our editorial policy.
