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Level 1

3 points

Mac Mail Sent emails disappear and re-appear

I have been having the same problem for several months: I hit "send" in Mac mail and the dialogue box would go away like normal and then nothing else would happen. No status bar on the bottom left or "whoosh" and then the sent mail does not appear in any of the sent mail folders (I have 3 email addresses and this happens on all 3). This does not happen 100% of the time but rather about 40%.

Since I can't tell if my email got sent, I then have to quit and re-start the program to try to make sure. SOmetimes it sends later out of nowhere (or the next day). SOmetimes it was sent but I can't really tell until I get a reply on it. Other times the sent emails magically re-appear out of nowhere in my sent mail box. Sometimes my inbox messages appear and disappear.

This is **** on wheels trying to work during the day when I can't ever tell if my emails have sent. And to top it off, when I hit the little "replied" arrow next to an inbox item, all I ever get is "Mail was unable to find your reply to the message “RE: credits”. You may have deleted the message."

Anybody seen anything like this? I have deleted my plist and mailboxes and re-created them several times to no avail. I have a godaddy account, a mobile me account and a gmail account. All 3 smae problem.

thanks

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Feb 3, 2011 4:49 PM

46 replies

martini27 Author

Level 1

3 points

Feb 6, 2011 11:53 AM in response to martini27

ok emails are being sent normally but I still cannot click on the little arrow next to an email that shows you replied and see the reply that I sent. It says Mail was unable to find your reply to the message “you shoulda.....”. You may have deleted the message. I of course did not delete the message and it shows up in the sent mail folder as normal. There is just something wrong with how the Mail program is processing a sent mail. There must be something corrupted that I need to re-setup.

Any ideas?

martini27 Author

Level 1

3 points

Feb 7, 2011 8:31 PM in response to martini27

now back to the same problem with a new twist - inbox emails are appearing and disappearing on a sporadic basis.

Not sure what to do.

chris

Feb 7, 2011 10:38 PM in response to martini27

This just happened to me tonight. Read a message from Zappos.com on my iPhone (confirming my order). Launched Mail on my iMac and the message is nowhere to be found. I've check my Junk mail folder and it's not in the Trash. I didn't delete it from the iPhone, plus my trash is set to only delete message that are a week old. The e-mail from Zappos.com was sent yesterday. This isn't the first time this has happened. I'm getting a little frustrated, not knowing if I've missed or lost important messages.

Feb 19, 2011 3:33 AM in response to martini27

I have the same problem - seems to be with larger emails (with attachments). Sent emails don't appear in sent folder - almost routinely now, when before just on occasion. GoDaddy ISP. Preferences to delete sent - "never." Save messages on server - but has not done this since March 31 then abrupt stop.

Also have the ridiculous and well documented issue of the draft folder spontaneously populating with old or duplicate emails. Been happening so long, I just accept it (sad). But, this sent email issue is not one I will be able to tolerate for long.

TBMor

Level 1

0 points

Feb 22, 2012 2:39 PM in response to DarrenBrackett

Same thing with me. I have gmail and mac mail accounts. Everything worked fine with both (sending/receiving/saving) until about 2 weeks ago. Suddenly no mac mail. Checked all settings, couldn't find anything odd. This lasted about 2 (frustrating!) days. Then when I opened one morning, my mac mail was back. BUT.... the only mail that shows up in my 'sent' folder is what I send through my gmail account. Oh... except for about 10 random mac mail messages that I sent several days ago (just a few on one particular day). I seem to have lost hundreds of sent messages - and that is not good.

machanno

Level 1

0 points

Mar 22, 2012 1:18 PM in response to TBMor

I have the same problem - seems to be with all emails (with attachments) that I send from my .mac account. Sent emails don't appear in sent folder (but they do get sent!). Preferences are set for delete sent - "never." Save messages on server. If I hit the "replied mail icon" it gives the following message: "mail was unable to find your reply to the message "<message subject>". You may have deleted the message". This is bull ! It has been going on since several weeks now. I did not yet convert to the cloud and I consider not doing this at all but completely convert to gmail !!!

When I use my gmail account, everything works fine. When I use Sparrow or Thunderbird everything works fine. I tried deleting my .mac account and re-configuring it: no result, sent mail disappears. So it must be the Apple mail app. APPLE! this has been going on for weeks!!! What's your cure ???

EllieS

Level 1

15 points

Apr 11, 2012 8:13 AM in response to machanno

I have the same problem with occasional sent messages disappearing in Apple Mail - hate it! I've devised a workaround that maybe others could use too, at least until the issue gets resolved by Apple (if it ever does).

For every email I send out that I want to make sure to have a copy of, I BCC it to myself. That way it comes back to me in my inbox and I can save it to my sent folder if I want to. Using BCC rather than CC assures me that no one else can tell what I'm doing!

Jun 11, 2012 7:38 PM in response to EllieS

I just started having the exact same problem. I use a paid Yahoo personalized e-mail account. I also use iPhone iOS5.1.1 and iPad2 iOS5.1.1 (both the latest builds), and just last week changed my Mail client on my MacBook Pro (v. 10.7.4) from using the POP3 settings with Yahoo to using the IMAP settings instead, and then it started to happen - every so often it will take an extra long time to send an e-mail (even a very short e-mail with no attachments) and then nothing in the Sent Folder. Some of them have been important e-mails, and I really hate not knowing if they have been sent or not, and I also hate not having a copy in my Sent Folder. I'll start using the bcc to myself or I'll just revert back to a POP3 configuration, but I agree with others, this is 2012 and Apple can't provide a reliable Mail app? Come on Apple - no excuses!!!!

One final note: On one ocassion last Friday late afternoon, after about 30 minutes, the "sent" (really a disappeared message) message appeared as if by magic in my Draft folder. What's that about?

sugus

Level 1

38 points

Mar 10, 2013 11:46 AM in response to Reasonable55

I have the exact same problem as Reasonable55 describes above. It started after changing my ATT Yahoo account in Mail from POP to IMAP. Here are some of my settings from Mail Accounts preferences:

Account Information tab:

Incoming Mail Server: imap.mail.yahoo.com

Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP): smpt.att.yahoo.com:myname@bellsouth.net

Use only this server - box is checked

TLS Certificate: - None

Advanced tab:

IMAP Path Prefix: This field is blank

Port: 993

Use SSL - box is checked

Do these settings look ok?

Apr 15, 2013 6:07 AM in response to martini27

Having the described problem. Sent a huge text email. I can't find it anywhere and I'm not sure if it was received.

I feel like swearing... A lot...

Apr 18, 2013 11:49 AM in response to martini27

I have this usually when I typed a REALLY long email so it can really Pi$$ me off....

THIS IS NOT A NETWORK ISSUE. But way to point the Finger...

It happens on lots of different Networks randomly. Work, Home, Customers.

Perhaps if their was an Outgoing Box that messages could go into as they are being sent.

Then the Failed message could be selected and hit "Re-Send this Message"

This feature is in Outlook, Thunderbird, etc...

I am using an Yahoo Businness Email. Also using IMAP.

I guarantee my settings are correct cause Outlook, My Android Phone, My Old Android Phone, my iPad, my Old Android Tablet. NONE of them have a problem with the IMAP settings. Just Apple Mail.

Please Fix this and Stop Blaming peoples Network.

May 2, 2013 11:27 AM in response to neilgoblue

mac Mail program .... sooo frustrating. I have iMac OS 10.8.3. Mail disappears randomly. Maybe there's a pattern ... I don't have timne to chase it. Nowhere to be found. Not in Sent, not in Trash, not on the server ... FIX THIS!!!

PLEASE

May 29, 2013 3:21 AM in response to martini27

Same issue here (may 2013!)

1. I've got used to make a copy of every message before sending.

2. After sending Ihave to check, wether the message really went out.

3. If it didn't I use my copy to try again.

4. Then I go back to Step 2

Well, I guess I'll soon start writing letters again, is probably more comfortable and more efficient...

Jun 10, 2013 7:03 AM in response to martini27

Looks like Mail 6.5 that came with 10.8.4 fixes this problem.

Simple as adding a Permanent Outbox.

Thank You Apple!!!!

Jun 10, 2013 7:50 AM in response to Kruegmeister

Check that... NOT FIXED....

Outbox Disappeared... Is it that hard to make a Permanent Outbox??? REALLY???

Mac Mail Sent emails disappear and re-appear