7 Ways to Fix ‘Cannot Verify Server Identity’ on iPhone!

iPhone is one of the most prestigious smartphones you can possess these days. It is a style statement. Seeing pesky errors in your iPhone, losing your AirPods, or dealing with muffled AirPods are so irritating and hence you would not want any one of them to live further and solve them at the earliest. However, it has been reported that the ‘Cannot Verify Server Identity’ error keeps appearing for Apple iPhone users over time. 

You sat to write your friend an E-mail or just read and go through your inbox and suddenly this error occurred which hindered your progress and that is while this ‘Cannot Verify Server Identity’ error is a huge nuisance. The error does not let you continue with any function further in that particular function until it is not solved. 

The reasons as to why you would encounter such an error are very common and easy to solve so not to worry. Also before you get all worried, no this is not a virus and you certainly don’t need to get out of your way and do something very high-tech. It is no rocket science, just follow the steps. We’ll explain exactly how you can troubleshoot if you see the “cannot verify server identity” error message on your iPhone. 

What Causes Cannot Verify Server Identity on iPhone?

To connect to a mail server securely, your iPhone will try to fetch the server’s SSL certificate and then check if it is reliable. If the SSL certificate does not match the domain name or is outdated, the ‘Cannot Verify Server Identity’ sign pops up and you get notified about the issue & the function you want to perform. 

The error usually occurs when a new mail has to be set up or when the certificates required are unmatched or changed. There are times that the error is attributed to invalid email addresses. Though there are times when the error is because of some bugs that affected your device. The error is basically telling you that the mail server’s certificate is fake.

It appears that this problem affects both IMAP and POP users. IMAP and POP are two methods to access email from any device.

7 Ways to Fix iPhone Cannot Verify Server Identity Error

The following are some troubleshooting methods which will help you solve cannot verify server identity error on iPhone and get on with your Email work. Make sure you follow the steps word to word and leave no part of it out. Let’s walk through the methods one by one!

Fix 1: Restart your iPhone

It is a quite simple trick but somehow restarting your iPhone can do the trick for you as it has done for so many more. Nobody knows how and what is the reason but it just works and hence this is the first thing you should do should you face any errors not just this one.

Step 1: Hold your power button and with either of the volume buttons (it’s different for few iPhone models).

Step 2: Wait for a couple of seconds till a slider shows saying slide to power off. Slide in from left to right.

Step 3: Once the phone is off, push and hold the power button to switch it on again.

Step 4: Check if the issue still persists.

Fix 2: Remove and Add Back your Email account

The email is the reason you are facing such an issue. There is no firm accounting for the reason for it to be there. So removing and adding back your Email ID could help as it will reset and reconfigure your email which could end up solving your issue.

Step 1: Click on “Settings” from the home screen.

Step 2: Go to “Passwords and Accounts.”

Step 3: Navigate to the “Accounts” section and then select the account you wish to delete or remove.

Step 4: Click on the “Delete Account” button on the bottom of the screen.

Step 5: Follow it by clicking on “Delete from My iPhone” for confirmation and then the account will be removed.

Step 6: Go back to “Setting” followed by the “Accounts and Passwords” menu.

Step 7: Tap on the option to “Add Account”.

Step 8: Click and select the email service provider you use.

Step 9: Add and set up your Email.

Step 10: Check if the cannot verify server identity error has vanished.

Fix 3: Reset All Settings

Resetting all settings is usually an easy way to solve your issues related to a lot of things. The issues that seem pretty absurd when they pop up as they are usually a software issue are difficult to track down or find an origin for. That is when this simple trick comes handy as you can pretty easily just reset all our settings and that has worked for a lot of iOS users in the past.

Step 1: Go to “Settings” on the home screen.

Step 2: Go to “General” in the settings app.

Step 3: Click on ”Reset” on the bottom of your screen.

Step 4: Follow it by clicking on “Reset All Settings” and enter your iPhone’s password to confirm and continue.

Step 5: Try doing the task again and see if the cannot verify server identity error continues to appear.

Recommended Tutorial: How to Use Sideloadly on Windows or Mac

Fix 4: Disable the “Use SSL” option

Disabling the “Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)” is a profitable way where you would not need to delete the email or change or reset your settings and get your issue solved with pretty easy steps. 

Step 1: Click on the “Settings” option on your home screen.

Step 2: Find and click on “Mail” to explore it.

Step 3: Go to “Accounts” in the mail and follow it by clicking on the email that is causing the cannot verify server identity error to occur.

Step 4: Then enlarge the settings by again clicking on the “Account” inside.

Step 5: Click on “Advanced” inside it and follow it by toggling the “Use SSL” switch off which is present in the “Incoming Settings”.

Step 6: Retry doing your task on the similar Email ID again and see if the problem still persists.

Fix 5: Update to Latest iOS Version

Update: Download and install iOS 15 once it is released for your iPhone.

Apple is always known for being particular with the app updates and software updates. The company ensures that the latest version of software update is always installed on the devices as it will disable a lot of functions till the device is not updated. Here’s how you install the update – 

Step 1: Click on “Setting” on the home screen.

Step 2: Follow it by clicking on “General”.

Step 3: Then select “Software Update” which will start an automatic system update search.

Step 4: Once scanned, if there is a newer version of iOS available, tap on “Download and Install”.

Step 5: Follow the onscreen instructions and get the job done.

Step 6: Once the update is installed, check upon your issue and see if the error has been eradicated.

Fix 6: Check Service Provider

Sometimes the issue is not with the phone or any certificates. There are times when the issues arise due to the problem in your service provider such as GMail, Yahoo, iCloud etc. 

This could probably happen due to some server issue or anything else but to ensure that if there is a server outage could get rid of the disturbing error.

Fix 7: Internet Connection

In this daily fast happening life, such small issues tend to happen very often. Maybe you were clicking on Bluetooth and landed up switching the WiFi off or end up switching your cellular data off. This can also cause that cannot verify server identity error and create issues for you. 

Just toggle down your control center and switch Wi-Fi and Cellular Data on. There can me time that such a small thing will be holding you back from making things happen.

Closing Thoughts!

As we mentioned earlier, this issue is nowhere being caused by a virus or due to any physical damage upon your device. These issues are internal and usually end up happening because the software or settings are stopping it. There is no reason for you to get worried about it and none of your data will be lost in the process of clearing it.

The methods mentioned above are pretty easy. So just ensure that you do not hurry through the steps and follow them step by step to the last letter. The issue usually gets solved through these methods and if one does not worry, try another as none of the methods mentioned above will hamper another and are safe. The issue should get resolved by now.

Let us know which of the following fixes got the pesky little “cannot verify server identity” error to leave. If the problem still persists let us know it through the comment section below and we will ensure you get the proper solution for it as soon as possible. Furthermore as an Apple customer, you can always contact Apple customer service which is efficient and works wonders sometimes. Stay tuned with Genius Geeks as we will keep bringing the latest hacks and solutions to the problems that keep bugging you.