iPhone 8/Plus Gmail not updating automatically

[SquireSCA]

Seeing this on both my iPad Pro and 8+.

My work email updates and I get a notification automatically. I am using the Apple email client for my Gmail account and it is set to "fetch automatically", but it never does. I never get a notification badge or alert, I have to go into mail and then it will go and get the new emails.

I know that it's set up properly, it does it on two different devices, and I just had to do a hard factory reset on my 8+ because I put it on a wireless charger when it was turned off, and it bricked it.

Is this normal? On my Android phones, emails came in almost instantly, I never had to launch the app and "check"...

Exchange works fine, it's just gmail.

 

[MacDawg]

You said you have it set on Fetch / Automatically
Apparently that setting will only check when powered on and when on WiFi

I have mine set on 15 minutes and don't seem to have a problem

Your Exchange is prolly set on Push

 

[SquireSCA]

How do I change the "only when powered and on wifi", which pretty much ensures that my phone will only be going off and "dinging" when I am trying to sleep. That's a dumb setting.

Can I change that to "always fetch"?

 

[MacDawg]

Go to Settings > Accounts & Passwords
At the bottom of the page is Fetch New Data
Select this and you will see the settings for each account

I have Push enabled
but each account has a setting for Push / Fetch / Manual
At the bottom is the Fetch schedule

Automatically will Fetch when the device is powered on and on WiFi
Manually means if will Fetch when you open that Mail account

You can select Hourly / every 30 minutes / every 15 minutes
Every 15 will be the closest to Push you will get
Less fetching saves battery, but I don't notice myself

 

[SquireSCA]

Yeah, I guess I don't like that I either have to check it manually, which Fetch auto pretty much is unless I have it on a charger all the time... Or I only get 4 updates per hour.

Again, coming from Android where everything is in real time, it is annoying to not have something so mundane and simple, all to save 7 minutes per day of battery time... LOL

 

[MacDawg]

Yeah, I guess I don't like that I either have to check it manually, which Fetch auto pretty much is unless I have it on a charger all the time... Or I only get 4 updates per hour.

Again, coming from Android where everything is in real time, it is annoying to not have something so mundane and simple, all to save 7 minutes per day of battery time... LOL

You used to be able to set up Gmail as an Exchange account and get Push, but that ended quite some time back
I don't think this is an Apple issue, I think it is nose-thumbing from Google, but I can't say for sure
Exchange has Push and so does iCloud, but not Gmail

15 minutes works OK for me, and if you open the App it will Fetch at that time as well

 

[SquireSCA]

The problem is that I have a lot going on with email and I use my Apple watch a lot. But nothing comes to the watch unless I pull out the phone, unlock it, and launch the email app. It's a really annoying and pointless limitation.

Maybe I will just have to use the gmail app from Google, instead of the stock apple app.

The problem then of course is that Apple will not allow you to set your own default app preferences, so if I click on an email address and it wants to launch an email, it will end up defaulting to my Exchange work account and not Gmail.

These little usability things, are where Apple never really thinks it through and they drop the ball...
[doublepost=1521301664][/doublepost]I found a good workaround. I use the Gmail app from Google which is in real time. Emails show up within 1-2 seconds, so it's almost instant and I don't have to be on Wifi and the charger, it works all the time like it does on Android. And then I am using the Apple mail client for my work email. Keeps them separate.

 

[Apple_Robert]

The problem is that I have a lot going on with email and I use my Apple watch a lot. But nothing comes to the watch unless I pull out the phone, unlock it, and launch the email app. It's a really annoying and pointless limitation.

Maybe I will just have to use the gmail app from Google, instead of the stock apple app.

The problem then of course is that Apple will not allow you to set your own default app preferences, so if I click on an email address and it wants to launch an email, it will end up defaulting to my Exchange work account and not Gmail.

These little usability things, are where Apple never really thinks it through and they drop the ball...
[doublepost=1521301664][/doublepost]I found a good workaround. I use the Gmail app from Google which is in real time. Emails show up within 1-2 seconds, so it's almost instant and I don't have to be on Wifi and the charger, it works all the time like it does on Android. And then I am using the Apple mail client for my work email. Keeps them separate.

The Outlook app works well for instances like your OP.

 

[MacDawg]

As I said, I don't think this is an Apple thing, I think it is a restriction Google has on Gmail with Apple
Now, the limitation of setting the default to Gmail app is an Apple thing, but not likely to change

Yes, the Gmail app will work, and happy you have a workflow that is acceptable now

 

[SquireSCA]

Yeah, it's annoying when simple things that you get used to and just take for granted, don't work or aren't an option...

But this seems to be a workable situation now. Both Gmail and Exchange are now instantly hitting my watch as they come in...

 

[posguy99]

The problem is that I have a lot going on with email and I use my Apple watch a lot. But nothing comes to the watch unless I pull out the phone, unlock it, and launch the email app. It's a really annoying and pointless limitation.

Then rail at Google, who only supports Push email via *their* client. On either platform. On purpose.

This "issue" has zero to do with Apple.

 

[SquireSCA]

My comment doesn't qualify as "railing" under any reasonable definition.

While Google might not have the "push" setting in there, Apple absolutely could allow you to "fetch" at different intervals, without requiring both Wifi and for the phone to be plugged in. Google isn't saddling me with those requirements.

So the issue having zero to do with Apple, isn't accurate. Apple is the one limiting me to 15 minute increments, and if I choose "auto", limiting me further to having to have the phone charging and on Wifi.

 

[MacDawg]

My comment doesn't qualify as "railing" under any reasonable definition.

While Google might not have the "push" setting in there, Apple absolutely could allow you to "fetch" at different intervals, without requiring both Wifi and for the phone to be plugged in. Google isn't saddling me with those requirements.

So the issue having zero to do with Apple, isn't accurate. Apple is the one limiting me to 15 minute increments, and if I choose "auto", limiting me further to having to have the phone charging and on Wifi.

I'm assuming the 15 minute limit is to keep battery usage down and not Fetching every minute, etc.
The Gmail app is the workaround for most people who need more instant access to Gmail
I personally haven't had an issue with the 15 minutes, but not everyone's workflow is the same

Glad you have a system that works for you now!

 

[SquireSCA]

Yeah, it works... These little things always annoy me, but in the end I can usually find some way to sorta make it work.

I understand Apple wanting to help battery life, so maybe make their setting the default, but if I choose to want to fetch more often, or use cellular data rather than Wifi... I am a big boy, let me make that decision... That's what annoys me with Apple at times. Their attempt to make things idiot proof, often makes them more complicated than they need to be and often leaves their methods feeling like its from the stone age. Just let me decide how I want it done, or what app to use by default, etc...

 

[MacDawg]

Yeah, it works... These little things always annoy me, but in the end I can usually find some way to sorta make it work.

I understand Apple wanting to help battery life, so maybe make their setting the default, but if I choose to want to fetch more often, or use cellular data rather than Wifi... I am a big boy, let me make that decision... That's what annoys me with Apple at times. Their attempt to make things idiot proof, often makes them more complicated than they need to be and often leaves their methods feeling like its from the stone age. Just let me decide how I want it done, or what app to use by default, etc...

Having more complete control over things is prolly one of the major reasons some opt for Android over iOS.
I've used Android in the past for a work phone, just to see what it was all about, and I found the elaborate and endless available settings for everything to be a bit overwhelming for my taste. I know some prefer it, but for my simple needs, iOS usually provides everything I need to do.

 

[SquireSCA]

Yeah, I prefer Android for a lot of those reasons. Each one seemingly simple, but when you add them up, its a much more robust user experience for me... Widgets on the home screens. Even just the ability to lay down icons and set up my home screens the way I want... Setting default apps. Little things like the fetch issue...

This time around, there just wasn't an Android phone that really spoke to me...

The Pixel2 XL had screen issues because they went with LG instead of Samsung for the panels... Dumb move. Best software experience and a camera as good or better than the X, but they dropped the ball on the screens...

The Essential had a mediocre camera and a couple other quirks....

The OnePlus 5T was awesome, but AT&T won't provision it properly because it's not "on their list" for things like HD Calling, Wifi Calling, etc... The phone supports it but AT&T won't let it function properly...

Samsung, I just don't care for. I know they are good, but I hate curved edge screens. Too easy to break because you can't put a case on them properly, unless you want a massive case...

So that left Apple.

 

[MacDawg]

A few things... like moving the icons around where you want them... and widgets on the home screen are things I would likely use, but don't find essential
I rarely ever change my backgrounds, etc. and have very few needs
Customization of everything was cool to me for a bit, but then it just got to be too much trouble for too many options
And if there ever was a setting I wanted to change... it seemed like it was buried deep within the system somewhere and took me forever to find