Mail crashes only when I delete emails

I'm using High Sierra on a Mac Mini, and the only issue I have is that whenever I delete messages or empty the trash in Mail, the Mail application crashes and I get the usual crash report with the option to send to Apple and re-open the app.

I've tried both methods of selecting all mail in the trash and deleting them and also using the context menu to Erase Deleted Items and in both cases the application crashes.

The only thing I've tried so far is to delete the preferences files following some previous advice I found in the forum.

Not the worst thing to deal with but I appreciate any suggestions for potential fixes.

thx

Posted on Jan 13, 2020 2:03 PM

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tadziodue

Level 1

9 points

Posted on Jun 15, 2020 12:06 PM

I've been experiencing this problem with Mail for months and have tried every possible solution, including working with Apple engineers, without success. On my own, I made a simple change in Mail Preferences>Accounts>Mailbox Behaviors. I set my iCloud and me.com accounts so that the Junk Mailbox is Junk under On My Mac and Erase junk messages after one day. I set the Trash Mailbox to Trash under On My Mac and Erase deleted messages Never. I used the same settings for my earthlink.net IMAP accounts and Mail hasn't crashed for the past three days even when I use select all and batch delete my Junk folders and Trash folders. Like I said, even the Apple engineers couldn't come up with a solution and I still can't believe this is all it took... but so far, so good on my Mac Pro running High Sierra.

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90 replies

Sep 14, 2020 12:13 PM in response to bill.the.cat

I think it started more than a month ago. My emails had really tapered off, so I wasn't maintaining the app very well. And, of course, I ignored it for awhile. But it became very clear that every time I try to Erase Deleted Message, Mail.app would crash. And it still does to this day.

And I agree with you, Mail had been flawless for years and years. Every once in a while, I would have to rebuild a mailbox. But then I had thousands and thousands of emails.

I just wait until I am done with Mail and then Erase Deleted Message and have it crash-close.

What else can I do?

Dec 4, 2020 10:38 AM in response to mark louis uhrich

Mail has not crashed when I bulk delete the Junk folder in High Sierra for the past three days. I hadn't made any new adjustments or tried anything different. Anyone else experiencing this unexpected joy? I wonder what happened and whether it will continue.

BDAqua

Level 10

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Jan 15, 2020 11:55 AM in response to nick baccante

Nick, I've not seen such here from any number of messages.

BDAqua

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250,259 points

Feb 8, 2020 8:13 AM in response to nick baccante

Any luck finding the cause yet?

BDAqua

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Feb 8, 2020 10:15 AM in response to nick baccante

Thanks for the report,

Mar 12, 2020 6:47 PM in response to Russ Norden

I'm just deleting individual messages rather than mass deleting, however even then it crashes. In the scheme of things not that important, other than annoying

Mar 18, 2020 11:55 AM in response to BDAqua

I will check

Mar 26, 2020 5:00 PM in response to CX888

Wow - I see I'm not the only one - ditto with me - very very frustrating - I just gave up sending reports

BDAqua

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Mar 27, 2020 7:15 PM in response to nick baccante

I think you're right, but Thunderbird is the only other App for Mail I've tried.

Mar 27, 2020 7:35 PM in response to BDAqua

How do you like it?

BDAqua

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Mar 27, 2020 7:40 PM in response to nick baccante

Oh forgot to mention... I used to love it but have been unable to get it working in 10.13.6, yet I read others using it fine!

Mary_lu

Level 1

8 points

Apr 11, 2020 9:32 AM in response to nick baccante

I have the exact problem. Opens up again quickly, but continues to crash every time I delete

BDAqua

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Apr 11, 2020 2:10 PM in response to mac47M2020

It is so.

Apr 13, 2020 12:24 PM in response to nick baccante

I will give it a try soon. And, get back here with the results. Thank you for the suggestion.

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Apr 15, 2020 12:10 PM in response to kawajazz

Thanks for chipping in with the help! :)

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Mail crashes only when I delete emails