Mac mail loses column width settings

Question

Level 1

22 points

Mac mail loses column width settings

I am on Monterey 12.1 and have Mac Mail configured to use column layout, with preview on the right hand side.

I have adjusted the column widths to my desired configuration but it continuously loses the width settings and resets to much narrower columns such that I can't read the information and have to resize again.

It retains the settings *sometimes* when I click on another mail box then click back on this one, close Mail and reopen, or go to another program and come back. However, this is inconsistent; sometimes if I click on another mail box and come back, the columns have shrunk again. At other times, I might just be using other programs and then come back to Mail and the widths have shrunk. If I sleep and then wake my computer sometimes it remains unchanged, but usually the column widths will have shrunk, or the preview window moved across, or both, on some mail boxes but not necessarily all of them. And sometimes only one column width is reduced, at other times it is the width on several columns. This is incredibly frustrating.

I have taken some screenshots during this process, where I had the same ‘All Inboxes’ selected throughout (and I didn’t do anything else in Mail during this time):

After I set the column widths to my desired setting
After sleeping and waking my computer - the preview window had moved across to the left but column widths did not change.
After moving the preview window back to where I wanted it, then sleeping and waking the computer again - this time the preview window moved across AND the column widths were narrowed

I'm on Mac Mail Version 15.0 (3693.40.0.1.81)

Posted on Jan 24, 2022 9:41 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

TammyW_03

Community Specialist

Jan 25, 2022 4:08 PM in response to alisco99

Hello alisco99,

We're glad you thought to ask Apple Support Communities about the issue you're having with the column width not saving in the Mail app. Let's clear the last saved state, set it up one more time, quit the app, then restart your Mac to see if that helps. To clear the saved state, first quit the Mail app by selecting the Mail menu > Quit Mail. Then hold the Shift key on your keyboard while opening the Mail app. Be sure to keep holding the Shift key until the app fully opens.

Set the column widths to your preferences, quit the app one more time, then restart your Mac: Shut down or restart your Mac

If the behavior continues, let us know more:

Do you use more than one account in the Mail app, and if so, does this happen with all account views?
Does this happen in another user account to tell if this is system-wide or only within your user account: Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac

The more details you can provide the better.

Take care.

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Answer 2

Owl-53

Level 10

102,181 points

Feb 15, 2022 7:13 AM in response to alisco99

" I am on Monterey 12.1 " there have been several update to Monterey since this version.

The current version is 12.2.1 released Feb 10. 2022 which going several Bug and Security Fixes.

Some of which may or may not address your issue

Suggest doing A Time Machine Backup before attempting the update

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Answer 3

Owl-53

Level 10

102,181 points

Mar 14, 2022 4:11 AM in response to alisco99

What happens if the "Preview " is changed to " Below " thusly giving much more real-estate to render and maintain the Column width

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Answer 4

Beetone

Level 2

335 points

Mar 23, 2022 7:41 AM in response to alisco99

I have the same problem. In fact this has been a problem with a long line of system updates, each one of which I had had hopes would correct such an obvious flaw only to be disappointed every time. I am using OS 12.3. with Mail version 16.0.

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Answer 5

Muserale

Level 1

16 points

Apr 26, 2022 3:27 PM in response to wwaustin0029

Still having same issues, so there isn't a fix. It would seem such a simple thing for Apple to fix, can't understand why it's not been done.

Disappointing, to say the least.

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Answer 6

Muserale

Level 1

16 points

Feb 15, 2022 6:22 AM in response to TammyW_03

Hi. I have the same issue. MBP 14" running Monterey 12.1. It's the same issue on my 2021 MBA. I have followed you suggested instructions twice, but it is making no difference. If I don't reboot for a couple of days, configuration stays, but if I reboot, everything is lost. It is really irritating and can't understand why it is apparently a problem for Apple to sort it out.

Would appreciate your input. Thanks

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Answer 7

Muserale

Level 1

16 points

Feb 15, 2022 2:29 PM in response to Owl-53

Thank you for the suggestion. I will try it on my MBA first as that has to go to Apple support as USBC ports are no longer reading the charger (it's not the charger), and they will probably have to wipe and replace something. Do you have this issue with Mail and the columns?

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Answer 8

bruce206

Level 1

8 points

Mar 12, 2022 11:38 AM in response to alisco99

Please tolerate an annoying ' have this problem too' but wanted to add the additional issue. Om my Macmail (Monterery, 12.2.1) every time the computer goes to sleep with the mail app open it totally shifts the columns AND preview pane. Very annoying to have to redo it every time.

Any suggestions?

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