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Gerkhin

Q: How do you disable mail marking messages as read?

I use the unread status of emails to show they still need my attention (after I have viewed them in preview).

 

Apple mail marks them unread automatically. Although there is an 'unread' button I can then click, I don't want to do this extra step.

 

How do I disable this frustrating behaviour? I have googled this over the years to find nothing. I want to go back to using Apple Mail but every time I check to see whether this behaviour has changed in the last year, it hasn't.

 

Any clues would be greatly appreciated.

iMac (21.5-inch Late 2009), OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Sep 4, 2015 2:10 PM

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Q: How do you disable mail marking messages as read?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by UGADog,Helpful

    UGADog UGADog Sep 4, 2015 2:22 PM in response to Gerkhin
    Level 4 (1,902 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 4, 2015 2:22 PM in response to Gerkhin

    Unfortunately, Mail marks every previewed mail as read.  The only way around this is to not preview mail.  To "fix" the preview problem, take the preview window divider and slide it all the way to the right so it is not showing anything.  Then your messages will not be marked as read when you scroll or arrow down through them.  The list should still show the first few lines of the email and I use that to see which messages I want to mark read.  To read, double click the message or press return when highlighted.

  • by Gerkhin,

    Gerkhin Gerkhin Sep 4, 2015 2:28 PM in response to UGADog
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 4, 2015 2:28 PM in response to UGADog

    Thanks UGADog. I have seen this fix around, however not really suitable for me as I actually want to read the whole email. Then leave it unread.

     

    Other clients have this option. I just thought Apple might have fixed this since I last tried!

     

    I will give up on Apple Mail for now. This has been an issue for years now, and I don't think it will change.

     

    Thanks again for your reply. I am off to try other mail clients.

  • by UGADog,Solvedanswer

    UGADog UGADog Sep 4, 2015 2:57 PM in response to Gerkhin
    Level 4 (1,902 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 4, 2015 2:57 PM in response to Gerkhin

    I'm with you.  I use an alternate mail client too for the most part.  You can leave your Apple Mail Feedback here.  With enough requests, maybe Apple will add this option someday.  Maybe. 

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Sep 4, 2015 2:51 PM in response to Gerkhin
    Level 9 (50,717 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 4, 2015 2:51 PM in response to Gerkhin

    You cannot change the behavior.

    If you disable the Message window by dragging the divider all the way to the right, it will only mark them if your double-click and open them in another window.

  • by Gerkhin,

    Gerkhin Gerkhin Sep 4, 2015 2:58 PM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 4, 2015 2:58 PM in response to Barney-15E

    Thanks Barney.