This message has no content in MAIL

This issue I have had on some mails ever since I have bought a MacBook Pro with M1 chip. If it is related I have no clue. I have addressed Apple with no results. I have searched the community with answers and nothing has worked. Done all the recommended settings back and for. Installed a temporary mail box to move it back and for and also without success. On some such emails I have been able to get the content visual by opening it on others it did not work.

On all other apple gadgets I have I see the these mails with contents.

The only way around is to log in to iCloud.com and read these mails out from there. There you can always see the content correctly.

I find it a nuisance to do so and I find it annoying from Apple not to address the issue and come up with a solution.

By the way I have had it with different OS systems from Monterey to Ventura. I even recently completely reinstalled the MacBook Pro from scratch due to some other issues. And thought that perhaps it would restore the problem. But it did not.

Shame on Apple to be unable to help the community of apple users or that they simply just ignore us.

Taking all the money from us for the more expensive equipment but with a lousy service (at least in some areas)



Posted on Mar 31, 2023 8:00 PM

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Posted on Dec 15, 2023 1:09 AM

I have been facing this issue for many months. Mac has updated as routine many times. Followed all possible solutions I could get here or elsewhere. 'This message has no content in MAIL' bug keeps bothering. My observations:

  1. Despite hundreds of users highlighting this issue Apple hasn't bothered to address it. It seems they have surrendered Mac Mail as inconsequential to their business and dropped it. That's sad.
  2. Not all old mails have NO CONTENT. Observations:
    1. It happens with mails which are not opened earlier ever on this Mac
    2. Mails older than 15 days are prone to this bug.
    3. Mail which have no separate attachments ( surprising all mails with attachments keep opening)
    4. Mails have Preview also missing for such missing content mails.
    5. I observe several mails in sequence having no content then suddenly few mail have it. It's all random at first glance unless Apple finds and responds with some explanation.
  3. I need to move over to some other client now, unless Apple does something responsibly.


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Dec 15, 2023 1:09 AM in response to Grandos

I have been facing this issue for many months. Mac has updated as routine many times. Followed all possible solutions I could get here or elsewhere. 'This message has no content in MAIL' bug keeps bothering. My observations:

  1. Despite hundreds of users highlighting this issue Apple hasn't bothered to address it. It seems they have surrendered Mac Mail as inconsequential to their business and dropped it. That's sad.
  2. Not all old mails have NO CONTENT. Observations:
    1. It happens with mails which are not opened earlier ever on this Mac
    2. Mails older than 15 days are prone to this bug.
    3. Mail which have no separate attachments ( surprising all mails with attachments keep opening)
    4. Mails have Preview also missing for such missing content mails.
    5. I observe several mails in sequence having no content then suddenly few mail have it. It's all random at first glance unless Apple finds and responds with some explanation.
  3. I need to move over to some other client now, unless Apple does something responsibly.


Dec 15, 2023 10:29 AM in response to sanjshar214

After considerable discussion with Apple Support, screen sharing sessions and uploading data files, we have (almost) concluded this is a communication conflict between Apple Mail and AOL Mail's recommended server and port settings in OSX, not iOS. The server settings in OSX mail applications are different. Mail does not let you change server settings after you delete the AOL account and try to add it back, even when you choose "Add Other Account" to go around Mail automatically setting up the AOL account. You can change the port to Mail recommended setting but when you do, you cannot connect to AOL server through that port. So Mail has it wrong. Using Connection Doctor when the "Message has no content" error occurs I discovered one of the servers (incoming or outgoing) isn't connected. The progress wheel spins forever and then turns to a red dot. While this is happening, that specific email content does not download. Even after the connection is made, the content remains empty - it's already been delivered with no content. The content of new email after the servers are conntected is downloaded. It can take considerable time for Mail and AOL to connect. In sum, this "no content" problem occurs while the servers are trying to communicate but can't because of the server settings conflict. Two other errors also occur intermittently under these conditions - can't move the message to "x" mailbox and can't send because server cannot be found/try later. Eventually the connection is made but this is very annoying and message content can be lost. I retrieve "no content" emails from my iOS devices. Another confirmation of this problem is the "no content' error happens only with my AOL account, not with Yahoo and Comcast accounts that I have running simultaneously. Until the server and port setting conflicts are resolved, AOL and possibly other 3rd party mail applications like Outlook, will not work properly. I hope this helps those following this thread. Rod

Nov 27, 2023 5:04 AM in response to ylnj

If anyone is following this thread, this problem continues to occur despite applying all of the suggestions in this and other forums, Google searches, Apple articles, etc. I upgraded my MacBook Air 15" to Sonoma thinking that would work. It doesn't. I can retrieve the "no content" emails on my iPhone but that is annoying and really unnecessary, isn't it? This is clearly a macOS problem. Can't the geniuses at Apple fix this? If you have found a solution, please offer it and then sell it to Apple! Thanks for responding. Rod

Jan 3, 2024 12:47 PM in response to Grandos

Hi,


I have had the same issue which was resolved following these steps and rebuilding my mailbox, therefore try the following:


  1. In the Mail app  on your Mac, choose Mail > Settings, then click Privacy.
  2. Make sure "Protect Mail Activity" is turned off
  3. Close the settings
  4. In the Mail app, go to the tab "Mailbox" and then click on "Rebuild"


It worked for me, I hope it does for you too!


Dec 4, 2023 4:44 PM in response to Marcus Peaston

Hi Marcus and others. The rebuild option did not work for me as well as suggestions made here, other postings and online Mac-friendly websites. I am having screen sharing sessions with Apple Support at the time the error is occuring. Data has been uploaded for the engineers to analyze. We have narrowed the problem down to possible server settings and connection interruptions that do not allow an email to fully download, but others arriving later to fully download. I'm watching Connection Doctor for whether servers are in fact connected. Fixes won't "undo" the connection failure. We're looking at server and port settings. I am running two other email accounts simultaneously to see if the problem occurs across email providers. I'll post here the results. Rod

Apr 16, 2023 10:49 AM in response to Grandos

Same exact problem here with an iCloud account. Deleted the mailbox, created another user account, etc. Even erased and installed Ventura from scratch. Problem still exists with no other software installed on the computer. Spoke to a senior advisor today and his recommendation was to use a third party mail app like Microsoft Outlook until Apple fixes its bug. I'v been waiting for a fix since December...

Nov 18, 2023 12:09 PM in response to Grandos

Try moving those "no content" messages to the special "Recovered Messages (XXX)" folder, where XXX is the email account the messages belong to, e.g. iCloud. The content for those messages should be recovered in that folder. There is one such folder associated with each email account, and they are located under the "On My Mac" category in the menu that pops up when you right-select the "move to" action for those messages.

Dec 16, 2023 8:19 AM in response to sanjshar214

Sanjsharf214: I very much appreciate your attention to this, sharing your experience and trying to find a solution. I shared your comment about AOL with the Apple support advisor assigned my case. Over the years, this is the one of two Apple support interactions that has been positive and helpful. She is extremely open to criticism, challenges and questions. She does her research. She responds almost immediately to my email when I provide additional information (like yours), results of fixes I try (many included in these Community forums), uploaded logs, screenshots, etc. Here's her response to your observation:  


"I have not seen this issue continue to persist with other email providers, only AOL in the research Ive done.  It seems with IOS the way the server settings sync is different than on Mac OS.  But for any other accounts that may have had issues, changing the port number easily resolved the issue and in a short time it was resolved and working as expected. The only one that seems to continue to have issues is the AOL account.  I still have to say if it was in the Mac OS / Apple software, I feel all of the other accounts would do the same, but they do not.  So I would still have to suggest it is some mis communication between aol servers/ports and the Mac mail ." 


I have not deleted my Yahoo or Comcast email accounts to see if there are server/port setting conflicts when I add them back like between AOL and Apple, but I don't plan to leave AOL. My online life is too connected to AOL to switch to a new email provider - it can takes years. So again, any insight or suggestions from you or anyone following this thread are taken seriously and are appreciated. Rod

Jan 3, 2024 3:59 PM in response to Pierrot2015

This has been suggested and didn't work for others and me either, but every idea needs to be considered. I did the rebuild option once for my inbox almost immediateley after the problem presented and it corrected. But only once. Also, check "Connection Doctor" (under "Window" on the menu bar) when the problem presents and you'll see either the IMAP or SMPT servers are not connected and the progress wheel is still turning. If you look at my posts, I'm suggesting this is a problem that might be exacerbated by Sonoma and the Apple M2 chip but definitely a communication problem because of different Apple and AOL's server settings. And that is not likely to change since each believe it's "not my problem."

Jan 12, 2024 9:49 AM in response to Grandos

I also am having this problem on my MacBook Air M1 with Sonoma 14.2.1. I opened a chat with Apple support and we tried a few things that did not work. They then arranged a phone call from the next level up. They did solve the problem, but the solution was a bit drastic I thought. I had to delete the account (Google) and then added it back. The interesting thing is that I can see the contents if I view the raw source (View>Message>Raw Source). This is obviously a Mac software issue. I wish they would fix it...

Jan 12, 2024 10:24 AM in response to Grandos

I am still having diaglogue with Apple Support and we've concluded the problem is a conflict between what Apple and AOL consider their server and port settings. Neither is likely to change their designated settings. The resulting lag is logging into either the IMAP or SMPT server results in the content not being dowloaded. You should not have to rebuild a mailbox, delete and reinstall an account (takes forever), go to the cloud, go to mail provider website, etc., etc, etc, to see the content of email. I go to my iPhone where the content has downloaded and forward the email to my MacBook Air - it's the simpliest solution. Good luck!


This message has no content in MAIL

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