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Apple Mail downloads messages twice (marks my read messages as unread)

Hey guys,

MacBook Pro Retina, OS X 10.8.3

Mail 6.3


I download my messages.
Read them.
They correctly mark as read.

Then 5 minutes later Mail says it's downloading them again, and they mark as unread.
They don't duplicate, just re-download, and mark as unread.


It seems to consistently download them TWICE for each one.


Kind of an annoying bug.
Anyone know what could be causing it?


As far as I know it acts this way with my comcast and gmail accounts... maybe all of the other ones too, not totally sure.

Posted on Jun 30, 2013 4:23 PM

Reply
25 replies

Jun 30, 2013 7:42 PM in response to Zebbler

Quit Mail. Force quit if necessary.


Back up all data. That means you know you can restore the Mail database, no matter what happens.


Triple-click the text on the line below to select it:


~/Library/Mail/V2/MailData/Envelope Index


Copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C). In the Finder, select


Go Go to Folder


from the menu bar. Paste into the box that opens (command-V), then press return.


A Finder window will open with a file selected. Move the selected file to the Desktop, leaving the window open. Other files in the folder may have names that begin with "Envelope Index". Move those files, if any, to the Trash.

Log out and log back in. Relaunch Mail. It should prompt you to re-import your messages. You may get a warning that the index is corrupt and that Mail has to quit. Click OK.


Test. If Mail now works as expected, you can delete the file you moved to the Desktop. Otherwise, post your results.

Jun 30, 2013 7:59 PM in response to Linc Davis

Jesus, that seems like a lot of very risky moves for a light inconvenience / annoyance.
I'm also weary of Apple Mail's proper auto recovery from such procedures. I have migrated Mail manually across three laptops by now... with various success rates. The last OS upgrade has destroyed all of my rules for some reason.


Will this procedure be 100% safe and effective if followed as you described?

Jun 30, 2013 10:14 PM in response to Linc Davis

🙂 Not worth it then. Since restoring properly can take a day and a half, even if my backups are fine and dandy.

Thanks for this tip though. At some point, when I migrate my laptops again, it may be a more convenient time to tackle the Mail beast.

I wish Mail could issue a simple patch in an updated version which could take care of it instead of this nerdy / risky maneuvor.

Aug 29, 2013 6:39 AM in response to Linc Davis

Hi, Linc - I'm also having this issue, and have had for quite a while. Not just downloading the message twice, but multiple times. I followed your above suggestion, but have no change in behavior.


I'm using IMAP with my iPhone (4s, iOS 6.1.3), syncing with gmail on Mail 6.5.


Any help would be appreciated. This is driving me crazy!


Nat
MacBook Pro 15"

2.6 GHz Intel Core i7

OS X 10.8.4

Apple Mail downloads messages twice (marks my read messages as unread)

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