'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Fix Hotmail Working on MacBook but Not Syncing on iPhone
Question details
The user is unable to receive or sync Hotmail messages on their iPhone, despite the account functioning perfectly on a MacBook.
- Product
- Hotmail
- Device & OS
- iPhone (iOS), MacBook (macOS)
- Scenario
- Syncing emails across Apple devices using a Hotmail account.
- Observed behavior
- Hotmail emails are successfully received on the MacBook but fail to load, sync, or update on the iPhone.
Ensure your iPhone has an active and stable internet connection via Wi-Fi or cellular data, and verify that you have your current Hotmail password ready before modifying account settings.
Remove and Re-add Hotmail Account in Apple Mail
If you use the native iOS Mail app, refreshing the connection by removing and re-adding the account usually resolves authentication and sync glitches.
Apple Mail can sometimes fail to refresh background authentication tokens. Deleting the account profile from your iPhone settings forces a completely new connection with Microsoft's servers without affecting the emails stored online.
Go to the Settings app on your iPhone's home screen and scroll down to select Mail.
Tap on Accounts and locate your Hotmail or Outlook account from the displayed list.
Tap on the account, select Delete Account at the bottom of the screen, and confirm your choice. This only removes the local sync data.
Return to the Accounts page, tap Add Account, select Outlook.com, and sign in with your Hotmail email address and password.
Reset the Hotmail Account in the Outlook Mobile App
If you are using the Microsoft Outlook mobile app, utilizing the built-in account reset feature can quickly fix syncing problems without requiring a full re-login.
Enhance Your Mobile Productivity with WPS Office
If you regularly manage documents, emails, and attachments on your iPhone or MacBook, WPS Office is an excellent, lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office. It offers powerful tools to view, edit, and share files without compatibility issues.
- 1. Download the Application: Visit the App Store or Mac App Store to download and install WPS Office for free.
- 2. Sign In to Enable Sync: Create a free account to seamlessly sync your documents between your MacBook and iPhone via the cloud.
- 3. Open Email Attachments: Tap on any document attachment in your Mail or Outlook app and choose 'Open in WPS Office' for full formatting retention and editing capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Hotmail stop syncing on my iPhone but work on my MacBook?
This usually occurs because the authentication token on your iPhone has expired or become corrupted, while your MacBook retains a valid session. Resetting the account on your iPhone refreshes this connection.
Will removing my Hotmail account from Apple Mail delete my stored emails?
No, removing the account from Settings > Mail > Accounts only deletes the local cache on your iPhone. Your emails remain safely stored on Microsoft's cloud servers and will reappear once you log back in.
How can I force my iPhone to fetch new Hotmail emails?
You can manually refresh your inbox by opening the Mail app and swiping down from the top of the screen until you see the spinning loading wheel. To automate this, adjust your sync frequency under Settings > Mail > Accounts > Fetch New Data.
