Gmail Not Sending Emails Fix (Emails Stuck in Outbox?)

by

Gmail Not Sending Emails Fix is needed when your emails stay in the outbox, fail to send, or show sending errors.

This issue can happen in Gmail on a browser or mobile device and is usually caused by internet problems, large attachments, full Google storage, browser issues, or temporary Gmail service problems.

Quick Fix

Refresh Gmail and check your internet connection. If the email is stuck in the outbox, remove large attachments, save the message as a draft, and try sending it again.

Try This First

• Emails stuck in outbox → refresh Gmail and check internet connection
• Email has large attachment → remove or reduce the file size
• Gmail is slow or frozen → clear browser cache and restart browser

If the issue continues, follow the fixes below.

Why Is Gmail Not Sending Emails?

Gmail may fail to send emails when it cannot connect to Google servers, upload attachments, or process the message correctly.

This can appear as emails stuck in the outbox, failed sending messages, delivery errors, or Gmail not responding after you click send.

What Causes Gmail Not Sending Emails?

The most common causes include:

• Poor internet connection
• Large attachments
• Browser cache or cookie problems
• Full Google storage
• Gmail service outage
• Too many sent emails in a short time
• VPN or browser extension conflicts

This issue can come from your internet connection, Gmail storage, browser settings, attachment size, or temporary Google service problems.

How to Fix Gmail Not Sending Emails

Follow these steps until Gmail sends emails normally again.

Check Your Internet Connection

  1. Open another website in the same browser
  2. If the website does not load, your internet connection may be down
  3. Restart your router if needed
  4. Try opening Gmail on another device
  5. Return to Gmail and send the email again

If Gmail is not working at all, follow this guide: Gmail Not Working Fix

Gmail needs a stable internet connection to send emails and upload attachments.

Refresh Gmail

  1. Open Gmail in your browser
  2. Click the Refresh button near the address bar
  3. Wait for Gmail to reload fully
  4. Open the email again from Drafts or Outbox
  5. Click Send again

Refreshing Gmail can fix temporary browser or connection glitches that stop messages from sending.

Check Attachment Size

  1. Open the email draft
  2. Look at the file attached to the email
  3. Check if the file is larger than 25 MB
  4. If it is too large, remove the attachment
  5. Upload the file to Google Drive instead
  6. Insert the Drive link into the email
  7. Try sending the email again

Gmail usually does not send regular attachments larger than 25 MB, so large files can keep emails stuck or failed.

Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

  1. Open your browser
  2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete on Windows or Command + Shift + Delete on Mac
  3. Select Cached images and files
  4. Select Cookies and other site data
  5. Click Clear data
  6. Close and reopen your browser
  7. Open Gmail again
  8. Try sending the email

If Gmail mainly fails to load or respond, follow this guide: Gmail Not Loading Fix

Old cache or cookie data can stop Gmail buttons and sending features from working correctly.

Check Gmail Storage Space

  1. Open Gmail
  2. Scroll to the bottom of the Gmail page
  3. Check your Google storage usage
  4. If storage is full, delete unnecessary emails
  5. Empty the Spam folder
  6. Empty the Trash folder
  7. Try sending the email again

When Google storage is full, Gmail may stop sending or receiving emails.

Disable Browser Extensions

  1. Open your browser
  2. Click the three dots menu
  3. Go to Extensions or Manage extensions
  4. Turn OFF all extensions temporarily
  5. Restart your browser
  6. Open Gmail again
  7. Try sending the email
  8. If Gmail works, turn extensions back on one by one

Some extensions can block Gmail scripts, buttons, or upload features.

Try a Different Browser

  1. Open another browser such as Chrome, Edge, or Firefox
  2. Go to gmail.com
  3. Sign in to your account
  4. Open the email draft
  5. Try sending the email again

If Gmail sends emails in another browser, the issue is likely caused by your main browser settings, cache, or extensions.

Disable VPN

  1. Check if a VPN app is running on your device
  2. Open the VPN app
  3. Click Disconnect or turn the VPN OFF
  4. Wait a few seconds
  5. Open Gmail again
  6. Try sending the email

A VPN can sometimes interfere with Gmail’s connection and stop emails from sending properly.

Check Gmail Server Status

  1. Open a browser on your phone or computer
  2. Search for Google Workspace Status Dashboard
  3. Open the official Google status page
  4. Look for Gmail in the service list
  5. Check if Gmail shows an outage or service disruption
  6. If Gmail has an outage, wait and try again later
  7. If Gmail status is normal, continue with the other fixes

If Gmail is down for many users, the problem is not your device and you need to wait until Google fixes the service.

Check Email Sending Limits

  1. Think about how many emails you sent today
  2. If you sent many emails quickly, Gmail may temporarily block more sending
  3. Wait a few hours and try again
  4. If sending is still blocked, wait up to 24 hours
  5. Avoid sending the same message repeatedly

Gmail can temporarily limit sending if it detects too many emails or unusual sending activity.

Reset Browser Settings

  1. Open your browser
  2. Go to Settings
  3. Search for Reset settings
  4. Click Restore settings to their original defaults
  5. Confirm the reset
  6. Restart your browser
  7. Open Gmail and try sending again

Resetting browser settings can fix deeper browser problems, but use it only after easier fixes because it may remove custom browser settings.

How to Prevent Gmail Sending Issues

• Avoid large attachments
• Keep your browser updated
• Keep enough Google storage free
• Avoid sending too many emails too quickly
• Use a stable internet connection

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Gmail emails stuck in outbox?

This usually happens because of internet problems, large attachments, browser issues, or temporary Gmail service problems.

Why does Gmail fail to send emails?

Gmail may fail to send emails because of full storage, attachment limits, browser problems, connection issues, or Google service outages.

Can I fix Gmail sending issues myself?

Yes, most Gmail sending problems can be fixed by checking your connection, reducing attachment size, clearing cache, or checking Gmail storage.

You may also want to check our guides on Gmail Not Receiving Emails Fix, Gmail Keeps Crashing Fix and Gmail App Not Working Fix for related Gmail issues.