I’m having issues with my Android email, and it looks like I’m not the only one.  Since using a Motorola MILESTONE and a Google Nexus One, I’ve experienced an odd problem where, periodically, the handsets’ native email client will begin to mix up email headers – the sender and subject – with body text from other messages.

A quick online search shows I’m not alone; support forums for both individual devices like the Motorola DROID and the Nexus One, together with general Android forums, are peppered with users having problems with mixed-up mail.  While I’m trying to use Android’s native Exchange support, others are having similar issues with POP and IMAP accounts.  Some users have problems with the date on emails, with email claiming to have arrived in 1969.`

The only solution, at present, appears to involve removing the errant account and re-adding it to the phone, wiping all data in the process.  Sometimes merely deleting the account isn’t enough, and you have to dig through the settings to manually wipe archive remnants.  I’ve had the problem appear twice on the Nexus One, and it happened at least once on the MILESTONE (the European version of the DROID); other owners have been less fortunate, and have had almost daily errors.

Before the Nexus One, my daily-driver was another Android device, the HTC Hero, though I used a third-party app for email as HTC’s Mail client didn’t support our Exchange-compliant server.  As far as I can tell, though, the issue has mainly come to light with Android 2.x; the MILESTONE I’ve been testing is running OS 2.0 while the Nexus One is on OS 2.1.

I’m planning to test out a third-party Mail replacement – I also want Exchange calendar support, which frustratingly 2.x still can’t manage – to try to work around the problem, but it’s galling to have to pay for extra software when the advertised functionality lets you down.  Anyone else finding email on their Google phone is causing headaches?

6 COMMENTS

  1. Similar issue; recipients get mails that are completely garbled. Deleting the errant POP3 account en setting it up again solves the issue.

  2. I have Samsung iii and this problem has occurred several times. in a business environment this threatens to become a real liability.

  3. good to know this is still a problem in 2014 – way to go Android ! mail headers getting mixed up on standard Hotmail account. Galaxy s II. Android 4.1.2

  4. Verizon Wireless sold me a Samsung with Android and I have the same problem! I’ve deleted the account and re-installed three times and the problem is still there. Shame on your Verizon for pushing a devise that does not properly support email! #verizonwireless

  5. Delete
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    Verizon Wireless sold me a Samsung with Android and I have the same problem! I’ve deleted the account and re-installed three times and the problem is still there. Shame on your Verizon for pushing a devise that does not properly support email! @verizonwireless

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