KarenHermann

Q: Lots of mail issues since last Mountain Lion update

Since the last update to Mountain Lion, just a couple of days ago, my mail has gone completely haywire, and I can't figure out why. 

 

First of all, my Mail App on my mid-2010 27" iMac won't get mail anymore.  I have to close mail and reopen it every single time to see if I have email, which is quite convenient when you're waiting on replies to something.  If I have my iPhone nearby, mail will show up there -- but not on the desktop. 

 

Secondly, my iPhone WAS NOT upgraded to IOS8 (nor will it be!) -- the software was downloaded (against my wishes) and it is just sitting there with a comment that there's not enough memory to install it.     So no upgrade on the iPhone -- yet, when I send a photo from my phone to my gmail account, it automatically sends it to my iCloud address -- which is NOT what I want, and it doesn't show up in my Mail App on the iMac!   I made no other updates to my phone -- just an upgrade to Mountain Lion on the iMac.   Previously, I could take an iPhone photo, mail it to myself, and it would come to my desktop where I could save it there.  Now it won't do that.  And I didn't make any changes to it.   No matter how much I try and change things to get rid of the stupid cloud address, it will not send to my gmail account anymore, and thereby won't end up on my desktop iMac. 

 

This is making things very unusable!    Has anyone else had issues, and does anyone have any work-arounds?  

iMac

Posted on Oct 6, 2014 9:34 PM

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Q: Lots of mail issues since last Mountain Lion update

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  • by properploys,

    properploys properploys Oct 8, 2014 4:17 AM in response to KarenHermann
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2014 4:17 AM in response to KarenHermann

    I'm so happy to see this isn't just me. Something about the last Mountain Lion update has really messed with a lot of things on my macbook pro. I had to completely reset safari to clear up the issues there, it always freezes and beachballs on me, but it was becoming utterly unusable after the update. The reset seems to have fixed that.

     

    I would try that on mail, but I get the impression that's not going to fix this problem, all though, I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but for me at least, not only do i have to quit/force close and reopen again to get my mail, but since the update i've also noticed that it freezes up a lot and is VERY slow to respond when I click on an email to read once i do get them loaded. I'll click on the email and have to wait a couple minutes before it actually switches.

     

    Also, I really have a hard time believing this is a google problem, when a) ios 8 has no problem pulling the emails, and b) it started when i installed the mountain lion update. I mean the odds that gmail would suddenly have issues at the same time as an update was installed are rare, you know? If if looks like a duck and it sounds like a duck, it's probably a duck.

  • by insigniamrob,

    insigniamrob insigniamrob Oct 8, 2014 5:44 AM in response to properploys
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2014 5:44 AM in response to properploys

    properploys could you detail what exact update you're talking about?

     

    From this list from Apple of updates, the only to Mountain Lion in 6 months or so was the bash update, which I thought was downloaded manually by, or did it actually come from software update?

     

    I'm just trying to get a clear picture of how this got on my users machines, and what exact update people are referencing.

     

    https://www.apple.com/support/osx/software-updates/

  • by Stephen Schulte1,

    Stephen Schulte1 Stephen Schulte1 Oct 8, 2014 5:46 AM in response to insigniamrob
    Level 1 (21 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 8, 2014 5:46 AM in response to insigniamrob

    I agree-- need to clarify because I too don't see many (any?) ML updates-- just this BASH and that was a manual thing and I did not (yet- will I ever?) do it.

     

    This really points to a change in something at Google with IMAP Gmail -- but I am not an expert, far from it so just hope we have more direct involvement from Apple and Google.

     

    Best regards,

     

     

    Steve Schulte

    Wednesday 8 October 2014

  • by properploys,

    properploys properploys Oct 8, 2014 5:54 AM in response to insigniamrob
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2014 5:54 AM in response to insigniamrob

    I don't know if there was a specific name to the update, I got a notification from the App Store app that there was an update for mountain lion, i know it said something about security and I think there was something in safari, i can't really remember, but as i've never had a problem with updates, I just clicked to install it. But ever since I did that, I've had problems with things, the biggest ones being safari, which i've since fixed, and the mail app. I never had a problem with it until i installed that update.

  • by Andrew Nellis,

    Andrew Nellis Andrew Nellis Oct 8, 2014 6:04 AM in response to insigniamrob
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 8, 2014 6:04 AM in response to insigniamrob

    There were a couple of updates for 10.8.5 (and other OS X versions) on Sept. 17, a couple weeks before the bash update, as seen here <Apple security updates>. Why they're not listed on the page you linked is anyone's guess. That said, I installed them more or less immediately after they were available, and this issue didn't start for me until a few days ago at most. I'm hesitant to suggest they're the culprit.

  • by Stephen Schulte1,

    Stephen Schulte1 Stephen Schulte1 Oct 8, 2014 6:07 AM in response to Andrew Nellis
    Level 1 (21 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 8, 2014 6:07 AM in response to Andrew Nellis

    This issue seemed to start sometime between 3 pm and 6 pm US Central Daylight (Chicago) time on Monday 6 October 2014.  It is pointing more-and-more to a change made by Google but again, I'm not pointing fingers nor claiming to be anything but an avid user since 1989!

     

    Hope to resolve this--- soon.

     

    Best regards,

     

     

    Steve Schulte

    Wednesday 8 October 2014

  • by Stephen Schulte1,

    Stephen Schulte1 Stephen Schulte1 Oct 8, 2014 6:08 AM in response to KarenHermann
    Level 1 (21 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 8, 2014 6:08 AM in response to KarenHermann

    Just want to encourage you to maintain this post until this issue is fully resolved.  Thanks for starting it and even if it takes days or weeks to resolve this (I certainly hope not!) - please keep this active.

     

    Best regards,

     

     

    Steve Schulte

    Wednesday 8 October 2014

  • by TastyTofu,

    TastyTofu TastyTofu Oct 8, 2014 6:50 AM in response to Stephen Schulte1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2014 6:50 AM in response to Stephen Schulte1

    I'm having exactly the same issue on two separate Macs - one with Mountain Lion and one with Snow Leopard. I don't think it has anything to do with Apple updates to ML

     

    I agree with Stephen Schulte 1 - it's looking very much like a change that Google has made to IMAP, which just happens to be incompatible with Apple Mail's IMAP stack.

     

    Interestingly, I have several server-side filters on a Gmail account which automatically move certain new mails into folders (or add labels to them and skip the Inbox, if you want to use Gmail's terminology). These messages DO seem to be turning up in Apple Mail. It's just new messages in the Inbox that don't appear.

  • by Peter MacAppler,

    Peter MacAppler Peter MacAppler Oct 8, 2014 6:57 AM in response to Stephen Schulte1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2014 6:57 AM in response to Stephen Schulte1

    The last apple updates as mentioned earlier do not coincide when the problem started.

    Just because you downloaded over a week old updates and installed them on the same day the problem started does not mean its the update that is the problem.

    What does coincide when the problem started is a Gmail API change in the 6th.

    https://developers.google.com/gmail/api/release-notes

     

    I am not going to conclude that is the problem either but at least it is close to the timeline.

     

    The last Safari6.2MountainLion.pkg & SecUpd2014-004MtLion.dmg updates I downloaded and installed on the 25 Sept is not even close to when the problem started.

     

    The problem does not coincide with any apple update I have installed nor is it confined to any particular version of Apple Mail going on other posts.

     

    Obviously Apple and Google need to calibrate more and accept the fact that many users need to use both services and will not appreciate whoever is the most uncooperative because you will get caught out in the end for being the most painful.

  • by RandyChev,

    RandyChev RandyChev Oct 8, 2014 7:32 AM in response to Peter MacAppler
    Level 1 (29 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 8, 2014 7:32 AM in response to Peter MacAppler

    What does coincide when the problem started is a Gmail API change in the 6th.

    https://developers.google.com/gmail/api/release-notes

    Great find, Peter. I sent feedback to Google highlighting that api change and referencing this thread for more information.

  • by JillontheHill,

    JillontheHill JillontheHill Oct 8, 2014 7:36 AM in response to KarenHermann
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2014 7:36 AM in response to KarenHermann

    Having the same problems. On my MacBook the past few days, I only receive Gmail if I relaunch Mail. But Gmail continues to work perfectly on my iPad and iPhone. I've checked settings/connections on my MacBook and they're fine.

  • by KarenHermann,

    KarenHermann KarenHermann Oct 8, 2014 7:42 AM in response to RandyChev
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2014 7:42 AM in response to RandyChev

    I really appreciate everyone's input on this issue! 

     

    The explanations of it being a gmail problem make sense, and I'm happy that whatever it is, it has, so far, not affected mail on the mobile device.   Googling the issue, I see there is a pretty long history of the Apple Mail app not playing well with gmail -- and this extends to Mavericks too, so I'm really happy I did not take this rep's advice and install Mavericks (although I did download it).  I'm disappointed though that people are saying that they can't get help because their Applecare expired.  While I don't believe that tech support should be free and indefinite, an issue that affects so many people using one of their apps and which has a history of being a problem at least deserves attention. 

     

    As a workaround, I've had some people recommend installing a mail app called Sparrow.  I'm hesitant to introduce a new app into the mix, but not being able to get mail without restarting the app every few minutes is just too inconvenient to be a long term working solution.    In the meantime, I've never had to contact Google support -- can anyone recommend the best link /address to report this to them where it's most likely that they'll see it? 

  • by RandyChev,

    RandyChev RandyChev Oct 8, 2014 8:10 AM in response to KarenHermann
    Level 1 (29 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 8, 2014 8:10 AM in response to KarenHermann

    I'm disappointed though that people are saying that they can't get help because their Applecare expired.  While I don't believe that tech support should be free and indefinite, an issue that affects so many people using one of their apps and which has a history of being a problem at least deserves attention.

     

    I'm the one who first alluded to this in this thread. I may have, or should have, said that this is not just an Apple issue. Most large companies who pay lots of money for a large staff for customer service have to limit who those people help all day long. I just wish they would see a customer with a history like mine (2 Apple ][s, 5 Macs, 3 iMacs, 2 Powerbooks, 5 MacBooks, 2 iPads, ??? iPods and iPhones for a family of 7) could at least bend the ear of someone when an issue like this comes up. Stephen got that point across perfectly in his chat with Apple. He didn't want help for just HIS computer, he wanted them to know that Apple Mail.app users with gmail accounts needed their help ASAP. Just to reiterate, I've had this problem with multiple larger software companies. Of them all Apple still has the best customer service overall, IMHO.

     

    As a workaround, I've had some people recommend installing a mail app called Sparrow.  I'm hesitant to introduce a new app into the mix, but not being able to get mail without restarting the app every few minutes is just too inconvenient to be a long term working solution.   

     

    I would at least wait a week or so to see if this doesn't get so big that a fix comes quite soon. I wait months if not years before I change out a key software app. I finally did so with Calendar, replacing it with BusyCal. One reason I was content to do so was because it uses the same calendar database. I suspect unless you file/archive EVERY email to the gmail IMAP account server, you will be filing messages to a database on your Mac within Sparrow that you may not be able to then port back to Mail.app should you want to do so at a later date. I personally archive to mailboxes in the "On My Mac" section which means no other program would be able to find them and if I did the equivalent on the other program the reverse would be true.

     

    In the meantime, I've never had to contact Google support -- can anyone recommend the best link /address to report this to them where it's most likely that they'll see it?

    The problem with a free service that offers a web interface and is in competition with the platform you use…. is that i don't think you will find anything more that the option of emailing or providing feedback on the gmail site.

     

    I'd also like to say thanks to Karen for getting this thread going. Posting your problem in these forums is a great way to help the community of users find answers or at least curb their frustrations while a fix is found.

  • by TastyTofu,

    TastyTofu TastyTofu Oct 8, 2014 8:19 AM in response to KarenHermann
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2014 8:19 AM in response to KarenHermann

    I've never had to contact Google support -- can anyone recommend the best link /address to report this to them where it's most likely that they'll see it?

    You can't contact them directly (eg by phone) unless you have a paid Google Apps account. The only way I know to get a message to them is:

    • Log into your Gmail account on their web site.
    • Click the cog (top right) and select Help.
    • Click "Send Feedback" at the bottom right of the drop-down window.

     

    Hopefully if they get a lot of messages about this they will act.

     

    Incidentally, there is a generic "known issue" about IMAP sync problems here:

    https://support.google.com/mail/known-issues/14973?hl=en

     

    But I'm pretty sure that's been there for a while and does not specifically relate to this latest problem

  • by KarenHermann,

    KarenHermann KarenHermann Oct 8, 2014 8:22 AM in response to RandyChev
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2014 8:22 AM in response to RandyChev

    Thanks!  I sent the Feedback, although I never know for sure if someone is actually reading these.  However, I did find the Help forums, and not only are there several posts about this already, but Google is now aware of it, responding to comments, and states they are working on a fix.  https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!categories/gmail/computer-email-program -please-specify-apple-mail-outlook-thunderbird-etc

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