Level 1

45 points

Mail: Smart Mailboxes stopped working after updating to Ventura 13.2.1

Is anyone else experiencing a functionality issue with Mail: Smart Mailboxes after the recent update to Ventura 13.2.1? Smart Mailboxes are not flagging any messages. I have tried several things on my side, including:

Mailbox > Rebuild
Creating a brand new Smart Mailbox
Deleting and recreating an existing Smart Mailbox
Quitting and re-launching Mail
Shutting down and rebooting my desktop

None of the above actions have made a difference.

Please advise.

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 13.2

Posted on Feb 16, 2023 9:00 AM

Top-ranking reply

itsapplemike

Level 1

22 points

Posted on Oct 16, 2023 12:58 AM

I'm already on Ventura 13.6 and wasn't aware of any problems with my Smart Mailboxes until today.

In case people find this thread, I found a solution that worked for me: old mailboxes worked, and new ones too.

The problem apparently relates to Mail's inability to save preferences in iCloud Drive. Here's their steps to fix:

1. Open System Settings
2. Tap your Apple ID (near the top)
3. In iCloud Drive › Apps syncing to iCloud Drive, disable Mail
4. In iCloud Mail, disable Sync this Mac

Reading further, the one comment mentioned reversing the steps and finding success for their Smart Mailboxes "not staying put". I presume they meant mailboxes going missing which is a problem I didn't have.

Sometime in this process I realised I still had Mail open so I quit and restarted the app to find my Smart Mailboxes working again.

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Similar questions

42 replies

Mar 18, 2023 5:40 PM in response to javaDevOps

I also notice that "rebuild" doesn't seem to do anything. I have the activity window open click on "rebuild" under window and nothing happens.

A2GS

Level 1

8 points

Apr 26, 2023 4:59 AM in response to Rowan Morrigan

Warning, I recreated my suddenly missing smart mailboxes, and those just ended up disappearing too. :(

Old Toad

Level 10

215,640 points

Apr 26, 2023 8:47 AM in response to A2GS

Since your problem is different from the author's start a new topic with the specifics of your hardware, software and problem so that you will get help geared for your specific problem.

Old Toad

Level 10

215,640 points

May 24, 2023 1:13 PM in response to daveohl

Have you tried the fixes previously suggested in this topic?

daveohl

Level 1

4 points

May 24, 2023 2:40 PM in response to Old Toad

Not yet. I read all of the postings on the topic and there appears to be no dependable fix. I am hoping to hear Apple weigh in and offer their suggestion or fix.

mlondon

Level 1

19 points

Jul 13, 2023 11:00 AM in response to javaDevOps

I'm on 13.4.1 and SmartMailboxes are still not working for me.

Frustrating...

dncmd1

Level 1

12 points

Aug 2, 2023 4:09 PM in response to javaDevOps

I'm on Ventura 13.5, and my Smart Mailboxes still don't work.

Sep 4, 2023 4:20 PM in response to javaDevOps

Same here. Smart MailBoxes NOT ^%*$& working

What is happening to apple... they seem to be well on their way to catch up with WONDOWS!!!!!

daveohl

Level 1

4 points

Sep 4, 2023 6:07 PM in response to javaDevOps

This has been going on far too long. I would expect Apple to step up and fix this. My smart mailboxes are a complete mess. I cannot depend on them at all. Is anyone at Apple watching these forums?

sjw9999

Level 1

12 points

Oct 24, 2023 9:39 AM in response to sjw9999

Unsyncing Icloud Mail means I don’t get any Icloud Mail. So, not a great solution :-(

NotClamz

Level 1

8 points

Nov 5, 2023 5:42 PM in response to itsapplemike

Can confirm this worked.

[Edited by Moderator]

Jan 11, 2024 11:48 AM in response to frederikholst

Mine were too. Then, today, I just upgraded to 14.2.1, and they STOPPED working again

This is laughable

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Mail: Smart Mailboxes stopped working after updating to Ventura 13.2.1