Many iPhone users are reporting the “Cannot verify the identity of the server” error when sending an email. iPhone owners are complaining about the server identification error and don’t know how to solve this problem. There are many reasons why an iPhone cannot send or receive emails from the Mail app. Let’s dive into viable solutions that will fix the Server Can’t Authenticate error in new and old iPhones.
Content:
- 1 What Causes “Can’t Verify Server Identity”Error on iPhone?
- 2 Fix “Can’t Verify Server Identity”Error on iPhone 2022
What Causes “Can’t Verify Server Identity”Error on iPhone?
Apple’s unique selling point is privacy and security. The Cupertino-based company focuses on strengthening security by adding security policies that everyone should follow. I have suggested some good reasons why the error “unable to verify server identity”persists on your device.
Insecure connection
Millions travel from one place to another for pleasure or tourism. We rely on public Internet networks such as hotels, restaurants, Internet cafes, etc. iOS software can recognize unsecured networks and this can create problems. We suggest users to enable 4G or 5G networks in their smartphone. Mobile internet data is protected and creates a secure connection.
Untrusted SSL certificate
We humans verify identity with government-issued ID cards. Your iPhone authenticates the connection with an SSL certificate. An untrusted mail server certificate can create trust issues and your iPhone throws a “Cannot verify server identity”error. There is a way to fix the mail server certificate in the Mail app and I’ve covered it in the guide below.
iOS errors
Apple releases new iOS software every year, and building stable software in a year is no easy task. The developer does the same with macOS, while competitors take years to stabilize the operating system. Apple boasts of software optimization, but it’s not perfect, like any material element.
Incorrect network configuration
Hardware means nothing without powerful software. The Cupertino-based manufacturer has spent billions of dollars on equipment research and development. Apple develops their software in house and therefore they have 100% control over it. The iOS software saves network configuration so you can connect to multiple services from a single device. An incorrect or corrupted network can be the cause of the problem with the mail application.
Legacy Configuration
Setting up email on iPhone takes less than a minute. But iPhone users haven’t reset or updated their email settings in years. My corporate company has an email service and they don’t have automated systems like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc. You may be using an email service that requires manual configuration updates from time to time.
Fix “Can’t Verify Server Identity”Error on iPhone 2022
I have seen third party tools touting their programs to fix a lot of bugs related to iOS software. You don’t need third-party tools to troubleshoot iOS software issues, so fall into the trap. Follow the instructions and resolve the “Unable to verify the identity of the server”error on your iPhone.
Restart your iPhone
Smartphones work continuously for weeks or months, and from time to time they need a rest. Apple purchased high-quality components and installed them in devices. The durability of the high-quality internals is commendable, but the software needs a reboot from time to time. Let me tell you how to reset an iPhone that doesn’t have a functional side button.
- Open the Settings app from the home screen.
- Select the General setting.
- Swipe down until the screen says “Turn off”.
- Click on the “Turn off”button.
- Move the power slider to the right and let the device turn off the power.
- Charge your iPhone with the lighting cable.
Your iPhone turns on automatically.
Disable SSL in Mail App
iPhone was unable to validate the mail server certificate with the email service provider. The Mail app allows users to disable the “Use SSL”feature in the latest version of iOS 15. The “Use SSL”option is available in the earlier version, and you can follow the instructions to disable this feature.
- Open the Settings app from the home screen.
- Swipe down and find the Mail app.
- Click on the Mail app.
- Click on the “Accounts”option.
- Select the problematic account and I chose Gmail for the demo.
- Click on account/email address.
- Click “Advanced”located at the end of the section.
- Disable “Use SSL”in the “Inbox Settings”section.
- The “Use SSL”option is disabled.
Restart your iPhone and see if the solution fixed the “Cannot verify server identity”error in iOS 15 or earlier.
Fix the clock
An SSL certificate is an extended code that helps the device and the host secure the connection. The mail server certificate requires the correct device time and will match the device clock with the server clock. Fix your iPhone’s clock and let your network update the clock instead.
- Open the Settings app from the home screen.
- Swipe down and find the “General”setting.
- Click on the “General”setting.
- Click on the “Date and Time”option.
- Click “Install automatically”to enable it.
Connect your device to the Internet and let the location service find the region. Apple servers will find the location of the device and set the correct time.
Switch to mobile data
The Wi-Fi network can cause some problems, and it is not easy to identify problems with the LAN network. I recommend readers turn off Wi-Fi and turn on mobile data. Operators have simplified the Internet by doing most of the work themselves, and this is plug & play technology. Turn on the 4G or 5G network on your iOS device and fix problems with Mail.
- Launch the Settings app.
- Disable Wi-Fi manually.
- Tap on “Mobile Data”from the options.
- Toggle to enable Mobile Data on the device.
- Tap Mobile Data Options to see more options.
- Turn on Data Roaming if your data plan allows it. Select Voice & Data to see more.
- Choose 4G or 5G.
Mobile Internet is a secure connection, and the device will no longer have problems connecting to the mail server. Move on if mobile data was unable to resolve the issue with the mail server certificate.
Update your iOS software
Apple releases iOS updates to fix bugs, glitches, and security loopholes. Consider updating your iOS software from time to time.
- Connect iPhone to a high-speed Wi-Fi network.
- Charge your iPhone and make sure it’s 95% charged.
- Back up your iPhone data to a local computer to prevent data loss. iCloud backup is an option, but
I recommend users to back up the device to cloud storage and local storage.
- Launch the Settings app.
- Go to the “General”setting to see more.
- Click on “Software Update”from the options.
- Let the iPhone look for the latest version.
- Click on the “Download and Install”button.
Apple has automated the software update process and left the iPhone alone until the process is complete. Don’t run in the background and let your iOS device download, install, and complete the update process.
Reset network settings
I mentioned broken or outdated network configuration in the high end. It is not easy to remove or remove a corrupted network configuration, which is why Apple has provided users with an advanced option. You can reset network settings in iPhone and get rid of old network data.
Note. You will lose saved network data such as Wi-Fi connections, Bluetooth connections, etc.
- Launch the Settings app.
- Go to the “General”setting to see more.
- Click on Transfer or Reset iPhone from the options.
- Click on the “Reset”button.
- Click on the “Reset network settings”option.
- Confirm the action by going through the security protocol.
- Click the Reset Network Settings pop-up button.
The iPhone turns black and the Apple logo appears on the screen. Sit back and watch the device from 0% to 100%. The network reset process takes less than two minutes on the latest iPhone series.
Reset all settings
Back up iPhone data to local storage using iTunes or Finder app. We don’t want users to risk data and end up losing data. Resetting your iPhone will not delete your saved data, but I want you to back up your data as a precaution.
Note. You will lose your saved settings, custom settings, etc.
- Launch the Settings app.
- Go to the “General”setting to see more.
- Click on Transfer or Reset iPhone from the options.
- Click on the “Reset”button.
- Click on the “Reset All Settings”option.
- Confirm the action by going through the security protocol.
- Click the Reset All Settings pop-up button.
The iPhone turns black and the Apple logo appears on the screen. Resetting all settings takes a long time on older phones, so don’t panic if the device doesn’t show any progress. It takes less than fifteen minutes for an old iPhone 6S running iOS 15 to reset all settings.
bottom line
Download and install a dedicated email application if you are unable to authenticate the server. I installed the official Gmail app from Google on my iPhone and it works great. Microsoft Exchange is a different story, so you should contact MS Customer Support for more support. Let us know which solution helped you fix mail server errors on iPhone.