How to Check Gmail Issue Status

What to do when you have problems with Gmail

by Heinz Tschabitscher
A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated November 21, 2019

When your Gmail isn't working properly or at all, determine if it's down for everybody or just you. Check the Google Status Dashboard page to find out if Google is aware of Gmail service disruptions — login failures, missing data, or certain functions not working — and check for an estimate of how long the outage will last. If Google doesn't know about the problem, alert the company about the outage.

Check the Google Status Dashboard

If you have trouble with your Gmail account, the service may be disrupted or down completely. However, it could be just you. Before you take any other action, check the current status of Gmail.

Person checking Gmail status on a computer
Lifewire / Miguel Co

  1. Go to the Google Status Dashboard web page.

  2. Go to the listing for Gmail and look at the Current status column. A green button next to Gmail indicates there are no known issues, an orange button indicates a service disruption, and a red button indicates a service outage.

  3. Go to the current date for Gmail to read comments. Usually, when the button is red or orange, there's an indication of what is going on or when it might be fixed.

    Screenshot of outage dot on Google's G Suite Status Dashboard

If the button is green, you are the only one having a problem and should contact Gmail support for help. If the button is orange or red, Google knows about it, and there's nothing to do until Google resolves the problem.

Subscribe to the Google Status Dashboard RSS feed in an RSS feed reader to receive up-to-date status reports.

Go to the Gmail Help Center

Before you contact Google for help, look at the Gmail Help Center to see solutions to frequently occurring problems with Gmail.

A screenshot of the Gmail Help Center.

Select Fix a problem and choose the category that matches the trouble you are having. Categories include:

  • Missing Gmail messages
  • Unwanted or suspicious emails
  • Loading & display
  • Account
  • Can't sign in to Google account
  • Sync & import
  • Rejected messages

You may find a solution at the Help Center. If not, contact Google.

How to Report an Issue to Google

If you encounter a problem that's not on the Gmail Help Center list, report it to Google.

  1. In Gmail, select Settings. 

  2. Select Send Feedback.

    Screenshot of Send Feedback menu item in Gmail Settings menu

  3. In the Send feedback window, describe your issue. 

  4. Include a screenshot of the problem, if you have one. 

    Screenshot of feedback form in Gmail settings, highlighting the Send button

    Use the provided tools to hide and highlight things in your screenshot.

  5. Select Send.

  6. A technician will respond and assist you with the problem.

If your Gmail is part of a paid G Suite account, you have additional service options that include phone, chat, and email support.