Level 1

64 points

Mail on mac stuck 'moving messages'

I use Mac Mail for emails, synced with an Exchange account. Ever since the Catalina upgrade, when I move an email from the inbox to other folders, or when I try to delete them, the Mail app gets stuck in 'moving messages' and so I would see the movement or deletion of the message locally, but it will not make the change in the server and the change will not sync to my other devices.

I tried restarting with no success. Also deleting the account from the app and adding it again. This did solve the issue for a day and then the problem returned.

This is a recurring issue. Please help.

Posted on Jan 7, 2020 7:21 AM

Top-ranking reply

lawryj

Level 1

20 points

Posted on Jul 14, 2020 8:37 AM

I had this very same problem. I was ultimately successful by deleting the "Envelope index" files described here on Computerworld.

After deleting these files, upon the next time you start Mail, you will see a dialog that says the mailboxes need to be rebuilt. After that finishes, all was back to normal for me. Note that I did lose the "stuck" emails that were being moved at the time. In my case, I was moving emails from a non-iCloud account into an iCloud email folder.

One last thing...the article for that link is from 2014, and specifies version "V2" in the path to get to the Envelope Index. This should be "V7" for the latest version of Mail as I write this. Hope it helps.

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159 replies

Apr 24, 2020 5:24 PM in response to gormur

I have absolutely no idea. Sorry?

Apr 24, 2020 5:25 PM in response to KHarringer

I am currently at "moving messages 1 of 106" like forever.

Apr 24, 2020 5:29 PM in response to voltoutoftheblue

the website you offer has no knowledge of your ticket number with a search nor any way to reference a ticket or create a ticket. Can you show one how to do what you are saying? voltoutoftheblue

gormur

Level 1

18 points

Apr 25, 2020 2:58 AM in response to KHarringer

Can someone pls. tell me how to get help from Apple reg. this Mail issue.

They won’t accept my phone number to call me back because it is Icelandic

HarveyR

Level 1

8 points

May 6, 2020 3:52 AM in response to DanRubCR

Same exact problem on latest Catalina. Have lost maybe 20 messages that I sent. Apple Senior Support brushed me off. Terrible.

tock45

Level 1

4 points

May 9, 2020 12:07 AM in response to audiophiliac

I have this exact same issue. Did you manage to get a resoultion?

HarveyR

Level 1

8 points

May 29, 2020 12:52 PM in response to John Knowles

Thanks. I've done that and eventually the problem returns. I think its a Catalina software flaw re syncing. But appreciate your advice.

May 29, 2020 1:12 PM in response to HarveyR

Oooof, sorry to hear that. I hope it does get fixed. Are you on the latest, 10.15.5?

JVK

gormur

Level 1

18 points

May 29, 2020 1:41 PM in response to voltoutoftheblue

Please tell us in details how that is done, so we can all do that.

May 29, 2020 4:26 PM in response to HarveyR

agree with you.

gormur

Level 1

18 points

May 29, 2020 4:55 PM in response to voltoutoftheblue

Thank you, I will do that.

Jun 30, 2020 5:22 AM in response to DanRubCR

Has anyone tested this (or can someone please test this) on Big Sur?

Aug 4, 2020 8:20 AM in response to HarveyR

Think you might be right. It's working pretty well now since the last update.

UM561

Level 1

8 points

Aug 27, 2020 5:08 AM in response to forman

It says "ls: Mail: Operation not permitted

UM561

Level 1

8 points

Aug 31, 2020 10:19 AM in response to Gehner

Thank you! What does REDEFINE mean?

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Mail on mac stuck 'moving messages'