AOL Mail is still a widely used email service among millions of users globally, but as any email service, it may sometimes have issues with reading and receiving emails. If you face problems with AOL Mail not showing emails, lost emails, or display issues, this full guide will take you through tried-and-tested solutions to restore your email to optimal working order.

Common AOL Mail Problems

Before we get into fixes, let’s get a handle on what exactly is not working:

• Emails failing to load or show correctly
• Missing or lagging incoming emails
• Can’t open or view current emails
• Blank content or improper formatting in emails
• Login issues impacting access to email
• Loading very slowly or times out

Rapid Fixes to Try First

1. Refresh Your Browser and Clear Cache

The most straightforward answer is usually the best one. Begin by reloading the browser page (Ctrl+F5 or Cmd+Shift+R) to fully reload AOL Mail. Should this fail, empty the cache and cookies of your browser:

For Chrome:

• Click Ctrl+Shift+Delete
• Choose “All time” as the time range
• Check “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files”
• Click “Clear data”

For Firefox:

• Click Ctrl+Shift+Delete
• Choose “Everything” as the time range
• Check “Cookies” and “Cache”
• Click “Clear Now”

For Safari:

• Go to Safari menu > Preferences > Privacy
• Click “Manage Website Data”
• Remove AOL-related entries or click “Remove All”

2. Check Your Internet Connection

A weak or unstable internet connection can cause AOL Mail to malfunction. Test your connection by visiting other websites or running a speed test. If your connection is slow, try:

• Restarting your router and modem
• Moving closer to your WiFi router
• Switching to a wired connection if possible
• Reaching out to your internet service provider if issues continue

3. Disable Browser Extensions

Browser extensions, especially security extensions and ad blockers, may interfere with AOL Mail functionality. Turn off all extensions temporarily to check if this solves the problem:

• In Chrome: Navigate to chrome://extensions/ and switch off all extensions
• In Firefox: Navigate to about:addons and turn off all add-ons
• In Safari: Navigate to Safari > Preferences > Extensions and deselect all extensions

Advanced Troubleshooting Solutions

4. Update Your Browser

Old browsers might not support AOL Mail’s newest features and security needs. Make sure you’re running the latest version of your browser:

• Chrome: Menu of three dots > Help > About Google Chrome
• Firefox: Hamburger menu > Help > About Firefox
• Safari: Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update
• Edge: Three dots menu > Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge

5. Test Another Browser

If updating doesn’t resolve the issue, test AOL Mail in another browser. This will determine if the problem is browser-related. AOL Mail is best used with:

• Google Chrome (recommended)
• Mozilla Firefox
• Microsoft Edge
• Safari (Mac users)

6. Review AOL Mail Settings

Improper email settings may block messages from being retrieved. Log in to your AOL Mail account and check these settings:

Spam Settings:

• Click on Options > Mail Settings > Spam Settings
• Make sure legitimate senders are not blocked
• Check if emails are forwarded to spam folder
• Tweak spam sensitivity if needed

Filter Settings:

• Check any email filters you set
• Make sure filters are not sending emails to incorrect folders
• Turn off filters for a test run to check reception of emails

POP/IMAP Settings (third-party clients): If you have AOL Mail integrated with Outlook, Thunderbird, or mobile apps, check these settings:

• IMAP Server: imap.aol.com (Port 993, SSL on)
• SMTP Server: smtp.aol.com (Port 587, TLS on)
• POP Server: pop.aol.com (Port 995, SSL on)

7. Storage Space Issues

If your mailbox is full, it will not allow new messages to be delivered. Make sure to check your storage usage:

• Seek storage indicators in your AOL Mail interface
• Get rid of unwanted emails, particularly those that contain large attachments
• Empty your Spam and Trash folders entirely
• Upgrade to AOL Mail Pro if you need more storage

8. Two-Step Verification Issues

If two-step verification is on, authentication problems may be preventing email access:

• Make sure your phone number is up to date and can receive SMS
• Check if you have backup codes
• Make sure your authenticator app is functioning properly
• Consider briefly turning off two-step verification to verify access

Mobile Device Solutions

9. AOL Mail App Problems

• If you are using the AOL Mail mobile application:
• Update the app through your device’s app store
• Force the app to close and then restart it
• Delete app cache (Android: Settings > Apps > AOL Mail > Storage > Clear Cache)
• Reinstall the app if issues continue
• Verify notification preferences to make sure you receive notifications for new emails

10. Email Client Configuration

For customers using AOL Mail with built-in mail apps (iPhone Mail, Android Gmail app):

• Delete and re-add your AOL account
• Make sure you are using an app-specific password instead of your normal AOL password
• Verify sync settings to make sure emails are being downloaded
• Confirm that your device has enough space

Network and Security Solutions

11. Firewall and Antivirus Interference

Security software may occasionally block email connections:

• Disable your firewall temporarily to check for email access
• Include AOL Mail domains on your antivirus whitelist
• Look for antivirus email protection features that may be causing interference
• Make sure ports 993 (IMAP), 995 (POP), and 587 (SMTP) aren’t blocked

12. Router and DNS Problems

Network configuration issues may impact email connectivity:

• Restart your router and modem
• Try using Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1)
• Verify if your ISP is down
• Test email access using a different network (mobile hotspot)

AOL Account-Specific Solutions

13. Password and Authentication Issues

Authentication issues may block access to email:

• Reset your password if you’re certain it’s been compromised
• Create new app-specific passwords for non-AOL email programs
• Double-check you’re typing in credentials correctly (check for caps lock, spaces)
• Attempt to sign out thoroughly and sign back in

14. Account Security Review

Verify your account security settings:

• Review recent account activity for unauthorized logins
• Make sure your recovery email address and phone number are up to date
• Check whether your account is temporarily suspended
• Check whether you have gone over AOL’s sending limits

When to Call AOL Support

If none of these fixes your issue, it might be time to call AOL customer support. Before calling, have the following information ready:

• Exact error messages you’re seeing
• Steps you’ve already attempted
• Browser and operating system information
• Whether the problem affects web access, mobile apps, or both
• Screenshots of any error messages

Prevention Tips

To avoid future AOL Mail problems:

• Keep your browser updated and clear cache regularly
• Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-step verification
• Monitor your storage usage and clean out unnecessary emails monthly
• Be cautious with browser extensions and only install trusted ones
• Keep backup access methods like app-specific passwords and recovery codes
• Regular security checks of your account settings and recent activity

Conclusion

The majority of AOL Mail read and receive issues can be easily solved with the help of the steps discussed in this guide. Begin with the elementary solutions such as clearing browser cache and internet connection check before advancing to more sophisticated troubleshooting.

Keep in mind that being patient is important when troubleshooting emails because changes may take time to implement.

If you still encounter issues after attempting these remedies, don’t hesitate to contact AOL’s customer support service for one-on-one help. 

Having your account in place and keeping your software up to date will prevent the majority of email issues from recurring in the future.

By reading this detailed guide, you should be able to return complete functionality to your AOL Mail account and experience hassle-free email communication as before.