Why is Apple Mail rearranging my mailboxes after I manually move them.

I just got off the phone w/ Apple support on this. While this did not appear to be a known issue for them, here is what they had me do:

Go to System Prefs>Internet Accounts

Uncheck "Mail" for each of the accounts I use in Mail

Recheck "Mail" for each, but in the order in which I want to see them in my master inbox

Close and reopen Mail

So far, this is working but I need to monitor this throughout the day to see if it holds up. Fingers crossed.

Zeepin,

I have been experimenting with another fix along similar lines which has the option to sync calendars and contacts. I have not needed to sync my contacts or calendars as I don't use them with google, but the inboxes are staying put. Someone who uses calendars and contacts will need to advise if it works with those toggles turned on. Without them turned on, the inboxes are not moving.

Here's how I did it:

1. Delete all your Gmail inboxes form the Apple Mail app
2. Activate two factor authentication on all your google accounts (yes, you'll have to tie the knot and link it to a mobile number you can get codes on!). I wouldn't be surprised if all of us have been resisting 2FA on some of our accounts which might be the problem? (speculation here!)
3. Add another layer of security by activating the "Authenticator App" as your default security setting. This is an app you download onto your phone that generates random 6-digit codes every 30 seconds that you will use instead of a password. Ensure the Authenticator app is selected as default and 2FA is turned on
4. Add all your email accounts back to the Apple Mail app, but this time sign in with the "Google" option as opposed to the "other mail" option and follow the prompts to authorise each account (This should usually be username, followed by authenticator code, followed by 2FA code sent to your mobile) Thats the type of security that will keep the other forum question happy ;)
5. After this is complete, you will be left with the final screen as below that allows you to select contacts, calendars and notes.

What remains is for someone who uses Google calendars and contacts to confirm that it doesn't cause the inbox shuffle. I can confirm so far it has not moved without contacts and calendars turned on.

EIM

LStalley, et al.

For the last three days I have found this solution to work.

My inbox has not rearranged itself and I have control on how I want to arrange it. Rather than wait further to see if it continues to work or fail, I pass this on to the forum to experiment with. Perhaps Apple will look into its relationships with Google/yahoo etc. and the whole 2FA process involving mail.

I have only tried it with 4 Gmail accounts, one Webmail account and two iCloud accounts. It does not work with a GSuite account.

I am currently running OS Catalina 10.15.4 on a MacBook Pro and iMac and both are responding well so far. I have synced mail and notes successfully and had no need to sync calendars etc.

Instructions are simple enough to follow and involve deleting all your Gmail accounts before adding them back as "other accounts" and not using the standard "google" option.

This solution may not work for all, but there may be a sufficient amount of people solely using Gmail and iCloud accounts who may benefit from this.

Credit to @andymyrick for writing the article, albeit for a different reason.

Link: https://appletoolbox.com/how-to-fix-apple-mail-opening-in-split-screen-on-macos-catalina/

Some sanity for now, but may be short-lived!

EIM

Apparently only/all Gmail accounts. Apparently it can be remedied by deleting all your gmail accounts and re-entering them without using the 'google' account short cut - entering the server and related info manually.

Personally, I found it more efficient to give up.

Go to page 6 of this discussion and see post on 4 May by EIM.

Deleting and reinstalling Gmail accounts according to those suggestions has kept my mailboxes in order without negative consequences since May.

It is not for everyone:

• Some had security concerns
• Apparently it doesn't work if you use Google calendar etc as well as email (I don't)
• Some prefer to wait for Apple to fix the mess they've made (but it's been a year now)

Good luck!

Updating to Big Sur seems to have fixed the rearranging issues!!!

Note: if you'd read my past replies you'll know I had an open ticket on this issue, practically all year with Apple. The first 1 expired in 6 months and Apple recently requested I open another to which they had me video screen capture and upload this issue. No responses whatsoever. First time I have been REALLY disappointed with Apple.

Just glad the new OS fixed it! With that said, Catalina apparently was the big FAIL.

Hope you all got the same results!

UPDATE this morning: "... It does seem like we are receiving a large number of reports describing what you are experiencing. Engineering has let us know that they are working on a fix for this. At the time we currently have no ETA when the fix will be ready. ..."

Watch for updates on your devices!

Just FYI:

June 9th after I'd emailed asking about updates:

"I still have not gotten word back on our ticket. It is still being investigated. I will reach out, as soon as they have an update for me."

May 1st:

"I finally got word back from our ticket. It does seem like we are receiving a large number of reports describing what you are experiencing. Engineering has let us know that they are working on a fix for this. At the time we currently have no ETA when the fix will be ready. But I will reach out once we do have a fix. Also be on the lookout for any software updates for your device, due to the updates usually containing said fix. Let me know if anything else arises. Thank you for being patient and understanding."

Hey Adcom503,

Yes, it does involve deleting your Gmail accounts and re-adding them without using the Gmail shortcut as in the link explaining above. Use "Add Other Account."

Here's a screenshot:

i also believe this started with the 'authorize with safari' step. osx apple mail appears to move the account to the bottom of the list on every 'authorize with safari'.

Just a heads up - I opened a case with Apple about this issue. He found only 1 other official complaint about the issue, so it may help for you all to submit a ticket to Apple. I should hear back from them within a few days. Will report back when I do.

Methinks the latest OS update to Catalina 10.15.6 fixed the random mailbox rearrangement. Been solid for 2-days now.

Hello LStalley,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities. I understand that you use Apple Mail to access your email accounts. You manually move the mail in your inbox for your workflow. When you login to Mail on your MacBook, you’ve noticed the Mail is randomly organized. I’m happy to help.

Please use the steps in the section titled “Organize and search” here: Use Mail on your Mac - Apple Support

Take care.

I have been having the same issue since the release of Catalina and it is very frustrating.

I have 10 mailboxes setup in my Mail app and every time I open up mail they are randomly rearranged. I say random because they are not even arranged by newest mail to come in. That would make sense and I would maybe be content with that.

But overall I want to arrange my mailboxes in a specific order and keep them that way. Hopefully this gets resolved soon.

For clarification purposes for apple support, in my screenshot, the red circle is what keeps getting rearranged. Not the emails themselves. The actually mailboxes (ie, Gmail, yahoo, outlook).