Sky Broadband Shield blocking IMAP email such as Gmail on Apple devices running the latest iOS 18.2

[Paul+Dray]

I've been investigating the email problem caused by iOS 18.2..

I've just discovered something after trying lots of different network setting changes and other things like reinstalling the Gmail account on my phone etc. After resetting the iPhones network settings I had to as you'd expect reconnect to my WiFi (Sky Hub). Before I did this however I went into the Mail app using the 4G/5G data network and my emails immediately downloaded. 

Once I reconnected to my WiFi again it stopped working. So remembering something a while back  with Apple devices and some of their privacy/security feature updates conflicting with Skys Broadband Shield feature, i've logged on to 'my Sky' and disabled Sky Broadband Shield and low and behold my Gmail now downloads to the Mail app whilst using Sky Hub WiFi.

if you are experiencing similar problems try turning off Sky Broadband Shield.

[AlySmyth]

Great advice thanks. I had the same problem on my broadband accessing the iPad Mail app (with hotmail account), and my mother in law had the same problem in her house. Poor that this has not been addressed by sky. 

[Anonymous]

I have Shield enabled (18) and have no problem with IMAP mail on my Apple devices.

There was a well-documented issue  when Apple Private Relay was switched on. If Broadband Shield was on and set to any category less than 18, stuff was blocked because Shield identified Private Relay as a VPN, which it effectively is.

With private relay on and Shield set to 18, everything works for me, so I'm not certain Sky needs to fix anything!

[Paul+Dray]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I have Shield enabled (18) and have no problem with IMAP mail on my Apple devices.

There was a well-documented issue  when Apple Private Relay was switched on. If Broadband Shield was on and set to any category less than 18, stuff was blocked because Shield identified Private Relay as a VPN, which it effectively is.

With private relay on and Shield set to 18, everything works for me, so I'm not certain Sky needs to fix anything!

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There's been quite a few software updates etc since 5 months ago. Actually forgot about this. 
I've still got my Apple Private Relay feature off on my devices. I would only use broadband shield for categories under 18 anyway so setting it to 18 to work with it wouldn't be something I'd want anyway. It's not about 'fixing' anything but making things compliant, so they should still add it as an exception on their Sky broadband shield. Maybe they have now I don't know. I've not tested it since.