Did you notice that an important email you sent in your Gmail account was marked as queued instead of being sent? In this article, we will touch upon what the expression “queued” means in Gmail, and then how you can get your emails moving again and send them.
What is a Queued Email in Gmail?
If any email in your mailbox appears as “queued,” it means that this email is in the stage of being sent. In other words, because Gmail could not send this email immediately, it will try to send it again later.
Why Are My Emails Queued?
There can be several different reasons why your emails are queued. These reasons might be related to network issues, glitches in Gmail, or problems with your device.
Most of the time, emails wait in the queue due to a weak internet connection. When the connection regains its strength, your email will be sent.
Another reason is trying to send a large number of emails. If you are sending hundreds of emails at the same time, some may be queued because Gmail prefers to send these emails in batches. Additionally, emails containing files larger than 25 MB may also be queued.
Another common reason is that the storage space on your device is full. If storage is limited, your emails may wait in the queue until you free up space.
When you notice your emails are queued, you can start trying the solutions below.
Solutions for Queued Emails in Gmail
Before looking for a solution, it is useful to understand exactly what the problem is. Try sending an email to yourself from both your computer and your mobile device. This way, you can understand whether the issue is related to the device or something else.
Once you learn the reason why your emails are waiting in the queue, you can start troubleshooting with the steps below.
Check Your Internet Connection
Internet issues are one of the biggest reasons for emails being queued. A weak connection can cause emails not to reach the recipient’s inbox. Check your device or your modem. Do both provide a strong connection? If you are using a VPN, this can also affect Gmail’s connection.
Check Offline Mode
You may need to check if Gmail is in offline mode. You can do this as follows:
- Open the Gmail app in your browser.
- Click on the Settings icon.
- Click on the “See all settings” option.
- Select “Offline” from the top and ensure that the “Enable offline mail” option is unchecked.
Schedule Your Emails
Google places a limit on the number of daily emails each user can send. For personal Gmail accounts, this limit is 500 emails, and for Workspace accounts, it is 2,000 (under certain conditions). If you exceed this limit, you cannot send new messages for the next 24 hours.
Exceeding this limit can cause your emails to wait in the queue or lead to your account being suspended. The good news is that you can prevent this situation by scheduling your emails.
By clicking the blue arrow next to the Send button, you can select “Schedule send” and schedule your email to be sent later. Gmail will offer you some suggestions. You can choose any date and time that suits you.
Lift Attachment Restrictions
Gmail limits the total size of files you attach to your emails to 25 MB. The number of files you attach does not matter; only their total size must not exceed 25 MB. Attachments exceeding this size can cause your emails to be queued.
To overcome the file size limit in email sending, you can upload large files to Google Drive. Then, you can copy the file’s link and add it inside your text. You can also select files from Drive by choosing the “Insert files using Drive” option at the bottom of your email draft.
Sync Your Account on Your Phone
The reason for emails waiting in the queue might be that Gmail is not syncing properly between your phone and your computer. To ensure that synchronization is done correctly on both your devices and account, follow these steps:
- Open the Gmail app and go to Settings.
- Select your account.
- Under General, click on “Sync settings”.
- Adjust sync settings for the last 30 days.
- Restart your phone.
- Return to settings and ensure your sync preferences are saved.
Check Date and Time on Your Device
If your device’s date or time is incorrect, this prevents Gmail from syncing properly, leading to emails being queued.
To check all your settings, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings on your iPhone.
- Select General.
- Now select “Date & Time”.
- Turn on “Set Automatically” (it should be green).
Update Your Software and Operating System
Old software can cause emails to be queued. Ensure that your internet browser and operating system are up to date on your computer. On your mobile device, check that you have the latest version of the Gmail app and your operating system.