Are you having trouble with your Mail app on your Mac? Is it not syncing properly or displaying incorrect information?
If so, it might be time to reset the Mail app. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of resetting Mail on your Mac.
Step 1: Quitting the Mail App
Before we begin, make sure to close the Mail app completely. To do this, click on the Mail menu at the top-left corner of your screen and select “Quit Mail.” Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Command + Q.
Step 2: Removing Preference Files
To reset the Mail app, we need to remove some preference files. These files store various settings and configurations for the app. Don’t worry; removing them won’t delete your emails or account information.
- Open Finder and click on “Go” in the menu bar.
- Select “Go to Folder..” from the dropdown menu.
- A small window will appear. Type in “~/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Preferences/” without quotes and click “Go.
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- You will now see a list of files. Look for files that start with “com.mail“.
- Select all these files and move them to the Trash by either dragging them or using the keyboard shortcut Command + Delete.
Note: If you can’t find any “com.mail” files in that location, try looking in “~/Library/Mail/V7/MailData/”. If you still can’t find them, skip this step and proceed to Step 3.
Step 3: Restarting your Mac
Now that we’ve removed the preference files, it’s time to restart your Mac. Restarting will help ensure that any remaining Mail app processes are terminated and that the changes are applied properly.
- Click on the Apple menu at the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select “Restart.” from the dropdown menu.
- A confirmation window will appear. Click “Restart” to proceed.
Step 4: Reopening Mail
After your Mac restarts, it’s time to reopen the Mail app. To do this:
- Navigate to your Applications folder either by clicking on the Finder icon in the Dock and selecting “Applications” from the sidebar or by pressing Command + Shift + A.
- Scroll down and locate the Mail app. Double-click on it to launch.
The Mail app will now open with default settings, as if you were launching it for the first time. You can now reconfigure your email accounts and preferences as needed.
Troubleshooting Tips:
If resetting the Mail app didn’t solve your issue, here are a few additional troubleshooting tips:
Check Internet Connection:
Make sure you have a stable internet connection. Without an internet connection, Mail won’t be able to sync or download new emails correctly.
Update macOS:
Ensure that you have installed all available macOS updates. Sometimes, compatibility issues between older versions of macOS and apps can cause problems.
Contact Apple Support:
If none of the above steps resolved your issue, it might be time to contact Apple Support. They will be able to assist you further and provide any necessary troubleshooting steps specific to your situation.
Remember, resetting the Mail app should be approached as a last resort. It’s always a good idea to back up your important emails or take screenshots of any crucial settings before proceeding with these steps.
We hope this tutorial helped you reset the Mail app on your Mac. If you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to us.