Welcome to this tutorial on how to delete mail from Mac. If you are looking for a quick and easy way to manage your emails and keep your inbox clutter-free, you’re in the right place. In this article, we will walk you through the steps to delete mail from your Mac using the built-in Mail app.
Step 1: Launch the Mail App
To begin, locate and open the Mail app on your Mac. You can find it in your Applications folder or use Spotlight search (Cmd + Space) to quickly find and launch it.
Step 2: Select the Emails You Want to Delete
Once you have opened the Mail app, navigate to the mailbox or folder where the emails you want to delete are located. To select multiple emails, hold down the Command key while clicking on each email. Alternatively, if you want to select a range of emails, click on the first email in the range, hold down the Shift key, and click on the last email in the range.
Tips:
- To select all emails in a mailbox or folder:
- Click on any email within that mailbox or folder
- Go to Edit > Select All
- To select individual non-consecutive emails:
- Select one email by clicking on it
- Select additional emails by holding down Command and clicking each desired email
Step 3: Delete the Selected Emails
Once you have selected the emails you want to delete, there are two ways to proceed:
Method 1: Press the Delete Key
If you have a keyboard with a Delete key, simply press it to move the selected emails to the Trash folder. You can find the Trash folder in the sidebar of the Mail app.
Method 2: Use the Menu Bar
If your keyboard does not have a dedicated Delete key, you can use the menu bar at the top of your screen. With the selected emails still highlighted, go to Edit > Move To > Trash. This action will also move the emails to the Trash folder.
Step 4: Empty Your Trash
To completely remove deleted emails from your Mac and free up storage space, it is essential to empty your Trash regularly. To do this:
Method 1: Right-click on Trash and choose “Empty Trash”
In your Mail app’s sidebar, locate and right-click on Trash. From the context menu that appears, select Empty Trash. Confirming this action will permanently delete all emails within your Trash folder.
Method 2: Use Menu Bar Options
If you prefer using menu bar options instead, click on Mail in your Mac’s menu bar and choose Preferences > Accounts. Select your email account from the left-hand pane and click on Mailbox Behaviors. Finally, click on Erase Deleted Items Automatically.., followed by choosing an appropriate time interval for automatic trash deletion.
Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to delete mail from your Mac using the built-in Mail app. By regularly decluttering your inbox, you can enhance productivity and keep your email communications organized.
Remember, deleting emails moves them to the Trash folder, but they are not permanently removed until you empty the Trash. So don’t forget to empty your Trash periodically to free up storage space on your Mac.