Related Article: If you can’t send or receive email on your Mac

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Mail won't retrieve more than 10,000 emails in IMAP account

I've had an AOL email account that for years has been set up as an IMAP account in Mail. Since this week, it's limited the number of emails it will retrieve, so many have just vanished. However, I'm seemingly able to see all my emails when accessing them via webmail using a browser. Many times more emails are visible in the inbox when viewing the account using a browser.


I've rebuilt the account and also deleted and re-added the account. The email count remains limited to 10,000. When I look at "get info" for the email account, it states, "This account does not limit the space available to store your mail."


I've reached out to AOL. They say that because I'm supposedly able to view all my emails using webmail, the problem is not on their end and is most likely Apple Mail related.


What is occurring, and how can I restore functionality?

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.6

Posted on Apr 8, 2022 11:10 PM

Reply
51 replies

Jun 5, 2022 5:11 PM in response to Sophiawks_

I think I will try this. I've been in contact with AppleCare and am getting the standard response of upgrade to the latest/newest OS and to keep them posted. I've not had a chance to do so. But I hope your solution will work for me, too. (Judging by responses below, it's not worked for everyone, nor has upgrading to the latest OS.) Will update when I know more. Thank you.

Jun 8, 2022 3:06 PM in response to itzenkethi

Yup, I had a similar experience. When this first happened in February, I tried installing the Spark app/client, and it showed all of my emails. Then a couple of months later, the same thing happened, and it got cut down to 10,000. I feel like someone well versed in servers and coding could solve this with the right info. But neither Apple nor AOL seem the list bit interested beyond just blaming each other and passing the buck.

Jun 11, 2022 3:40 PM in response to MrHoffman

<<If Thunderbird, Spark, and Apple Mail clients are all now showing a 10,000 message limit, it’s the mail host setting the limit and not Apple and not the mail clients.>>


Unfortunately, it's not that simple or obvious. Because the limits don't appear in some other apps, nor on AOL's webmail, nor their app. And they are totally unaware of it, and not purposely imposing any limits. Further, the same behavior happens on many Yahoo accounts, and they too are unaware of it, and not doing anything to throttle it. Instead, it seems to be something about how the clients and the email services interact that appeared in recent times. Also, the various apps that have this issue have developed it at different times. Sometimes, it spontaneously corrects, briefly, then reappears. So it's not just a limit/restriction that has been placed on AOL email.

Jun 11, 2022 3:41 PM in response to Ima Poster

AOL say it's Apple. And Apple says it's AOL, because the behavior is also happening on Spark and Thunderbird, even though it appeared on those services at a different time, and also happens with Yahoo.


So no one is taking responsibility. I suspect unless we can figure out exactly what is happening on a programming level, none of the parties involved will take it on. They'd all rather blame the others.

Mail won't retrieve more than 10,000 emails in IMAP account

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.