The term Email Client isn't widely used in everyday life, but these programs are actually quite common. If you use an application like Outlook or Thunderbird to view your email, then you are using an email client. Yet as with all technology, email clients bring their own set of problems. One of the most common problems users will encounter is that the email client fails to send or receive properly, often giving an error like "failed to reach server". Naturally, this can mean that whatever device the client is on is offline, but often this occurs because the client's server settings have malfunctioned in some way.
To operate, all email clients need to have the server settings of the email provider in their incoming and outgoing mail settings. Where these settings are located varies between client, but all such programs will require this information. Every email provider makes these settings publicly available online; an example can be found here: https://help.yahoo.com/kb/SLN4075.html
If these settings aren't setup exactly, then a client will not function properly. For currently unknown reasons, clients sometimes lose these settings or revert them to older versions. If an email client suddenly stops working it is best to check these settings first, and even to reenter them as prescribed by the email provider, to see if that fixes the issue. Additionally, if an email password is changed, that password needs to updating in all the relevant fields in the client's settings or the same interruption can occur.
The best way to tell if a malfunctioning email client is a settings problem or an internet problem is to see if a webpage will open on the same device. If it does, then the client is to blame. Otherwise feel free to check with your internet service provider if there is an outage in your area.
