Having an email that works is essential these days. Personally, I use Thunderbird on all platforms – except for my Gmail account. Its user interface is a little dated either (a refresh is planned for this year), but it’s one of the most reliable email clients around.
On my MacBook Pro, I also use Apple Mail. Not only is Apple’s email client well integrated into the operating system, it’s also packed with features and (as usual on Apple) has one of the best user interfaces of any email client.
However, Apple Mail crashes frequently. When this happens, no email comes in or goes out. Interacting with the user interface is still possible, but the email client just doesn’t work properly anymore.
What to do when Apple Mail stops responding?
The solution is to force quit the Mail program through the Apple menu. You can then reopen Apple Mail and go about your business.
But this still does not solve the problem. Of course, Apple Mail will work again. But it will end up not responding and you will then have to start the whole process again. Again, it may fail to connect to your mail server or you may only get messages with no content.
Better than a bandage, we need a lasting solution. Fortunately, there is one that should save you from having to regularly force quit the program. Admittedly, stopping the program is an easy maneuver. But be aware that every time you force quit Apple Mail, you risk exacerbating the problem.
Here is a more durable solution, and yet very simple.
Rebuild your Apple Mail mailbox
The only thing you will need is a macOS computer and Apple Mail configured for your email account.
1. Open Apple Mail
Open Apple Mai, for example from the Launchpad. It may still not connect to your mail server, or your emails may arrive empty, but don’t worry.
2. Rebuild your mailbox
Select your email account in the left pane, then click the menu Mailbox > Rebuild. After clicking on Rebuild, you won’t see any changes. However, depending on the type of account you have set up, there is a lot going on.
For example, when you rebuild an IMAP or Exchange account, Apple Mail completely deletes previous messages and attachments stored locally on the computer and downloaded again. It is for this reason that your inbox may briefly seem empty. Don’t worry, let Apple Mail do its thing and download the messages and attachments again.
Screen capture: Jack Wallen/ZDNET.
Depending on the size of your inbox, the process can either be almost instantaneous or take longer, depending on the size of your email. Whenever Apple Mail shows signs of malfunctioning, I rebuild all my inboxes and the problems magically disappear. Of course, they can always come back, but a quick rebuild and the problems are, once again, eliminated.
To prevent the problem from coming back
If you constantly have problems with Apple Mail, here are some tips:
- delete messages from your inbox that you really don’t need anymore;
- delete everything in trash and spam;
- update to the latest version of Apple Mail.
With these three simple tips, things should improve.
Source: ZDNet.com