---
title: Background email checks and user notifications
slug: emailplus/guide/ios/background-email-checks-and-user-notifications
createdAt: 2026-09-07T11:21:47.469Z
---

Ivanti Email+ relies on iOS background execution to check for new email and to notify users. In the following cases Email+ may not be able to check for new email:

- To conserve battery power, iOS limits when third-party apps can run in the background. When Email+ is sent to the background, iOS occasionally allows Email+ to check for new email.
- iOS may terminate Email+ to reclaim memory for other apps. iOS may later decide to launch Email+ for iOS in the background to check email.

When Email+ is in the background and attempts to check email, as an AppConnect app that encrypts its content, Email+ must retrieve its encryption key from the UEM client. This requires an app flip to the UEM client, which cannot happen in the background. As a result, Email+ cannot retrieve the encryption key and therefore cannot verify working hours for notifications or check for new email.

To allow Email+ access to the encryption key even when it is in background, configure the allow\_device\_keychain key-value pair to allow Email+ to store the key in the device keychain. This allows Email+ to check for new email even when iOS launches it in the background.

:::hint{type="info"}
The allow\_device\_keychain key-value pair should only be used with a strong device passcode so as to secure the decryption key.
:::

## How Ivanti Email+ for iOS checks for new emails

The following describes how Email+ for iOS checks for new emails.

| **When the ...**         | **Email+ for iOS...**                                                                        | **iOS...**                             |
| ------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| user launches Email+     | checks for new email and notifies the user of new email                                      | allows Email+ for iOS to run as usual  |
| app is in the background | occasionally checks for new email and notifies the user, depending on iOS background refresh | might do a periodic background refresh |

- iOS may sometimes terminate an app to preserve battery power or memory. If iOS terminates and then attempts to relaunch Email+ for iOS while the device is locked, then the decryption key is not accessible for reasons of security, and iOS cannot relaunch Email+ for iOS.
- iOS learns user habits and adjusts its background refresh parameters accordingly. As device users work with Email+ for iOS more frequently, iOS similarly launches Email+ for iOS in the background more frequently.