AOL Mail Not Working

Here is the step-by-step fix for the most common problems.

1. The “Blerk Error 1” (Desktop/Browser)

If you see a “Blerk! Your sign-in got derailed” message, this is a classic AOL cookie conflict.

Fix 1: Clear Specific AOL Cookies: You don’t need to clear everything. Go to your browser settings, search for “cookies,” type “aol” in the search bar, and delete all AOL-related cookies.
Fix 2: Incognito Mode: Press Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + N (Mac) to open an Incognito window. Try logging in there. If it works, one of your browser extensions (like an AdBlocker) is breaking the site.

If your password isn’t working or the screen loops:

Reset the Password: Even if you think you know it, AOL often locks accounts for “suspicious activity” (like logging in from a new location) until a reset is performed.
Check for “App Passwords”: If you use Outlook, Apple Mail, or another third-party app to read AOL mail, your main password might not work. You may need to generate a specific “App Password” in the AOL security settings to log in via these external apps.

If the app just spins or hasn’t updated since yesterday:

Remove the Account: Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts (iOS) or Settings > Accounts (Android). Delete the AOL account.
Restart the Phone: This clears the network cache.
Re-add the Account: Add it back as a new account. This forces a fresh connection to the server.

If you are setting up AOL on a new computer manually, ensure these settings are correct, or it will fail to connect: