No, it's not necessary to download emails to both your MacBooks. understand the given points here
Understanding Email Storage:
There are two main email account types:
- POP3: This downloads emails entirely to your computer. Having them on both MacBooks would duplicate storage usage.
- IMAP: This keeps emails on the mail server and only downloads the content (body and text) when you view them. Attachments are downloaded only if you choose to save them. This is the preferred option for multiple devices.
Check Your Email Account Type:
- Open Mail. app on your current MacBook.
- Go to Mail > Preferences.
- Select an account from the list.
- Look under "Account Information" for "Account Type."
Switch to IMAP if Needed:
- If it's POP3, contact your email provider (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) and ask about switching to IMAP. They should be able to guide you through the process.
Manage Storage on Both MacBooks:
Reduce Existing Storage on Old MacBook (if POP3):
- Delete old emails you don't need.
- Use Mail's search function to find large messages with attachments and delete them (or move them to an online archive).
- Empty your Trash folder.
IMAP Settings:
- In Mail. app preferences, ensure "Store messages on the server" is checked for all accounts (assuming you switched to IMAP).
- Consider enabling "Automatically delete messages from Trash after 30 days" or a similar timeframe.
I am sure after following these steps you can easily manage your account.
Thanx if you have any other query related to this feel free to ask!