Mail keeps shutting down as soon as it is open

With the application totally closed

Hold the Shift key and Click the Mail application in the Applications Folder

This should start Mail in a Safe Launch state

Does it launch and stay open ?

Still issues >>

1 - Restart in Safe Mode. This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts. The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal.

2 - Safe Mode will also eliminate Third Party Software, extensions and drivers from loading. It will only load the Minimum amount of Core Apple Processes to allow the the computer to function at a reduced Level of Performance 

3 - Does the issue present in this mode ?

4 - Sometimes a Safe Boot followed by a Normal Boot will just put things right.

Still having issues

5 - If not - there could be something in the main User Account playing up. To further isolate this - Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac. Then log out of the Main User account and log into the dummy account and test again if the issue persists.

6 - If the issue is present in the dummy account - then, this appears to be a System Wide issue on the computer.

After following all the above and still having issues

7 - Download the Application Etrecheck directly from the Developer.

This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer.

It makes a coherent and readable inventory of both the Hardware and Software used on the computer 

The application is free or paid from added features. 

The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. 

Post back the Full Report - copy and paste - >>>> using the Additional Text Icon ( 3rd Icon to last ) <<<<

Please be advised that I did not review the EtreCheck report you posted (I was also limited to an iPhone for a while) but I am confident that P. Phillips accurately identified the likely cause as the non-Apple "anti-virus" product you installed.

Although you should never install such junk on a Mac, recovering from that mistake should not require purchasing a new Mac or even erasing the one you have now. Before you do either one I recommend the following:

First remove the "AVG" and "Comodo" products in strict accordance with their respective instructions. Bear in mind uninstalling that task may prove to be difficult since one of the characteristics of junk software is poor or ineffective removal instructions. Follow them first, then proceed as P. Phillips wrote:

1 - Spend a lot of time cleaning out the AVG Software Package  and COMODO Security making sure all the Bits and Pieces are totally removed.

I can personally confirm that is likely to take a lot of time, because I installed an "AVG" product a number of years ago for evaluation purposes, and after spending a few hours on the task I literally gave up trying to eradicate it. Its developer was of no help so I eventually restored that Mac from the Time Machine backup I created just prior to installing that product.

After completing that task run EtreCheck again to confirm all remnants of those products are thoroughly permanently and irrevocably gone.

Then: Mail will probably continue to crash. Why? Non-Apple "anti-virus" products often falsely identify Mail content or attachments as having been "infected" with something, and offer to "quarantine" or otherwise alter that content. This corrupts the Mail database and is a very likely reason Mail is crashing. Whereas you can rebuild corrupted Mail database files according to Rebuild mailboxes in Mail on Mac - Apple Support, you can't get to that step if Mail crashes immediately upon launching it.

The solution to that problem — after eradicating the junk — is to remove the affected email Accounts, and add them again. Apple provides those instructions here: If you can’t send or receive email on your Mac - Apple Support, under Remove your email account, then add it back.

First remove: Log out of or remove email accounts in Mail on Mac - Apple Support

Then add: Add email accounts in Mail on Mac - Apple Support

Be sure to heed the Important note in the first document.

---

Lastly, read Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community. Installing non-Apple "anti-virus" junk is the first step in a well-worn path to misery.

I am on iPhone for the next few hours but a quick view and see AVG antivirus software installed

Perhaps my colleague can comb the report in more details

There are no known Windows-like Viruses in the wild that self replicate and affect macOS, because of the underling UNIX Foundation and Permission Limitation.

Additionally, in macOS 11 Big Sur, macOS 12 Monterey and macOS 13 Ventura.

The Operating System resides in a Sealed and Read Only Volume that can not be opened by the User nor by Third Party Applications.

The only Entity that can open and modify or alter this Volume is Apple.

That would occur when a update or UpGrade is performed.

The Only thing this Antivirus software is protecting is the Bank Account of the Developers and for zero return to the User aside from the problems this software creates.

AntiVirus Developers purposefully Market their product to create a “ Fear Factor “. In so doing, creating a False Need for their Product.

The The Built in Security is all that is required to protect the computer.

There is Adware & Malware which will affect the computer and is generally downloaded from “ Shady “ Websites or Developers who Inject this software into the download.

Should “ Certain & Specific Software “ referenced from above be installed - it will negatively impact macOS. It is suggested, download directly from the Developer , the application Malwarebytes for Mac.

It is free or paid for added features.

Run the Application and it should remove the malware / adware. Once done, restart computer and test.

Based upon what the report is presenting there appears to a number of options open to the user and in no specific order

1 - Spend a lot of time cleaning out the AVG Software Package  and COMODO Security making sure all the Bits and Pieces are totally removed.

That would entail a great deal of Down-Time and even with the Best if Intensions, some things can be missed

2 - Wipe the Drive Completely and start over from scratch. Just reinstall Only the Absolute Required Software Directly from the Apple Store or Directly from the Developer 

3 - As the machine is now 9 Years old - Yup, time to consider your option on a Newer or New machine.

What follows in Not Up Selling but only an available Option to made know to you

If the user whats the latest and greatest versions of macOS,  all is not lost.

If the user wishes to explore the Apple Trade-In  Process where the Value of the exiting device could be used against the cost of a new Apple Computer, iPhone or iPad  

Or Shop Refurbished Apple computers at an Apple Reduced Cost

Have used both previously and have been satisfied each time.

Q 1- Runtime: 7:14

Q 2 -Performance: Below Average

Q 3 - Obsolete hardware - This computer may be considered obsolete.

Q 3A - Low performance - EtreCheck report took an unusually long time to run.

Q 3B - Hardware Information:  MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2014)    Status: Obsolete

A 1,  A2 , A3, A3A & A3B  -  Signs of a very well Travelled Computer this is showing its age and may consider your options

Major Issues:

Q 4-   Unsigned files - There are unsigned software files installed that could be malicious and should be reviewed.

A 4 - If Malware was found, Etrecheck Application may have offered the User to Remove said software . If so, did the user Grant Permission ?

Q 5 - No Time Machine backup - Time Machine backup not found.

A 5 - Yes, am aware Carbon Copy Cloner is installed on this machine and Kudos for that. But that is one hand clamping and really should consider incorporating  the Builtin Time Machine Backup to augment your computer data protection

Q 6 -  Antivirus software: Apple and AVG

A 6 - Already covered in earlier posting 

Launchd: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.avg.osx.securevpn.home.userinit.plist

    Executable: ~/Library/Application Support/AvgSecureVpn/hub/userinit.sh

    Launchd: /Library/LaunchAgents/com.avg.osx.securevpn.userinit.plist

    Executable: /Library/Application Support/AvgSecureVpn/hub/userinit.sh

  Launchd: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.avg.antitrack.Uninstaller.plist

    Command: /usr/bin/open file:///Users/richardsoutham/Library/Application%20Support/AVG%20AntiTrack/Uninstaller.app/ --args uninstall-agent

  Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.avg.osx.securevpn.update.plist

    Executable: /Library/Application Support/AvgSecureVpn/components/update/update.sh

  Launchd: /Library/Application Support/AvgSecureVpn/hub/launchd/com.avg.osx.securevpn.racoonrun.plist

    Command: /Library/Application Support/AvgSecureVpn/hub/modules/030_racoonrun.sh backup

  Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.avg.osx.securevpn.init.plist

    Executable: /Library/Application Support/AvgSecureVpn/hub/init.sh

   Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.avg.osx.securevpn.uninstall.plist

    Executable: /Library/Application Support/AvgSecureVpn/hub/autouninstall.sh

Please refer to this Discussion: Mail immediately crashes on openig - Apple Community

In some ways, agree with my esteems colleague @John Galt 👍

As they( he ) is / are far more experienced in such matters as salvaging the exiting computer setup.

The Option to move to newer computer is only an option and only suggested inlight of the age of the existing machine.

Otherwise, by all means do follow the advise for keeping the exiting machine but with the Extended Time it will require to get it back to a more normal and functional state

Almost 😔 photo finish

Either way, hopefully we have OP covered

😆 👍

Keep Us, in the plural, posted on the hopefully successful update

Back on a computer now

Thank you for the Report. 

We will dissect it in detail. 

Will get back to you shortly