Is Gmail Down? Complete Status Check Guide + Quick Fixes

Gmail not loading?
Can't send or receive emails?
"Temporary error" messages?

Before panicking, verify if Gmail is actually down—or if it's a problem on your end. Here's your complete guide to checking Gmail status, fixing common issues, and troubleshooting SMTP/IMAP connections fast.

Quick Check: Is Gmail Actually Down?

Don't assume it's Gmail. 70% of "Gmail down" reports are actually browser cache issues, internet connectivity problems, or third-party email client misconfigurations.

1. Check Official Sources

Google Workspace Status Dashboard:
🔗 workspace.google.com/status

What to look for:

  • ✅ "Available" = Gmail is operational
  • ⚠️ "Service disruption" = Partial outage
  • 🔴 "Service outage" = Gmail is down

Real-time updates:

  • Gmail service status
  • Gmail SMTP/IMAP issues
  • Google Workspace services (Calendar, Drive, Meet)
  • Regional service disruptions
  • Incident details and ETAs

Pro tip: Bookmark this page and subscribe to status notifications for instant alerts.

Twitter/X Search:
🔗 Search "Gmail down" on Twitter

Why it works:

  • Users report outages instantly
  • See if others in your region are affected
  • Google responds to major incidents here
  • Real-time sentiment vs official status pages

Pro tip: If 1000+ tweets in the last hour mention "Gmail down," it's probably actually down.

DownDetector:
🔗 downdetector.com/status/gmail

What it shows:

  • Real-time outage reports (user-submitted)
  • Geographic heatmap of issues
  • Report spike = likely real outage
  • Historical incident timeline

2. Check Service-Specific Status

Gmail has multiple services that can fail independently:

Service What It Does Status Check
Gmail Web Browser-based email Try mail.google.com
Gmail SMTP Sending email (smtp.gmail.com) Check port 587/465 connectivity
Gmail IMAP Receiving email (imap.gmail.com) Check port 993 connectivity
Gmail POP3 Legacy email retrieval Check port 995 connectivity
Gmail API Programmatic access Check Google API Status
Gmail for Mobile iOS/Android apps Try Gmail app

Your service might be down while Gmail globally is up.

How to check which service is affected:

  1. Visit workspace.google.com/status
  2. Look for specific service status under "Gmail"
  3. Check "Incident History" for recent issues
  4. Test different access methods (web vs app vs SMTP)

3. Test Different Connection Types

If Gmail web works but SMTP doesn't, it's likely a configuration or firewall issue.

Platform Test Method
Web Visit mail.google.com
Mobile App Try Gmail on 4G/5G (bypass WiFi)
SMTP Test with telnet: telnet smtp.gmail.com 587
IMAP Test with telnet: telnet imap.gmail.com 993

Decision tree:

Web works + SMTP fails → Email client config issue
Web fails + Mobile works → Browser/cache issue
Web fails + Mobile fails → Gmail is down (or ISP blocking)
SMTP works + IMAP fails → Port/firewall blocking
Nothing works → Major Gmail outage (rare)

Common Gmail Error Messages (And What They Mean)

"Temporary Error (500)"

What it means: Gmail's servers encountered an internal error.

Causes:

  • Server overload (rare)
  • Browser cache corruption
  • Browser extension interference
  • Temporary Gmail backend issue

Quick fixes:

  1. Refresh page (Ctrl+R or Cmd+R)
  2. Clear browser cache and cookies
  3. Try incognito/private mode
  4. Disable browser extensions
  5. Try different browser
  6. Wait 5-10 minutes (temporary glitch)

If persistent: Gmail may be experiencing an outage. Check workspace.google.com/status.

"Oops... The system encountered a problem (#007)"

What it means: Gmail can't process your request.

Causes:

  • Browser cache issue
  • Corrupted cookies
  • Browser extension conflict
  • Account storage full

Quick fixes:

  1. Clear browser cache: Settings → Privacy → Clear browsing data
  2. Clear Gmail-specific cookies: Developer Tools → Application → Cookies
  3. Disable all extensions, try again
  4. Check Gmail storage: google.com/settings/storage
  5. Free up space if storage full (delete old emails, empty trash)

"Authentication Failed" (SMTP/IMAP)

What it means: Email client can't log into your Gmail account.

Causes:

  • Incorrect password
  • 2-Step Verification enabled (app passwords required)
  • "Less secure apps" blocked (deprecated as of May 2022)
  • OAuth token expired

Quick fixes:

If using 2-Step Verification (recommended):

  1. Generate App Password: myaccount.google.com/apppasswords
  2. Use app password instead of regular password in email client
  3. Each app/device needs its own app password

If not using 2-Step Verification:

  1. Enable OAuth 2.0 in your email client (modern standard)
  2. Or enable 2-Step Verification + use app passwords
  3. "Less secure apps" access is no longer supported

For developers:

  • Use OAuth 2.0 for Gmail API access
  • Generate credentials at console.cloud.google.com
  • Refresh access tokens before expiration (3600s default)

"Quota Exceeded" (Gmail API)

What it means: You've hit Gmail API rate limits.

Causes:

  • Too many API requests in short period
  • Default quota: 250 quota units/user/second
  • Sending limit: 500 emails/day (free), 2000/day (Workspace)

Quick fixes:

1. Check your quota usage:

# Google Cloud Console
# APIs & Services → Dashboard → Gmail API → Quotas

2. Implement exponential backoff:

import time
from googleapiclient.errors import HttpError

def gmail_api_call_with_retry(service, max_retries=5):
    for attempt in range(max_retries):
        try:
            # Your Gmail API call here
            return service.users().messages().list(userId='me').execute()
        except HttpError as e:
            if e.resp.status == 429:  # Rate limit
                wait_time = (2 ** attempt) + random.uniform(0, 1)
                time.sleep(wait_time)
            else:
                raise
    raise Exception("Max retries exceeded")

3. Request quota increase:

  • Google Cloud Console → APIs & Services → Quotas
  • Select Gmail API → Request increase
  • Approval typically takes 24-48 hours

4. Optimize API usage:

  • Batch requests (up to 100 per batch)
  • Use partial responses (fields parameter)
  • Cache responses when possible
  • Implement proper pagination

"SMTP Error 550: User Not Found"

What it means: Recipient email address doesn't exist.

Causes:

  • Typo in email address
  • Recipient account deleted
  • Recipient's domain doesn't exist

Quick fixes:

  1. Double-check email address spelling
  2. Verify domain exists: nslookup recipientdomain.com
  3. Contact recipient via another channel
  4. Check if recipient changed email address

"SMTP Error 552: Message Exceeds Maximum Size"

What it means: Email or attachment too large.

Limits:

  • Gmail: 25 MB per email (including attachments)
  • Gmail SMTP: 25 MB total message size
  • Recipients may have smaller limits

Quick fixes:

1. Use Google Drive for large files:

  • Gmail automatically prompts for 25MB+ files
  • Share Drive link instead of attachment
  • No size limit (within Drive storage quota)

2. Compress attachments:

# Mac/Linux: Compress files
zip -r files.zip folder/

# Reduce image quality
# Use tools like ImageOptim (Mac) or TinyPNG

3. Split into multiple emails:

  • Not recommended (use Drive instead)
  • But works if recipient can't access Drive

"Connection Timed Out" (SMTP/IMAP)

What it means: Email client can't connect to Gmail servers.

Causes:

  • Firewall blocking SMTP/IMAP ports
  • ISP blocking outbound email
  • VPN interference
  • Incorrect server settings
  • Gmail servers down (rare)

Quick fixes:

1. Verify server settings:

SMTP (sending):

  • Server: smtp.gmail.com
  • Port: 587 (TLS) or 465 (SSL)
  • Encryption: TLS/SSL required
  • Authentication: Yes (OAuth 2.0 or app password)

IMAP (receiving):

  • Server: imap.gmail.com
  • Port: 993
  • Encryption: SSL required
  • Authentication: Yes

2. Test connectivity:

# Test SMTP connection (Mac/Linux)
telnet smtp.gmail.com 587

# Test IMAP connection
openssl s_client -connect imap.gmail.com:993

# If connection fails, port is blocked

3. Check firewall:

  • Allow outbound connections on ports 587, 465, 993
  • Disable firewall temporarily to test
  • Add Gmail servers to allowlist

4. Try different network:

  • Disable VPN
  • Try mobile hotspot
  • Contact ISP if corporate/school network

"OAuth Token Expired" (Gmail API)

What it means: Your access token is no longer valid.

Causes:

  • Access tokens expire after 1 hour
  • Refresh token revoked (user changed password, security event)
  • Invalid OAuth configuration

Quick fixes:

1. Refresh access token:

from google.auth.transport.requests import Request
from google.oauth2.credentials import Credentials

# Load credentials from file
creds = Credentials.from_authorized_user_file('token.json', SCOPES)

# Refresh if expired
if creds.expired and creds.refresh_token:
    creds.refresh(Request())
    
    # Save refreshed credentials
    with open('token.json', 'w') as token:
        token.write(creds.to_json())

2. Re-authorize if refresh fails:

  • Delete token.json
  • Run OAuth flow again
  • User must grant permissions again

3. Handle token expiration gracefully:

// Node.js example
async function getValidAccessToken(oauth2Client) {
  const tokens = oauth2Client.credentials;
  
  // Check if token expires in next 5 minutes
  if (tokens.expiry_date && tokens.expiry_date - Date.now() < 5 * 60 * 1000) {
    const { credentials } = await oauth2Client.refreshAccessToken();
    oauth2Client.setCredentials(credentials);
    return credentials.access_token;
  }
  
  return tokens.access_token;
}

Quick Fixes: Gmail Not Working?

Fix #1: Clear Browser Cache

Why it works: Corrupted cache causes 90% of "Temporary Error (500)" issues.

How to do it right:

Chrome:

  1. Settings (⋮) → More tools → Clear browsing data
  2. Time range: "All time"
  3. ✅ Cookies and other site data
  4. ✅ Cached images and files
  5. Click "Clear data"
  6. Restart Chrome

Firefox:

  1. Settings (≡) → Privacy & Security
  2. Cookies and Site Data → Clear Data
  3. ✅ Cookies and Site Data
  4. ✅ Cached Web Content
  5. Click "Clear"

Safari:

  1. Safari → Preferences → Privacy
  2. Manage Website Data → Remove All
  3. Confirm

Pro tip: Try Gmail in incognito/private mode first to quickly test if cache is the issue.

Fix #2: Disable Browser Extensions

Why it works: Ad blockers, privacy extensions, and script blockers often interfere with Gmail.

Common culprits:

  • AdBlock/uBlock Origin (blocks tracking pixels, breaks images)
  • Privacy Badger (blocks Google Analytics)
  • Ghostery (blocks social widgets)
  • Grammarly (conflicts with compose window)
  • Dark readers (breaks UI elements)

How to test:

1. Try incognito/private mode (extensions disabled by default):

  • Chrome: Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+N (Mac)
  • Firefox: Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+P (Mac)

If Gmail works in incognito → Extensions are the problem.

2. Disable extensions one by one:

  • Chrome: chrome://extensions
  • Firefox: about:addons
  • Disable all, re-enable one at a time until Gmail breaks

3. Whitelist Gmail:

  • Most ad blockers allow per-site exceptions
  • Add mail.google.com to allowlist

Fix #3: Test Internet Connection

Gmail needs:

  • Minimum: 1 Mbps down/up for web interface
  • Recommended: 3+ Mbps for smooth experience
  • Attachments: More bandwidth for large files

Test your connection:

# Ping Google's servers (Windows/Mac/Linux)
ping mail.google.com

Good response:

Reply from 142.250.185.37: bytes=32 time=15ms TTL=57

Bad response:

Request timed out.

Speed test:
Visit fast.com or speedtest.net

If connection is slow:

  1. Restart router (unplug 30 seconds)
  2. Move closer to WiFi router
  3. Switch to Ethernet cable
  4. Disconnect other devices
  5. Check for ISP outages
  6. Contact ISP if consistently slow

DNS issues:

Sometimes DNS problems prevent Gmail from loading.

Test with Google's DNS:

# Mac/Linux: Temporarily use Google DNS
# System Preferences → Network → Advanced → DNS
# Add: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

# Windows: Network settings → Change adapter options
# Right-click connection → Properties → IPv4 → Properties
# Use: 8.8.8.8 (preferred) and 8.8.4.4 (alternate)

Fix #4: Update Browser

Outdated browser = compatibility issues and security risks.

Check your version:

Chrome:

  • chrome://settings/help
  • Current version (as of Feb 2026): 133.x

Firefox:

  • about:support → Application Basics → Version
  • Current version: 134.x

Safari:

  • Safari → About Safari
  • Current version: 18.x

Force update:

  1. Download latest version from official site
  2. Install (overwrites existing)
  3. Restart browser
  4. Clear cache after updating

Enable auto-updates:

  • Chrome: Settings → About Chrome → ✅ Auto-update
  • Firefox: Settings → General → Firefox Updates → Automatic
  • Safari: System Preferences → Software Update → ✅ Automatic

Fix #5: Check Gmail Storage

Gmail stops receiving emails when storage is full.

Storage limits:

  • Free Gmail: 15 GB (shared with Drive, Photos)
  • Google One: 100 GB to 2 TB (paid)
  • Google Workspace: 30 GB to unlimited (depends on plan)

Check storage:

  1. Visit google.com/settings/storage
  2. See breakdown: Gmail / Drive / Photos
  3. If >90% full, emails may bounce

Free up space:

1. Delete large emails:

# Gmail search operators
has:attachment larger:10MB
has:attachment older_than:1y

2. Empty Trash and Spam:

  • Trash: Automatically deletes after 30 days
  • Spam: Automatically deletes after 30 days
  • Manually empty: More → Trash → Empty Trash now

3. Delete old emails in bulk:

  • Search: older_than:2y
  • Select all: Checkbox → "Select all conversations that match this search"
  • Delete

4. Use Google Takeout to archive:

Fix #6: Fix SMTP/IMAP Configuration

Email clients (Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail) need correct settings.

Gmail SMTP settings:

Server: smtp.gmail.com
Port: 587 (TLS) or 465 (SSL)
Username: your-email@gmail.com
Password: App Password (not your regular password)
Encryption: TLS or SSL (required)

Gmail IMAP settings:

Server: imap.gmail.com
Port: 993
Username: your-email@gmail.com
Password: App Password
Encryption: SSL (required)

Enable IMAP in Gmail:

  1. Gmail Settings (⚙️) → See all settings
  2. Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab
  3. IMAP Access → ✅ Enable IMAP
  4. Save Changes

Generate App Password:

  1. myaccount.google.com/apppasswords
  2. Select app: "Mail"
  3. Select device: Your device type
  4. Click "Generate"
  5. Copy 16-character password
  6. Use this instead of regular password in email client

Common mistakes:

  • ❌ Using regular password instead of app password
  • ❌ Wrong port (25 instead of 587)
  • ❌ IMAP not enabled in Gmail settings
  • ❌ "Less secure apps" (deprecated, doesn't work anymore)

Fix #7: Disable VPN/Proxy

Why: VPNs can interfere with Gmail authentication and attachment uploads.

Test:

  1. Disconnect VPN
  2. Try Gmail again
  3. If it works, VPN was the issue

Solutions:

  • Use VPN split tunneling (exclude Gmail traffic)
  • Connect to different VPN server (US/UK typically work best)
  • Whitelist Google IPs in VPN config
  • Contact IT if corporate VPN required

For Tor users:

  • Gmail often blocks Tor exit nodes
  • Use clearnet connection for Gmail
  • Or enable 2-Step Verification + app passwords

Fix #8: Check Gmail API Quotas (Developers)

If building apps that use Gmail API:

Check current usage:

  1. console.cloud.google.com
  2. APIs & Services → Dashboard
  3. Gmail API → Quotas & System Limits

Default quotas:

  • 250 quota units/user/second (per-user rate limit)
  • 25,000 quota units/day (per-project)
  • Sending limit: 500 emails/day (free Gmail), 2000/day (Workspace)

Quota costs:

  • Read message: 5 units
  • List messages: 5 units
  • Send message: 100 units
  • Modify message: 10 units

Optimize usage:

1. Batch requests:

from googleapiclient.http import BatchHttpRequest

batch = service.new_batch_http_request()

for msg_id in message_ids:
    batch.add(service.users().messages().get(userId='me', id=msg_id))

batch.execute()

2. Use partial responses:

# Only fetch what you need
service.users().messages().get(
    userId='me',
    id=msg_id,
    format='metadata',
    metadataHeaders=['From', 'Subject', 'Date']
).execute()

3. Implement caching:

import redis
import json

redis_client = redis.Redis(host='localhost', port=6379)

def get_gmail_message_cached(service, msg_id, ttl=3600):
    cache_key = f"gmail:msg:{msg_id}"
    cached = redis_client.get(cache_key)
    
    if cached:
        return json.loads(cached)
    
    message = service.users().messages().get(userId='me', id=msg_id).execute()
    redis_client.setex(cache_key, ttl, json.dumps(message))
    
    return message

4. Request quota increase:

  • Console → Quotas → Edit quota
  • Justify need (traffic, users, use case)
  • Approval takes 24-48 hours typically

Gmail SMTP Not Working?

Issue: Can't Send Emails via SMTP

Troubleshoot:

1. Verify SMTP server settings:

Server: smtp.gmail.com
Port: 587 (TLS recommended) or 465 (SSL)
Security: TLS/SSL required
Auth: Yes (OAuth 2.0 or app password)

2. Test SMTP connection:

# Mac/Linux
telnet smtp.gmail.com 587

# Expected response:
220 smtp.gmail.com ESMTP

# If "Connection refused" → Port blocked

Windows:

Test-NetConnection -ComputerName smtp.gmail.com -Port 587

3. Common causes:

"Authentication failed":

"Connection timed out":

  • Firewall blocking port 587/465
  • ISP blocking outbound email (some block port 25)
  • Try different port (587 vs 465)
  • Disable VPN temporarily

"Relay access denied":

  • Authentication not enabled in email client
  • Wrong username (must be full email address)
  • Password incorrect

"Daily limit exceeded":

  • Free Gmail: 500 emails/day
  • Google Workspace: 2000 emails/day
  • Wait 24 hours or upgrade account

Issue: SMTP Works Intermittently

Causes:

  • Rate limiting (sending too fast)
  • Suspicious activity detected
  • IP reputation issues
  • OAuth token expiration

Fixes:

1. Implement rate limiting:

import time

def send_emails_with_rate_limit(emails, rate=10):
    """Send emails at controlled rate (emails per minute)"""
    delay = 60 / rate  # seconds between emails
    
    for email in emails:
        send_email(email)
        time.sleep(delay)

2. Monitor sending patterns:

  • Avoid sudden spikes (0 → 100 emails instantly)
  • Warm up new accounts gradually
  • Distribute sends over time

3. Check Google Security alerts:

Gmail IMAP Not Working?

Issue: Can't Receive Emails via IMAP

Troubleshoot:

1. Verify IMAP is enabled:

  • Gmail Settings → Forwarding and POP/IMAP
  • ✅ Enable IMAP
  • Save Changes
  • Wait 5 minutes for change to propagate

2. Verify IMAP settings:

Server: imap.gmail.com
Port: 993
Security: SSL required
Auth: Yes (OAuth 2.0 or app password)

3. Test IMAP connection:

# Mac/Linux
openssl s_client -connect imap.gmail.com:993

# Expected: Connection established + certificate info

# Login test
a1 LOGIN "your-email@gmail.com" "app-password"

4. Common causes:

"Connection refused":

  • Port 993 blocked by firewall
  • IMAP not enabled in Gmail settings
  • Network blocking IMAP traffic

"Authentication failed":

  • Need app password (regular password won't work)
  • 2-Step Verification required
  • OAuth credentials expired

"IMAP folder not showing":

  • Gmail labels vs folders (different concept)
  • Enable "Show in IMAP" for labels: Settings → Labels → Show in IMAP
  • Refresh folder list in email client

Issue: IMAP Syncing Slowly

Causes:

  • Large mailbox (>10 GB)
  • Too many folders/labels syncing
  • Poor internet connection
  • Email client inefficient sync

Fixes:

1. Limit folder syncing:

  • Most email clients: Account settings → Folder subscriptions
  • Unsubscribe from unnecessary labels
  • Only sync Inbox, Sent, Important

2. Reduce sync period:

  • Don't sync all mail (entire history)
  • Sync last 30 days only
  • Archive older emails (still accessible via web)

3. Use Gmail's IMAP extensions:

# Enable X-GM-EXT-1 for better performance
# Most modern clients support this automatically

4. Optimize labels:

  • Reduce total label count (<50 recommended)
  • Archive old labeled emails
  • Delete unused labels

Gmail API Issues (Developers)

Issue: "403 Rate Limit Exceeded"

What it means: Too many API requests in short time.

Fixes:

1. Implement exponential backoff:

import time
import random
from googleapiclient.errors import HttpError

def gmail_api_call_with_backoff(api_call, max_retries=5):
    for n in range(max_retries):
        try:
            return api_call()
        except HttpError as error:
            if error.resp.status in [429, 500, 503]:
                wait = (2 ** n) + random.uniform(0, 1)
                print(f"Rate limited, waiting {wait:.2f}s...")
                time.sleep(wait)
            else:
                raise
    raise Exception("Max retries exceeded")

# Usage
result = gmail_api_call_with_backoff(
    lambda: service.users().messages().list(userId='me').execute()
)

2. Batch requests (100x efficiency):

def batch_get_messages(service, message_ids):
    def callback(request_id, response, exception):
        if exception:
            print(f"Error for {request_id}: {exception}")
        else:
            print(f"Got message: {response['id']}")
    
    batch = service.new_batch_http_request(callback=callback)
    
    for msg_id in message_ids[:100]:  # Max 100 per batch
        batch.add(service.users().messages().get(userId='me', id=msg_id))
    
    batch.execute()

3. Use push notifications instead of polling:

# Set up Gmail API push notifications (Cloud Pub/Sub)
watch_request = {
    'labelIds': ['INBOX'],
    'topicName': 'projects/your-project/topics/gmail-notifications'
}

service.users().watch(userId='me', body=watch_request).execute()

Issue: "401 Invalid Credentials"

What it means: OAuth token invalid or expired.

Fixes:

1. Refresh access token:

from google.auth.transport.requests import Request
from google.oauth2.credentials import Credentials
import os.path

SCOPES = ['https://www.googleapis.com/auth/gmail.readonly']

def get_gmail_service():
    creds = None
    
    if os.path.exists('token.json'):
        creds = Credentials.from_authorized_user_file('token.json', SCOPES)
    
    # Refresh if expired
    if creds and creds.expired and creds.refresh_token:
        creds.refresh(Request())
        
        # Save refreshed token
        with open('token.json', 'w') as token:
            token.write(creds.to_json())
    
    from googleapiclient.discovery import build
    return build('gmail', 'v1', credentials=creds)

2. Handle token expiration proactively:

// Node.js: Refresh token 5 minutes before expiry
async function getValidOAuth2Client(oauth2Client) {
  const tokens = oauth2Client.credentials;
  const expiryDate = tokens.expiry_date;
  
  // Refresh if expiring in next 5 minutes
  if (expiryDate && expiryDate - Date.now() < 5 * 60 * 1000) {
    const { credentials } = await oauth2Client.refreshAccessToken();
    oauth2Client.setCredentials(credentials);
    
    // Save refreshed token to database/file
    await saveTokens(credentials);
  }
  
  return oauth2Client;
}

3. Re-authorize if refresh token revoked:

  • Delete token.json
  • Run OAuth flow again
  • User must grant permissions again
  • Common causes: User changed password, security event

Issue: "400 Bad Request: preconditionFailed"

What it means: Message/thread was modified or deleted.

Causes:

  • Trying to modify message that no longer exists
  • Message moved/deleted by another client
  • Race condition in concurrent requests

Fixes:

1. Always check if resource exists:

try:
    message = service.users().messages().get(userId='me', id=msg_id).execute()
except HttpError as error:
    if error.resp.status == 404:
        print("Message no longer exists")
    elif error.resp.status == 400:
        print("Precondition failed (message changed)")
    else:
        raise

2. Use proper locking for concurrent access:

import threading

message_locks = {}
lock_lock = threading.Lock()

def modify_message_safe(service, msg_id, modifications):
    with lock_lock:
        if msg_id not in message_locks:
            message_locks[msg_id] = threading.Lock()
        msg_lock = message_locks[msg_id]
    
    with msg_lock:
        # Safe to modify now
        service.users().messages().modify(
            userId='me',
            id=msg_id,
            body=modifications
        ).execute()

3. Implement retry logic with fresh fetch:

def modify_with_retry(service, msg_id, modification_fn, max_retries=3):
    for attempt in range(max_retries):
        try:
            # Fetch latest state
            message = service.users().messages().get(userId='me', id=msg_id).execute()
            
            # Apply modifications
            modifications = modification_fn(message)
            
            # Execute
            return service.users().messages().modify(
                userId='me',
                id=msg_id,
                body=modifications
            ).execute()
            
        except HttpError as error:
            if error.resp.status == 400 and attempt < max_retries - 1:
                time.sleep(0.5 * (attempt + 1))
                continue
            raise

Regional Outages: Is It Just Me?

Gmail has data centers worldwide:

Region Primary Locations
US Multiple (Google Cloud regions)
Europe Belgium, Netherlands, Germany
Asia Pacific Taiwan, Singapore, Tokyo
South America São Paulo

How to check for regional issues:

1. Check DownDetector heat map:
🔗 downdetector.com/status/gmail

Shows:

  • Geographic distribution of reports
  • Heatmap of affected regions
  • Spike in reports = likely real outage

2. Check Twitter by region:
Search "Gmail down [region]"
Example: "Gmail down California" or "Gmail down UK"

3. Test from different location:

  • Try mobile hotspot (different network/ISP)
  • Use VPN to test from different region
  • Ask colleague in different region to test

4. Check Google Cloud Status:
🔗 status.cloud.google.com

  • Gmail runs on Google Cloud infrastructure
  • Cloud region outages affect Gmail
  • Check "Google Compute Engine" and "Google Cloud Networking"

When Gmail Actually Goes Down

What Happens

Recent major outages:

  • December 2024: 2-hour Gmail/Drive outage (authentication system failure)
  • August 2024: 45-minute SMTP disruption (configuration rollout issue)
  • November 2023: 3-hour partial outage (storage system issue affecting 0.5% of users)

Typical causes:

  1. Authentication service failures (most common)
  2. Storage backend issues
  3. Network infrastructure problems
  4. Software deployment bugs
  5. DDoS attacks (extremely rare for Gmail)

Gmail's uptime:

  • SLA: 99.9% uptime guarantee (Google Workspace)
  • Reality: Usually 99.97%+ uptime
  • Downtime: <3 hours/year on average

How Google Responds

Communication channels:

Timeline:

  1. 0-15 min: Users report issues on Twitter
  2. 15-30 min: Google acknowledges on status page
  3. 30-90 min: Updates posted every 15-30 minutes
  4. Resolution: Usually 1-3 hours for major outages

What Google posts:

  • "We're investigating reports of an issue affecting Gmail"
  • "We've identified the root cause and are implementing a fix"
  • "The issue has been resolved"
  • Incident reports published 7-14 days after major outages

What to Do During Outages

1. Switch to backup email:

  • Outlook.com (Microsoft)
  • ProtonMail (privacy-focused)
  • Zoho Mail (business)
  • Forward important emails to backup account

2. Use Gmail offline mode (if enabled beforehand):

  • Gmail Settings → Offline → Enable offline mail
  • Requires Chrome browser
  • Access recent emails without internet
  • Compose emails (sent when connectivity restored)

3. Access via mobile app:

  • Sometimes mobile app works when web doesn't
  • Uses different infrastructure
  • Try switching between WiFi and cellular

4. Monitor status page:

5. Download critical emails:

  • Use Google Takeout (if accessible): takeout.google.com
  • Export to MBOX format
  • Import to local email client (Thunderbird, Apple Mail)

Gmail Down Checklist

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Verify it's actually down

Step 2: Quick fixes (if Gmail is up)

  • Clear browser cache and cookies
  • Disable browser extensions
  • Try different browser
  • Restart router
  • Test internet speed (3+ Mbps recommended)

Step 3: Email client troubleshooting (SMTP/IMAP)

  • Verify server settings (smtp.gmail.com:587, imap.gmail.com:993)
  • Generate app password: myaccount.google.com/apppasswords
  • Enable IMAP in Gmail settings
  • Test connectivity: telnet smtp.gmail.com 587
  • Check firewall (allow ports 587, 465, 993)

Step 4: Storage and account issues

Step 5: Developer issues (API)

  • Check API quota usage in Google Cloud Console
  • Implement exponential backoff for rate limits
  • Refresh OAuth tokens if expired
  • Batch requests for efficiency
  • Request quota increase if needed

Step 6: Network troubleshooting

  • Disable VPN/proxy temporarily
  • Try mobile hotspot (isolate WiFi issue)
  • Test with Google DNS (8.8.8.8)
  • Check if ISP blocking Gmail ports
  • Contact IT if corporate network

Step 7: Last resort

Prevent Future Issues

1. Set Up Gmail Offline Mode

Access emails without internet.

Enable offline mail:

  1. Gmail Settings (⚙️) → See all settings
  2. Offline tab
  3. ✅ Enable offline mail
  4. Choose sync period (7, 30, or 90 days)
  5. Save Changes

Requirements:

  • Chrome browser only
  • ~1 GB storage space per 10,000 emails
  • Background sync enabled

What you can do offline:

  • Read emails (synced period only)
  • Compose emails (sent when online)
  • Search emails (synced only)
  • Archive, label, delete

2. Set Up Email Forwarding

Never miss critical emails.

Forward to backup account:

  1. Gmail Settings → Forwarding and POP/IMAP
  2. Add a forwarding address
  3. Verification email sent to backup address
  4. Confirm forwarding
  5. Choose: Keep Gmail's copy or Delete

Best practices:

  • Forward to different provider (Outlook, Zoho, etc.)
  • Filter what gets forwarded (only important labels)
  • Create filter: From:[boss@company.com] → Forward to backup

Automatic BCC (for businesses):

  • Google Workspace only
  • Admin console → Apps → Google Workspace → Gmail → Compliance
  • Content compliance → BCC all outgoing mail

3. Monitor Gmail Status Proactively

Don't wait for problems.

Set up alerts:

For IT teams/developers:

1. Monitor Gmail API health:

# Check Gmail API availability every 5 minutes
import requests
from datetime import datetime

def check_gmail_api():
    try:
        response = requests.get('https://www.googleapis.com/gmail/v1/users/me/profile', 
                                headers={'Authorization': f'Bearer {access_token}'}, 
                                timeout=10)
        
        if response.status_code == 200:
            print(f"[{datetime.now()}] Gmail API: OK")
            return True
        else:
            print(f"[{datetime.now()}] Gmail API: ERROR {response.status_code}")
            send_alert(f"Gmail API returned {response.status_code}")
            return False
            
    except requests.exceptions.Timeout:
        print(f"[{datetime.now()}] Gmail API: TIMEOUT")
        send_alert("Gmail API timeout")
        return False

2. Monitor SMTP/IMAP connectivity:

import socket

def check_gmail_smtp():
    try:
        sock = socket.create_connection(("smtp.gmail.com", 587), timeout=5)
        sock.close()
        return True
    except:
        send_alert("Gmail SMTP unreachable")
        return False

def check_gmail_imap():
    try:
        sock = socket.create_connection(("imap.gmail.com", 993), timeout=5)
        sock.close()
        return True
    except:
        send_alert("Gmail IMAP unreachable")
        return False

3. Set up API Status Check alerts:

# Webhook integration for instant alerts
curl -X POST https://apistatuscheck.com/api/alerts \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "service": "gmail",
    "webhook_url": "https://your-app.com/webhooks/gmail-status",
    "alert_on": ["outage", "degraded"]
  }'

4. Optimize for Reliability

Reduce dependency on single email provider.

Best practices:

1. Use multiple email addresses:

  • Primary: Gmail (personal/business)
  • Backup: Different provider (Outlook, Zoho)
  • Critical contacts: Share both addresses

2. Download important emails locally:

# Use mbsync (isync) to backup Gmail locally
# Install: brew install isync (Mac) or apt install isync (Linux)

# ~/.mbsyncrc configuration
IMAPAccount gmail
Host imap.gmail.com
User your-email@gmail.com
PassCmd "cat ~/.gmail-app-password"
SSLType IMAPS

IMAPStore gmail-remote
Account gmail

MaildirStore gmail-local
Path ~/mail/gmail/
Inbox ~/mail/gmail/INBOX

Channel gmail
Master :gmail-remote:
Slave :gmail-local:
Patterns *
Create Slave
Sync All
Expunge Both

# Run sync
mbsync -a

3. Export emails regularly:

  • Use Google Takeout
  • Schedule exports quarterly
  • Store MBOX files in safe location
  • Import to Thunderbird/Apple Mail for access

4. Use Gmail API with proper error handling:

class GmailAPIClient:
    def __init__(self, service):
        self.service = service
        self.max_retries = 5
    
    def send_email_with_retry(self, message):
        for attempt in range(self.max_retries):
            try:
                return self.service.users().messages().send(
                    userId='me',
                    body=message
                ).execute()
                
            except HttpError as error:
                if error.resp.status in [429, 500, 503]:
                    wait = (2 ** attempt) + random.uniform(0, 1)
                    time.sleep(wait)
                elif error.resp.status >= 500:
                    # Gmail server error, might be down
                    if attempt == self.max_retries - 1:
                        # Fall back to SMTP or queue for later
                        self.fallback_to_smtp(message)
                    else:
                        time.sleep(5)
                else:
                    raise
        
        raise Exception("Failed to send after max retries")
    
    def fallback_to_smtp(self, message):
        # Implement SMTP fallback
        import smtplib
        # ... send via SMTP ...

5. Implement Robust OAuth Flow

For developers building Gmail integrations:

1. Handle token expiration gracefully:

import time
from functools import wraps

def auto_refresh_token(func):
    @wraps(func)
    def wrapper(self, *args, **kwargs):
        if self.credentials.expired:
            self.credentials.refresh(Request())
            self.save_credentials()
        return func(self, *args, **kwargs)
    return wrapper

class GmailClient:
    @auto_refresh_token
    def list_messages(self):
        return self.service.users().messages().list(userId='me').execute()

2. Implement token refresh before expiration:

// Node.js: Proactive token refresh
setInterval(async () => {
  const expiryDate = oauth2Client.credentials.expiry_date;
  const timeUntilExpiry = expiryDate - Date.now();
  
  // Refresh if expiring in next 5 minutes
  if (timeUntilExpiry < 5 * 60 * 1000) {
    try {
      const { credentials } = await oauth2Client.refreshAccessToken();
      oauth2Client.setCredentials(credentials);
      await saveTokensToDatabase(credentials);
      console.log('Token refreshed proactively');
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Token refresh failed:', error);
      // Alert admin, re-auth may be needed
    }
  }
}, 4 * 60 * 1000); // Check every 4 minutes

3. Store refresh tokens securely:

# BAD: Storing in plaintext
with open('token.json', 'w') as f:
    f.write(creds.to_json())

# GOOD: Encrypt refresh tokens
from cryptography.fernet import Fernet
import os

def save_credentials_encrypted(creds):
    # Load encryption key from environment
    key = os.environ['TOKEN_ENCRYPTION_KEY'].encode()
    fernet = Fernet(key)
    
    # Encrypt token
    encrypted = fernet.encrypt(creds.to_json().encode())
    
    # Save encrypted token
    with open('token.enc', 'wb') as f:
        f.write(encrypted)

def load_credentials_encrypted():
    key = os.environ['TOKEN_ENCRYPTION_KEY'].encode()
    fernet = Fernet(key)
    
    with open('token.enc', 'rb') as f:
        encrypted = f.read()
    
    decrypted = fernet.decrypt(encrypted).decode()
    return Credentials.from_authorized_user_info(json.loads(decrypted))

Key Takeaways

Before assuming Gmail is down:

  1. ✅ Check Google Workspace Status
  2. ✅ Try Gmail in incognito mode (rules out browser issues)
  3. ✅ Test with mobile app on cellular (rules out WiFi issues)
  4. ✅ Search Twitter for "Gmail down" (real-time user reports)

Common fixes:

  • Clear browser cache + cookies (fixes 50% of issues)
  • Disable browser extensions (fixes 20% of issues)
  • Generate app password for SMTP/IMAP (required for 2FA users)
  • Check Gmail storage (emails bounce when full)
  • Update browser to latest version

SMTP/IMAP issues:

  • Server: smtp.gmail.com:587 (TLS) or :465 (SSL)
  • IMAP: imap.gmail.com:993 (SSL)
  • Use app passwords, not regular password
  • Enable IMAP in Gmail settings (Forwarding and POP/IMAP)
  • Test connectivity: telnet smtp.gmail.com 587

Developer issues (Gmail API):

  • Implement exponential backoff for rate limits
  • Batch requests (100x more efficient)
  • Refresh OAuth tokens before expiration
  • Request quota increase if hitting limits
  • Use partial responses to reduce quota usage

If Gmail is actually down:

  • Monitor workspace.google.com/status
  • Use backup email provider (Outlook, ProtonMail)
  • Access via mobile app (sometimes works when web doesn't)
  • Usually resolved within 1-3 hours
  • Enable offline mode beforehand (Settings → Offline)

Prevent future issues:

  • Set up email forwarding to backup account
  • Enable Gmail offline mode (Chrome only)
  • Download critical emails locally (Google Takeout)
  • Monitor Gmail status proactively
  • Use proper error handling in Gmail API code

Remember: Most "Gmail down" issues are browser cache, extensions, or configuration problems. Try the fixes in this guide before assuming Gmail is down.

Need real-time Gmail status monitoring? Track Gmail uptime with API Status Check - Get instant alerts when Gmail goes down, plus SMTP/IMAP/API health monitoring.

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