why you might experience problems with aol
Some problems are inherent in using webmail programs, and fixing them first might help you fix any aol mail blockage. These are the most common:
bad internet connection
Since sending and receiving email will always require some kind of network, this should always be the first thing you check. Trying other websites and completing diagnostic checks for your operating system will show if the problem is with aol mail or the internet.
outdated web browser or operating system
Software updates may seem repetitive, but they are necessary to ensure applications continue to work. As browsers and operating systems release updates, applications that depend on them may experience compatibility issues.
mail server outages
Even if your internet works perfectly, an email system is only as reliable as the mail server that hosts it. aol mail isn’t necessarily known for frequent server outages, but they do happen from time to time; for example, as a result of scheduled maintenance.
incorrect configuration of the mail account
Like all webmail programs, aol mail has its own set of configuration options for each email account. Account setup errors, such as a typo or smtp port error, can cause a connectivity issue between your inbox and the email service.
is aol mail down? how to find out server status
Regarding server outages, you can eliminate or confirm this as the source of the problem in most cases by checking the status of the aol mail server here:
This page reports the status of the server, as well as any reported issues that have occurred in the last 24 hours.
general problems with aol and how to fix them
The following are common problems a user may experience with aol mail, with suggestions for troubleshooting possible problems. Unless otherwise specified, this setting is found in options > mail settings, which is located directly below your username in the upper right corner.
do not receive emails from aol mail
This is what you can do when you don’t receive emails, even though the sent mail has been confirmed on the other end:
#1. check email filters
aol mail filters (mail settings > filter settings) allow users to separate emails into folders based on specified keywords. Of course, this means that some new emails containing these same terms may cross paths, so the email you expect may have been sent to one of these folders accidentally.
#2. check spam/junk folders
In aol mail, the spam folder works just like any webmail program, and unwarranted or suspicious emails are automatically sent there. the downside of this automation is that webmail inboxes can mark new emails as spam based on their own criteria.
You can mark/unmark emails as spam by moving them from the spam folder to the inbox (more > move to: > inbox). all subsequent emails from this address should be accepted normally.
#3. check your blacklist
aol mail’s blacklist feature is found in the “block senders” settings (mail settings > block senders). If you’re not receiving email from a sender, check the list on the “block senders” screen to make sure your address isn’t there.
#4. check server settings (imap/pop3)
pop and imap configuration with aol mail is handled by external programs, such as email clients that connect to your webmail server. problems with receiving emails can be as simple as a typo in the settings, or more complicated problems like an outdated connection method.
*note: Specific tips on setting up an aol email account with mailbird can be found here, or you can use the table below to quickly check your settings.
problems sending emails
if you can’t send emails and don’t get a “failed” response that gives some indication as to why, check your smtp settings as above. these are used for both sending and receiving emails.
problems retrieving emails
The following are some common problems with email retrieval using aol mail and some solutions to fix them:
#1. clear browser cache
Clearing the browser cache is a reference method for troubleshooting web issues. it’s the equivalent of a soft reset, where you delete temporary files and let the browser replace them when needed in the hope that it will fix itself.
in chrome, for example, you can do this by going to the more menu (three vertical dots in the upper right corner) > more tools > clear browsing data…
This action can remove settings and passwords from some sites that store them temporarily, although your saved passwords should be safe.
#2. enable popups
a popup blocker could be preventing some functionality of your aol mail. try allowing popups for aol.com to see if that eliminates problems with your webmail component. enabling/disabling this option depends on your browser and whether you use a third-party application.
or the usual route is through the browser preferences > site settings (web).
#3. check your firewall
Built-in firewalls are not usually a problem with webmail applications, but third-party firewalls have their own set of rules. you may need to add an exception for aol to work properly.
#4. disable “protected mode” in internet explorer
internet explorer “protected mode” is your version of an antivirus program that prevents malicious software from taking root on your computer. it can also cause browser programs like webmail to not work properly, so turning it off might be the answer.
in your ie, go to the tools menu > advanced tab and uncheck enable enhanced protected mode.
#5. reset browser settings
If you’ve tried all the other options listed here and still run into obstacles, you may need to restart your browser. external factors like extensions and cookies might get in the way.
Because this step will likely remove or disable some part of your browsing experience that you want to keep, it should be considered a last resort.
can’t see images with aol mail
if you’re having trouble viewing images in aol mail, try some of these options:
- check email attachments. some programs send images as attachments by default rather than embedding them in email, which may require a download before you can view the image.
- Clear your browser cache. It’s a good idea to clear your browser cache periodically, even if you’re not having problems with aol mail, but it’s a relatively low-impact way to bass. to see if the browser can adjust the next time you open an email.
- check the image format. if the image in question is from a known sender, not an embedded image such as a logo, make sure your email application can send images of that type. . often a simple jpeg to bmp conversion fixes the problem.
- Reset your browser settings. Just as webmail reception can be compromised by a browser’s settings, image reception can also be affected. the same rules apply as to what circumstances warrant a browser reset.
error error 1
blerk error 1 could indicate a number of aol mail problems, but is usually due to an outdated browser not allowing proper email authentication. here are ways to fix this problem:
- update your browser to the latest version, or switch to a newer one if the browser itself is considered outdated (for example, upgrading from internet explorer to microsoft edge).
- modify your security settings to be more lenient with incoming data. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution here, as all browsers have their own security settings, so some trial and error may be required.
- verify you have the correct url for aol mail, as it may have changed times since you started using it.
- add aol.com to your list of trusted sites in browsers where this functionality applies. this is often referred to as a “whitelist”.
- turn off protected mode in internet explorer.
error code 521
The most frequent error code encountered when using aol mail (521) occurs when files vital to the operation of the webmail application are damaged. Since file corruption can come from many different sources (for example, an installation process was stopped prematurely), resolving this issue may require some experimentation.
- reboot the machine. this may sound like the usual joke, but simply restarting your computer often does the trick.
- check that your operating system is up to date. Outdated or missing local files on your operating system are no different from damaged ones. Before taking drastic measures, check that you have all the files and applications present for your system to work properly. this starts with updating the operating system itself to make sure no important registry items are missing.
- run a disk cleanup utility. All modern operating systems should have some sort of built-in disk cleanup utility that includes an integrity checker for their file systems. apart from this, there are many third-party disk cleanup utilities available on the web.
- run an antivirus scan. file corruption increases the chance that malicious software is working on your system. Removing these malicious programs, or at least quarantining them, can eliminate the problems causing the error code 521.
- perform a system restore. In windows, a system restore reverts your operating system to a previous version, hopefully before the file corruption that caused the error code. however, this process will also remove any changes you want to keep, so a full system backup of all important data is highly recommended.
problems with aol mail on mobile devices
Mobile webmail works similarly to its desktop counterparts, only the visual elements are removed to fit smaller screens. Of course, phones connect to the web with different settings, so other methods of troubleshooting aol mail should be applied.
try the following steps to get aol mail working on iphone or android:
- network. check your connection to make sure you are on a mobile network (4g, 5g) or a wifi network.
- airplane mode. make sure your phone is not in “airplane mode”, which disables all external connections, including the internet.
- updates. Check that both your phone’s operating system and the app are up to date. stale local files can affect both mobile devices and desktop computers.
- data cache. It’s always a good idea to clear your browser’s cache periodically. mobile browsers are no exception.
- restart device. Like desktop complications, many mobile challenges can be resolved with a simple device reboot. this is a simple cleanup operation that allows the software to automatically fix any faulty parameters.
Operations that force the aol mail application to reset are a good way to fix your problems. Beyond restarting your phone, this also includes removing and re-adding your aol account to phone settings, checking passwords, and reinstalling the app.
is your aol still not working? try mailbird!
mailbird fixes many of the problems presented in this article, some of which are inherent to webmail, not just the aol version. simplifying the processes behind email transmission into a single, easy-to-use interface is half the battle won.
what is mailbird?
mailbird is an email client for windows 7, 8, 10 and 11 that makes it easy to handle emails from almost any email service. it also provides a convenient interface for using multiple email accounts based on the principles of simple setup, low performance impact, and ease of use.
mailbird features
- a unified inbox for all your email accounts;
- a highly customizable layout that’s still simple enough for anyone to use;
- integration with applications such as facebook, whatsapp and twitter;
- snooze emails and return to them when necessary;
- fast reader integrations that increase efficiency exponentially;
- custom sounds for your desktop alerts;
- linkedin search for cutting-edge professional networks;
- attachment searches to easily find emailed files;
- dark themes for even more customization;
- keyboard shortcuts for more convenient navigation;
- support for 21 different languages; y
- customer service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you’re an Apple user, you might find it helpful to know that all of these features will soon be packaged into a Mac version.
what’s next?
Beyond the inherent improvements over webmail that we’ve covered, mailbird offers a stronger feature set and significant quality improvements compared to other mail clients. these updates are packaged in an interface that allows you to focus on productivity and the email content itself rather than navigating things that get in the way of your purpose.
however, the simplicity of
mailbird does not imply limitation. For high-volume business users, the email client still provides dynamic tools like Quick Reader and Linkedin Search that make that always-elusive inbox zero a real possibility.
then if you experience any problems with aol mail, try using an email client to manage your correspondence.