Quickly fix “Yahoo! server unavailable” on iPhone or iPad or iPod Touch?

This method will quickly fix “Yahoo! Server unavailable” error while trying to sync your Yahoo! mail account with your iPhone or iPad or iPod Touch.

Many users who are trying to sync their Yahoo! account to their new iPhone or iPad or iPod Touch devices have been getting this error lately. This error does not significantly meant that the Yahoo! Servers are down, but it is just that your phone is not able to contact their server within the TTL.

Fixing this issue is really simple. All you need to do is create a new mail account with other option rather than the regular Yahoo! Mail option in the create new mail account settings, with custom IMAP details and SMTP details.

Here’s how you could fix this issue:

    1. Go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendar > Add Account. This will bring up the screen that would let you choose the accounts.yahoo server unavailable - fix 1
    2. Choose Other option. And select Add mail account.yahoo server unavailable - fix 3
    3. Enter your Yahoo! account details.yahoo server unavailable - fix 3
    4. Once this is done. You will be asked to enter the IMAP and SMTP Server details. Enter imap.mail.yahoo.com as your IMAP address and smtp.mail.yahoo.com as your SMTP address.yahoo server unavailable - fix 3

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have further queries on this. I would be more than happy to help you! You can also follow other tutorials on iOS here on Geek Center.

  • Samantha Donohue

    Solution worked great for mail, but how I’d I setup my calendar?

    • I don’t think Yahoo! provides this for the calendars. I need to figure it out!

  • Almaz

    Thank you very much. That’s the solution I’ve searched for.

  • kim r

    followed instructions but im getting message “the username or password or password for imap.mail.yahoo.com is incorrect”

  • kim r

    followed instructions but im getting message “the username or password or password for imap.mail.yahoo.com is incorrect”

  • bonniemurf

    Thanks, it worked great!!!

  • bonniemurf

    I can now receive my e-mails fine but I am unable to send any. I get a message that says my e-mail address was rejected by the server. How do I fix that??? Thanks!

    • Bumble B

      in the outgoing mail where put the your username and password there too as well in the incoming mail

      • Bumble B

        *in the outgoing mail put your username…* sorry about the typo this will make it work

  • SeanBeck

    followed instructions but im getting message “the username or password or password for imap.mail.yahoo.com is incorrect”Read more: http://www.karthikk.net/2011/10/how-to-fix-yahoo-server-unavailable-when-syncing-with-ios-5/#ixzz1plk7PpW5

    • suilingw

      @SeanBeck
       I have same problems, how to fix it?

  • jackbobo

    my email address is @bellsouth.net instead of @yahoo.com. I have tried everything but it still tells me my user ID and PW are incorrect but if I go online i can sign into my account fine. also telling me the server not available. Help

  • suilingw

    I used the 4S almost for one year. Suddenly, I can’t assess the email (yahoo) , it said the yahoo server unavailable. I follow your instruction, but it just maintain mail and notes, without calender and contacts…! How to fix it?

  • suilingw

    I used the 4S almost for one year. Suddenly, I can’t assess the email (yahoo) , it said the yahoo server unavailable. I follow your instruction, but it just maintain mail and notes, without calender and contacts…! How to fix it?

  • suilingw

    followed instructions but im getting message “the username or password or  password for imap.mail.yahoo.com is incorrect Read more: http://www.karthikk.net/2011/10/how-to-fix-yahoo-server-unavailable-when-syncing-with-ios-5/#ixzz29U9G7jlu

  • suilingw

    I used the 4S almost for one year. Suddenly, I can’t assess the email (yahoo)  , it said the yahoo server unavailable. I follow your instruction, but it just  maintain mail and notes, without calender and contacts…! How to fix it?
    Read more: http://www.karthikk.net/2011/10/how-to-fix-yahoo-server-unavailable-when-syncing-with-ios-5/#ixzz29U9bTzWh 
     
    followed instructions but im getting message “the username or password or   password for imap.mail.yahoo.com is incorrect Read more: http://www.karthikk.net/2011/10/how-to-fix-yahoo-server-unavailable-when-syncing-with-ios-5/#ixzz29U9YJB6J

  • DeirdreWyness

    Thank you so much, this fixed my problem!!!

    • Welcome. Please feel free to share it with your peers.

    • This fixed the problems to both my iphone 5 and ipod when verizon and the apple store could not fix.

  • Ben Crosby

    Followed the instructions but getting the “Yahoo is currently unavailable.” message upon selecting “Next” on last window to verify.

    • Try restarting your phone and connecting to a different WiFi Connection.

  • Fixed! Thank you!

  • you are a sweeet heart thank you so much i worked on that blessed problem for two days. thank you, thank you, have a wonderful day.

  • disqus_HDDple6UVC

    Sweet! This helped a lot. Thank you!

  • coldhardtruth

    I found it neccessary to input the user name and password in the outgoing mail server area also. and make sure to use your entire user name inclding the @yahoo.com .
    Once I did this, I was up and running.
    This was a Touch 5th gen with the latest update 12/25/12

  • Yc

    I followed your instructions but important functionality is missing! You cannot send email, access your calendars or contacts?! Not fixed and frustrated with apple, going back to blackberry.

  • Thank you!! Worked perfectly for my iphone 5! You rock! 🙂

  • Jacqui

    Thank you so much worked
    both on iPad and phone

  • disqus_2guJUmn54O

    What do I put in place of the incoming mail service user name? please help

  • Hung

    if you email is steve@yahoo.com so username is steve.
    good luck

  • Limi Iri

    or you’re nick neme

  • made

    thank you so much for your help… it feels like i am life again with Yahoo now

    • You’re welcome @disqus_QClcdheVCs:disqus,

      Happy that it worked for you! 🙂

  • Geoff Lutz

    attempting to do it on iphone 5 and it is not working. says the username and password for imap are incorrect. help, please

    • Hi @geofflutz:disqus,

      Just wanted to check if you managed to fix it. I can help you out with it.

      • Geoff Lutz

        Hi! It eventually did it. It recognized that I was trying to do it and took me to a login screen, iirc. It asks me to put in my password every time I use my calendar, though. Should that be happening? Thanks for following up!

        • This should not be happening @geofflutz:disqus. I heard that the issue was fixed in the latest software update.

          • mohammad

            I had this problem and is not fixed. it keeps telling me username or password fori map are incorrect . please help. thanks

          • Did you try all the methods? Looks like its working for everyone.

          • mohammad

            Yes I tried all methods
            Says that username or password incorrect for imap

  • Allison Troxle

    worked!! Thank you so much Geek Center! I LOVE GEEKS!!!!! =) Your the best and I dont know if this may help someone else, but you have to delete your old email account when adding the new one. I added the new email, but it didnt work until I deleted the old email, then it worked =)

    • You’re welcome @allisontroxle:disqus. Nice that it worked for you! 🙂

  • Deb

    It says “Select a wireless Network” and then WIN_da5e. I cant send pics to my computer. I know this is simple but I am a senior citizen and don’t know much about this. You know, they did not give a manual with i-phone 5’s. Please help me with this…..

  • PerriM

    I tried the fix on my iPod 5 and got the message, ‘Cannot connect using SSL. Do you want to try setting up the account without SSL?’ I tried it several times and got the same response. What might be wrong? Thanks for the help.

  • Chanel

    THANKS!

  • mohammad

    The above method didnt work out for me. I did the following and it worked:
    1. Signed into yahoo account from desktop
    2. Opened my profile and clicked “second sign-in verification”
    3. Clicked generate password for iOs device
    4. One time generated Password used to sign into my iOs yahoo account
    5. Im signed in

    • Thanks for the comment @disqus_3SGj5bbAwm:disqus. I’m sure this will help a lot of users. I’ll update the post with your findings. 🙂

  • toro_sentado

    I found an easier, faster way that worked for me. Basically you re-log in. Here’s how:

    1) Go to Settings:Mail, Contacts, Calendars:Yahoo:Account

    2) You will see your mail address and your password, ERASE your password. Click “Done”
    At this point it will fail to login.

    3) Put in your correct password. Click “Done

    It will now say it’s verifying for a few seconds and then checkmarks will come up next to your email and password, telling you all is well.

    At this point your mail will begin working again. It did for me.

    PS Now, if only someone could tell me how to fix the thing where the inbox tells me I have 48769 unread emails and it never budges even if I’ve read all my emails! But that is a different thread, I know. Just that I haven’t found the solution yet.

  • madrich

    Thank you! This worked on my old 4th gen iPod Touch. Thank you again, and again

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