How to resolve Slow Email Opening on macOS Monterey 12.4

Well, it is still too early to be REALLY sure, but so far, indeed the total removal of Avast Antivirus software seems to have worked. Every email opens instantly. (A few other delays in my Mac seem also to have resolved).

If the problem recurs, I will post here. But so far - fingers crossed.

Well, well, well. I complained about this problem and tried all sorts of things to resolve it with no luck. However, I am HAPPY to report that since I upgraded my iMac (2019 model) and my wife's new 24 inch studio iMac to Ventura OS, the problem with Mail has been resolved. Neither of us is having any problem with getting Mail messages to load quickly and correctly. And, it even seems that Mail is now interacting well with Gmail accounts too. Thank you Apple! Just wish something had been posted here by you that suggested a fix was in the works.

What I found was my virus software, in my case Avast, was slowing the opening of my emails to the point where my email was almost unusable. I stopped the software from checking my email( checked a box) and problem solved. Granted, I am now a bit more vulnerable, but I will simply find another solution.

Hello. Same problem. I removed the Houdahspot mail plugin (and the DEVONthink mail plugin). No more delays. Thanks to the MacPowerUsers forum for solving this for me. I think the Houdahspot was the problem for me. https://talk.macpowerusers.com/t/apple-mail-slow-to-open-on-one-computer/30245/5

Solved!! thanks to a previous poster I followed his directions, opened mail preferences clicked on privacy and unchecked protect mail activity. This completely solved the issue and I left hide IP address as checked. Perfect thank you to the previous poster. Who suggested I try this.

This has been driving me nuts too for a long time. I, too, went into Mail>Preferences>Privacy and unchecked "Protect Mail Activity" and made sure "Hide IP Address" was checked.

But the main tings I did was make sure the default email reader was set to "Mail." Mine was on Google for whatever reason. Mail>General>Default Email reader>Mail

Hope this helps someone

In my case, unchecking ‘protect mail activity’ under privacy AND ‘include related messages’ under the View tab then restarting the program resolved the problem.

Are you running any VPN, Anti-Virus, or Cleaning apps?

What DNS settings do you have?

System Preferences>Network, unlock the lock if need be, highlight the Interface you use to connect to Internet, click on the advanced button, click on the DNS tab, click on the little plus icon, then add these numbers...

8.8.8.8

8.8.4.4

1.1.1.1

9.9.9.9

Apply.

MacOS13 & 14...

System Setttings>Network, click a network service on the right, click Details, then click DNS. (You may need to scroll down.)

Enter these numbers...

8.8.8.8

8.8.4.4

1.1.1.1

9.9.9.9

Apply.

Monterey works fine here for Mail.

Are you running any VPN, Anti-Virus, or Cleaning apps?

We need to see what all is running, a report from this will not display any personal info...

Using EtreCheck - Apple Community

EtreCheck is a FREE simple little diagnostic tool to display the important details of your system configuration and allow you to copy that information to the Clipboard. It is meant to be used with Apple Support Communities to help people help you with your Mac. It will not display any personal info.

https://www.etrecheck.com/

Thanks for Old Toad’s etrecheck instructions…

Slow iMac 2017 - Apple Community

The problem is the new confidentiality features. If you switch them off, everything will go back to normal.

Mail/preference/confidentiality

Open Avast. Go to Core Shields. There you will find the slider to opt out of “Email Shield”

Philip,

Have you tried unchecking "Protect Mail Activity' and checking "Hide IP Address" in Privacy-Mail Preferences?

It worked for me.

Wow. Thanks Mfiles. I've been having the same problem in Sonoma 14.4 (maybe 14.3) and now 14.4.1.

Your solution of "I went into Mail>Preferences>Privacy and unchecked "Protect Mail Activity." I made sure "Hide IP Address" was checked." just worked for me too.

Thanks so much.

olyman1955 wrote:

Seems like ever since my Mac OS Monterey was updated to 12.4, I've had a lot of problems opening my email. I can click on the email envelope to open my email and wait a minute or so for my emails to be downloaded. Then when I click on the email to open, it only opens to show who it's from and the subject, but it may take anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes to fully open the message of the email. Even if it's only 2 or 3 lines. Normally, I could click on the email and it would open completely, whether it was an ad or a letter from someone. Has anyone else had this slow email opening problem?

Quit Mail. You can try holding the Shift key when you launch the Mail.app and see if there is a difference...

You can try disabling any mail plug-ins or extensions in Mail.app and compare your results...

Mail>Preferences>General>Plug-ins

You can try a SafeBoot of your machine as a test for some third party interference/cache clearing/ etc.

log in and test, reboot as normal and test

SafeBoot How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

Thanks, yes the 4K-2017 is a sitting duck; and even more, it is caged in (to use two proverbs).

I have external Thunderbult/SSD and the machine now starts in 35-50 seconds; it is very responsive. Alas, since then, Mail dropped out.

OK, I already was convinced about F-Secure. I did already: Some time ago I de-installed it with their un-installer. Restarted. Same email problems. I concluded: So it is not F-Secure. I know Apple is 'safe' even though I had some malware at some time (you know, the hobby download burden).

NOW: I put the F-Secure on hold (stop active scanning - of browser and mail probably) and a first quick test shows that I did not get a brown-out. Responsive.

Thanks.