With the Mail application, you can access and manage all your emails right from your phone, following an easy and swift setup process. However, certain issues may be encountered when you add an account to your phone. The “Cannot verify server identity” error is a common issue iPhone users face in this process or when transferring accounts.
The error occurs when your iPhone retrieves an unreliable server SSL certificate or untrusted/invalid email server settings. It could be that the certificate does not match the domain name or has expired. This article provides simple and easy fixes you can test with your iPhone to get your Mail app working again.
Common Causes of iPhone Cannot Verify Server Identity
Incorrect Date and Time Settings
SSL certificates rely on your device having the correct date and time. If your clock is off, certificates may appear invalid.
Expired or Invalid SSL Certificate
The server’s certificate may have expired or been misconfigured.
Email Account Issues
This often occurs when setting up or syncing an email account (Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, etc.) on your Apple device.
Network Issues
A weak or misconfigured Wi-Fi network may prevent proper server verification.
Outdated iOS/macOS Version
Older software may not support the latest encryption protocols.
Also read: What Is Hide My Email? How It Works on iOS and iCloud
How to Fix Cannot Verify Server Identity Error
1. Close the Mail app
The apps will occasionally crash if run in the background for a long time. The good news is that all you need to do is force close the Mail app. Take these actions:
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher.
- Swipe left or right to find the Mail app.
- Swipe up on the Mail app to close it.
2. Restart your iPhone
The same procedure should be followed for clearing any background applications that you might suspect could be hindering your Mail application. Now you can restart or reset your iPhone to remove caches, refresh memory, and other system functions.
- Press and hold both the Volume Up and Side buttons until the power-off slider appears.
- Slide to power off, wait 30 seconds, then hold the Side button to turn it back on.
- Reconnect to the internet and check if the error persists.
Let your phone finish restarting, and then connect to the Internet. Once it’s connected to the Internet, launch the Mail app once more and check whether the error has gone away in the meantime.
3. Remove and Re-add Your Email Account
If the solution above didn’t fix the cannot verify server identity on your iPhone, you can try removing and signing up for your account again. This is the most common solution to this “Cannot verify server identity” error. Follow these steps:
To remove the account:
- Go to Settings → Mail → Accounts.
- Select the email account and tap Delete Account.
- Restart your iPhone.
To re-add the account:
- Go to Settings → Mail → Accounts → Add Account.
- Choose your email provider or select Other for manual setup.
- Enter your account details and tap Next.
- Configure sync options, then tap Save.
4. Update Carrier Settings
If you can find carrier updates available, installing them may assist to solve the issue. Updates to carriers’ settings typically include enhancements to network systems along with relevant patches to address network issues related to web-based systems such as Mail. If you have an iPhone connected to the internet and have plenty of battery life, then follow these steps to verify and install any updates to your carrier settings:
- Go to Settings → General → About.
- If a carrier update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
5. Update iOS
Another important update you shouldn’t miss is an iOS update. This update loaded a crucial patch to fix iOS bugs that can cause problems with the system services available on various iOS devices. If you haven’t set up your iPhone to automatically update, you can manually verify and update via settings. Ensure that it’s online and has at least 50% of battery power to continue. Simply follow these steps:
- From the Home screen, tap Settings.
- Select General
- Tap Software Update
6. Reset All Settings
If the settings aren’t correctly installed, they may create system conflicts. To remove this issue, it is possible to reset all options on the iPhone. This will erase your personal settings, recent configurations, and any errors, but it will not impact the important data stored in the phone.
- Go to Settings and tap General → Reset or Transfer iPhone → Reset → Reset All Settings.
- Your device will restart, and the default settings will be restored.
Also read: iPhone Error 4013: Why It Happens and How to Solve It
7. Factory Reset Your iPhone
Factory resets are the final option in case your Mail application isn’t working and gives the “cannot verify server identity” error. The reset wipes everything off your phone, including any saved data stored on the internal memory, and restores the default settings to factory. Make sure to back up your phone and the most frequently used apps to prevent losing important data. After you have made your backups, follow these steps to factory reset your iPhone:
- Go to Settings and Select General
- Select the option to erase all settings and content.
- Enter your device passcode if asked
- Tap for confirmation and erase your iPhone
After the reset, you can utilize the startup wizard to configure the necessary features, such as your email account in Mail with automated settings.
8. Contact Apple Support
If you’ve tried all the above strategies and nothing worked, there could be issues with the server that are affecting Mail. Consider contacting Apple Support and informing them of the Cannot Verify Server Identity problem and the steps taken. In some cases, you can download and use different third-party email programs such as Gmail or Outlook.
Tips to Prevent “Cannot Verify Server Identity.”
- Keep your iPhone updated so it always has the latest security fixes.
- Set your date and time to automatic to avoid certificate errors.
- Avoid public or unsecured Wi-Fi networks.
- Double-check your email’s incoming and outgoing server settings.
- If you run your own email server, make sure the SSL certificate is valid and not expired.
- Close apps you’re not using, as too many background apps can affect Mail.
- Back up your iPhone regularly and reset settings to avoid small issues.
Final word
Many iPhone users are facing issues with a “Cannot Verify Server Identity” message when they use the Mail application. This issue first appeared following the most recent iOS 26/18 update and comes in the way users access their email. This article will provide several solutions to solve this problem.
FAQs: Cannot Verify Server Identity
What does “Cannot Verify Server Identity” mean on iPhone?
This error means your iPhone cannot confirm that the email server’s security certificate is valid, trusted, or matches the server domain.
Is it safe to tap “Trust” on Cannot Verify Server Identity?
You should only tap Trust if you are 100% sure the server is legitimate, as trusting an unknown certificate can expose your data.
Does updating iOS fix Cannot Verify Server Identity?
Yes, iOS updates often fix security bugs and improve certificate validation.
Can email server issues cause this error?
Yes, server-side problems like expired SSL certificates can cause the error regardless of your device settings.
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