Mac Mail Rules massive problem

I know I'm reviving an old thread but as it's still persisting, I thought people experiencing it now should know it is indeed still the same ultimate issue.

I created a rule to act as an 'out of office' responder and as others have mentioned (and someone else shared the dialogue box screen shot of), after setting the rule, Mail prompts if you want to Apply (highlighted as default) or not apply this rule to the appropriate mailbox(es), etc... I pressed 'Apply' and as such it applied the out of office to every e-mail in my mailboxes, going back over 2 years. It started sending an out of office to ~100,000 e-mails.

Needless to say, I turned off wifi and it stopped, after countless thousands went out.

I know that some have shouted from the rooftops that this is user error and not Apple's issue but a bug is a bug. This is not a bug in code but it IS a bug in the user interface. The dialogue in the box is not as clear as it should be and for most users who seldom, if ever, set 'rules', it should be much more clear as to the implications of the action. To get around this, maybe Apple should consider a simply 'Out of Office' tool/feature and as such remove the need for the average user to need to set a rule for a likely temporary action.

After turning off wifi (I was not hardwired), I took my mailboxes offline, closed Mail and turned off my computer. I waited a day (I was scared, it was the weekend and my iphone was still sending and receiving e-mails normally so I wasn't really cut off) even though I'm sure 1 minute would have sufficed, turned it back on, and all was right with the world again.

yes, I have this same problem! and I know what you mean about "apply" and "don't apply": you are right. the "apply" made the auto reply go to ALL messages in your mailboxes, not just new incoming ones. the same thing just happened to me. I deleted the rule, but am still getting a few messages in my other email account (because I had emailed myself from personal to work email). I am very concerned about this!

does anyone else know how to make sure it stops sending these auto-replies? My colleagues and bosses will not be pleased with me!

I know this is an old thread but I had to reply. Thank you so so much for taking the time to post your solution. You have just ended an unbelievably frustrating problem I've for the past four years. Mine was a bit different I had a rule that I deleted that was moving emails to a folder I had created. the solution was the same though. Thank you again.

What a load of BS! I just had this issue this morning and am still trying to stop it. The message clearly states "will apply to new messages"!!! Why the F would you even want it to apply to old messages!!!? When you set up an "out of office" it is obviously set up from that time going forward until your return - why even have the f'ing option!? Agree MASSIVE APPLE FAIL. Fix it up FFS.

OMG! I had this terrible experience today and I am still traumatised!

I was trying to set an out-of-office response and it went out as a reply to hundred and thousands of old emails. I just wanted to crawl under a stone and wait a few years. This is a terribly humiliating experience - I deal with a lot of people via email as an attorney, both clients and others, and this is not something you want to see happen.

Please Apple - I have been trying to use Mail instead of other popular mail applications but now I am not sure if it is worth it. I really really want to use Mail so could you please fix this horrible bug - (yes I think it is a harmful bug in the design). At least let the replies stop when you delete the rule !!! First I deleted the rule, than I tried to disable the account, tried to find the message in outbox, tried to take to computer offline but nothing worked until I googled this thread on my phone (since my computer was offline) and saw the recommendation to shut it completely down. Next step would have been throwing the computer out of the window.

Now I am so tired and frustrated and will spend my evening replying to people that are sending me emails and telling my I must have a virus on my computer since they have received 100 emails from me as a reply to old emails ....Not a good day.

I have to join this party too! I was to set up an auto response after my casting job was over to direct people to the casting poducer who was wrapping out the show. When I did a test email, I started getting all these responses! So it blasted to everyone that casting was closed for this kids show and now parents are blowing up the other producers email wanting to know if they made it! I deleted the rule and the email account immediately. I just got an email from the other producer inquiring why all these parents are emailing her.

I thought the rule was clear when I chose "All emails" sent to "this address" will get "this response." But apparently that means all emails you ever received in the past will get this response out of the blue!

Thankfully I'm no longer working on that show, but I still want to crawl under a rock!

Hi,

I had the same issue!!

Can the emails moved to draft can later be returned to inbox?

What folders (other than inbox) does the rule apply to?

I couldn't create a folder in drafts so I created one "on my Mac".

Thanks!

I'm so frustrated that Mail would even allow me to do this without some kind of warning.

Same thing here. This is crazy and totally not intuitive! I got hundreds of emails going out before I could stop the flood!

How did you get it to stop? I have 20000 emails that are being replied to with out of office! please help urgently, this is my work account!

DId you figure out how to stop this as I have just done the same and am usure if it is sending cant see anything in my outbox, but is it sending vioa my pop account in the backgorund? -HELP!

Garrr has anyone found a suitable answer for this? I've deleted the rule and it still sending out replies to emails sent months ago! Out of office fail! How embarrasing.

I may be our failure, maybe you are right. Maybe its not designed for fallible humans.

At least you got it to work, I followed the instructions step-by-step and it doesn't send out any auto response.

It shouldn't be the default option.