Gmail Outage: Weeks of problems with Exchange ActiveSync

Many organizations apparently rely on the Gmail app on Android smartphones for mail processing. Currently, however, there is a problem with this when servers such as Exchange, Zimbra, or Tobit are involved, which integrate Gmail with Exchange ActiveSync (EAS).

Affected users already reported the issue on November 19, 2025, in Google's issue tracker. However, we have also received several reader inquiries about it. Mails, contacts, and calendar entries in Gmail are sometimes synchronized, but then sometimes appear empty if an account is integrated via Exchange ActiveSync, for example, from an Exchange server. Already read emails also occasionally reappear as unread in the inbox.

No solution in sight

The issue tracker also names affected versions. Gmail 2025.09.15.810231445 was reportedly the last cleanly functioning app version, while the following versions, such as 2025.10.13.822206885, 2025.11.02.828149635, or 2025.11.17.834797744 exhibit the unwanted behavior. There are no helpful hints from Google's side in the bug tracking system.

In response to an inquiry from heise online, Google has also not yet provided an answer. The problem affects many users, sometimes hundreds in individual organizations, if the issue tracker contributions are to be believed. If the company comments on this, we will update the report.

Google has now issued a statement to heise online: „We know of the issue and our technicians are looking for the causes. At this time we cannot give a timetable for a solution.“ The company suggests to temporarily remove the updates of the app. „As a temporary solution, affected users can deinstall the updates of the GMail app by long pressing the GMail app, touching the „info“ symbol, then the three dots in the upper corner and choose ‚Uninstall updates‘. This should solve the synchronization issues.“ Affected users can use the option „Help and feedback“ in the GMail app to turn to Google and refer to the ticket number 461996029 to stay up to date. Admins can open a ticket at the business support.

Affected users might be able to help themselves by restoring the old app version from mid-September, which still worked. However, a more correct solution with the current software version is currently only possible by switching apps. While this may be feasible for individual devices, larger organizations will probably first have to validate such a new solution – setting up zig or hundreds of accounts on smartphones anew will also likely be a major undertaking.

There are alternative Android apps that also support Exchange ActiveSync. The Mail app that ships with the smartphone should support EAS natively., for example on Samsung smartphones. Also, tehere is Microsofts Mobile Outlook. Organizations should, if necessary, check whether a migration – at least temporarily – is an option for them. If necessary, not all functions may be available as usual, especially regarding calendar and contact synchronization.

(dmk)