How can a duplicate of Mail app appearing in a library cache after an update happen: it takes up a LOT of space?

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How can a duplicate of Mail app appearing in a library cache after an update happen: it takes up a LOT of space?

Mojave 10.14.6 OS on a 2013 MacBook Air, Mail 12.4

Found storage dropped to 5 GB from 90 GB with notices on desktop that 'your disk is almost full' and the root of it: was that there was a duplicate Mail app in a library cache -34GB of it.

Removing this duplication of this app: and the storage went back up, to 94 GB -- with Mail working perfectly and all mailboxes in place: only the Mail preferences were effected, all the default choices except for Accounts in Mail where the port numbers remained -- otherwise all including the tool bar were in default choices.

I was told this was an error in some updating of Mail, 'that can happen'.

I noticed the drop in storage in March with caution Apple popup indicating that 'the disk is almost full'. Has there been a 2020 Mail update that has been troublesome in producing this effect which is known about; or does this sort of thing 'just happen' with app updates or for other reasons, from time to time. How? Why?

It has been a frustrating journey.

Would truly appreciate hearing what more informed and experienced technical minds that mine might share, on how and why such a duplicate of the Mail app might have found its way into a library cache,

presumably as a consequence of a Mail update.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Posted on Apr 18, 2020 6:31 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 18, 2020 6:47 AM in response to allan299

allan299 wrote:

How can a duplicate of Mail app appearing in a library cache after an update happen

Found storage dropped to 5 GB from 90 GB

Removing this duplication of this app: and the storage went back up, to 94 GB --

?

Well that is about as clear as mud...

Check for log files—

From the Finder>Go>Go To Folder, copy&paste:

~/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Logs/Mail

I have seen anywhere from 12 GB to 342 GB of logs here. (*new recored 700GB)

You would be safe to delete all those logs.

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Answer 2

Apr 18, 2020 7:17 AM in response to allan299

allan299 wrote:

You say, "... it is a half baked macOS...". I guess you are referring to the MacBook Air or the 2013 version in this opinion?

Has the 2020 Air with 2TB and an i7 processor improved your opinion of that model, or would you just stay clear of the Air?

You say: "If you want to analysis the code for a more in-depth understand of the API ..."

What is an "API"?

Half baked is in reference to the macOS— you are asking for an explanations:

**** happens. Full stop.

It is a complex OS—out of million/billions of operations thing can go wrong.

An anomaly like yours is unfortunate but to explain to you why and how is beyond the scope of your understanding or mine.

I am more surprised that more things don't go sideways when upgrading.

I would not dwell on it.

If you have google then I will let you google" API " for your own gratification.

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Answer 3

allan299 Author

Level 1

60 points

Apr 18, 2020 6:51 AM in response to leroydouglas

Let's see it I can be clearer:

I have already gone to library containers as you suggest and found a duplicate of the Mail app; that is what i'm saying.

Putting that 34 GB (on a system that only holds 128 GB) moved my storage from 1.75 GB to 94GB

and solved the issue of why the storage plummeted in the period of a month and I was receiving

messages that the disk was almost full.

I am asking why and how does a duplicate of an app, in this case Mail happen? Is it a common

occurrence with updates? Have you heard of it before?

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Answer 4

Apr 18, 2020 6:58 AM in response to allan299

Yes I heard it before.

You want a detail explanation of" why and how"....

Maybe we can just say it is a half baked macOS— You can submit your experience here: Apple Feedback http://www.apple.com/feedback

If you want to analysis the code for a more in-depth understand of the API then Call (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

Is the issue resolved?

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Answer 5

allan299 Author

Level 1

60 points

Apr 18, 2020 7:05 AM in response to leroydouglas

You say, "... it is a half baked macOS...". I guess you are referring to the MacBook Air or the 2013 version in this opinion?

Has the 2020 Air with 2TB and an i7 processor improved your opinion of that model, or would you just stay clear of the Air?

You say: "If you want to analysis the code for a more in-depth understand of the API ..."

What is an "API"?

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Answer 6

allan299 Author

Level 1

60 points

Apr 18, 2020 7:44 AM in response to leroydouglas

leroydouglas: thank you for taking the time to reply to my concerns.

As they say: '**** happens', eh.

The thing is that computers are now as essential as a landline telephone was in 1950, but a whole lot more complicated for the average person to use, even with the MacOS efforts to simplify it. It can feel overwhelming for someone who is not in this field of endeavor.

In my situation and level of understanding, if I had not asked for assistance beyond this message board, I would have assumed that a new computer needed to be purchased even for my meagre level of use and need of the product: and what is the first rule of responsibility for the environment: "Use."

Thank you for giving me options to go further if I want to; it is helpful information which I appreciate receiving. And your attitude toward the issue, from your level of experience is revealing and some how comforting.

I am understanding better, the resistance that one can observe that people have, to upgrading and updating for anything other than security reasons: if it's not broken don't fix it.

Life is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be lived; even, it seems, in regards to factual and technical matters.

Have a good day. Needless to say, times of worldwide epidemic (pandemic) are hard and challenging. Stay safe. Be well.

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Answer 7

Apr 18, 2020 8:23 AM in response to allan299

allan299 wrote:

Thank you for giving me options to go further if I want to; it is helpful information which I appreciate receiving. And your attitude toward the issue, from your level of experience is revealing and some how comforting.

I am understanding better, the resistance that one can observe that people have, to upgrading and updating for anything other than security reasons: if it's not broken don't fix it.

Life is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be lived; even, it seems, in regards to factual and technical matters.

Thanks for your added refections here allan299 .

I see it as just another medium and a worthy adversary — I enjoy the challenge and the endless learning it presents.

I can say from my perspective —Typically you are always better off running the most current macOS your machine will allow—especially for the built in security features. It never pays to get to far behind in the macOS or the hardware.

It seems much easier to stay current and deal with the "little" issues as they arise— the further behind you get in the technology the harder it is when making big leaps verse stair stepping your way forward into the future.

You too stay safe, stay well.

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How can a duplicate of Mail app appearing in a library cache after an update happen: it takes up a LOT of space?

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