Larry Grainger

Q: Mail ignores rules

I have over 100 rules in Mail that direct incoming emails to specific mailboxes. Recently, all rule-free mail that would normally be allocated to my default, general, all-purpose mailbox is being directed to one seldom-viewed specific rule-governed mailbox. Have I exceeded the number of rules that  Mail can administer? How can I restore "normal" behaviour?

Posted on Jun 12, 2016 7:30 AM

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Q: Mail ignores rules

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  • by Eric Root,Apple recommended

    Eric Root Eric Root Jun 12, 2016 8:13 AM in response to Larry Grainger
    Level 9 (71,160 points)
    iTunes
    Jun 12, 2016 8:13 AM in response to Larry Grainger

    If the problem is still there, try booting into the Safe Mode using your normal account.  Disconnect all peripherals except those needed for the test. Shut down the computer and then power it back up after waiting 10 seconds. Immediately after hearing the startup chime, hold down the shift key and continue to hold it until the gray Apple icon and a progress bar appear. The boot up is significantly slower than normal. This will reset some caches, forces a directory check, and disables all startup and login items, among other things. When you reboot normally, the initial reboot may be slower than normal. If the system operates normally, there may be 3rd party applications which are causing a problem. Try deleting/disabling the third party applications after a restart by using the application un-installer. For each disable/delete, you will need to restart if you don't do them all at once.

                   

    Safe Mode

  • by Larry Grainger,

    Larry Grainger Larry Grainger Jun 12, 2016 10:42 AM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (23 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 12, 2016 10:42 AM in response to Eric Root

    I fear this will prove to be a nasty problem.

     

    The misbehaviour persisted in Safe Mode. All mail, save for one curious, inexplicable exception, is misdirected as previously described, including mail that until 2016/06/05 had been correctly rule-directed.

     

    I deleted one of these rules and created a replacement rule under a different name, but when I applied the rule the email refused to move to the designated mailbox.

     

    However, if I create a rule for a misdirected email - one previously ungoverned by a rule and thus normally allocated to my default mailbox - well, that email is correctly relocated when the rule is applied.