Troubleshooting missing emails in iCloud inbox

Hi,


I'm trying to troubleshoot the issue for a friend who is completely lost on why this happens (note: in the last 3 years this is the 3rd time this has happened!).


When trying to check emails in iPhone notices that all the emails in the inbox are missing... everything else is there (trash, junk, sent, etc.). Following that, opening Mail in MacOS reveals the same situation, empty inbox. Opens iCloud.com, same thing! Emails are also not in the Recovered box.


I have looked at the Library \ Mail folders and checked the emails stored in the subfolders but apparently too late, they must have "synced-to-empty" or something, because there are quite a few subfolders (numbered 0 to 9) that are empty in the Messages subfolder.


I also made a backup copy of the folders mentioned above and then tried a rebuild... all it did was delete the empty subfolders.


The last Time Machine backup was a couple of months ago when the computer was last connected to the backup drive, so it won't help with anything in the inbox after that.


Don't know if it's related, but iCloud was full before the event (this is the basic 5GB account).


Any fresh ideas on how to recover the lost emails?

MacBook Air 11″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Jul 2, 2023 3:49 PM

Reply
1 reply

Jul 2, 2023 9:45 PM in response to Somniu


The mail application is corrupted , remove the accounts and once again add Add email accounts in Mail on Mac - Apple Support

If you are using secondary authentication account in which three answers for security questions , date of birth , rescue mail address and its password is added , and iCloud Keychain is set up in Mac , make sure you must have iCloud Keychain verification code in records as it will be required once you add gmail or whatever services used and iCloud account .


( a ) Open system preferences > iCloud > the box for keychain is checked , click on options , click on change security code .


( b ) Click on security code > enter new code in the fields and click on next , you have to enter the new code for the second time and click on next .


In the next window the country code is written , enter your trusted mobile number …….and click on done .

Again enter your Apple ID password to update your account settings and click on ok , hence the code is changed , so write down this code in a safe place .

Note : once the code is generated then remove mail accounts and once again add it , make sure must have correct credentials like Apple ID password , web mail address and its password in your records .

If iCloud mail storage is full see the articles Free up storage space for email accounts in Mail on Mac - Apple Support

Keep mailboxes from getting too big in Mail on Mac - Apple Support

Read If messages are in a Recovered Messages mailbox in Mail on Mac - Apple Support





Troubleshooting missing emails in iCloud inbox

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