Way for Mail to Auto Close Original Message After Reply / Forward???

After opening a message, and then replying to it, I would like it to automatically close that original message. Otherwise, I forget to close them (and why have an extra step for something that shoudl be a preference,) then when I'm shuttling through Mail windows, it's cluttered with old messages I've already deal with, and I must pause to check them out in case they are relevant, then close. Is there any way to make it do this? I don't see it in preferences, and I keep checking after updates thinking surely Apple will add it soon. Outlook has had it for years and years.

FYI, I do know you can reply from the viewer pane without opening the E-mail. I may try to modify my habits in this way, but sometimes I need the message open so I can resposition it on the screen to reference / click between other programs. But of course it's so like Apple to withhold a simple functional preference because they want to you do things THEIR way. It's the genius / tool combo that's apple's ying & yang.

Does anyone have a workaround or somekind of third party software that could make it do this? I can't imagine why they wouldn't add such a simple functionality. Any help or tips greatly appreciated.

Brian

Posted on Sep 28, 2012 12:17 PM

Dec 7, 2016 1:36 PM in response to Closet_Geek

Maybe a fix! In Apple Mail, from the Menu bar at the top (NOT Preferences) click on "View" and uncheck "Organize by Conversation."

Problem was that replying to email the second time, the message being responded to stayed open. First reply behaved normally. I've had this issue since updating to Mavericks or Yosemite (not sure which). Geniuses at the Apple Store thought it was a bug just with my machine. Told me I'd have to reinstall the OS. So...upgraded to Sierra and still no fix. Been driving me crazy until now. Started messing with different settings because of an unrelated mail issue. Sent some email back and forth from my phone to Mac and message being responded to closes automatically. Hope this works for everyone with the same frustration!