Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

new message window in Yosemite Mail is way to big for a small screen

I have a problem with Mail (Version 8.0 (1990.1)) since I have updated to Yosemite. Writing a new Message with Mail (8.0 (1990.1) becomes almost impossible.

Every time, when I intend to write a Mail and press the Buton „new Message“ the window of the new email opens so large that it s not fit on the screen on my Macbook 13“. Approximately one-third of the new-message window is off the screen. The window width can not be reduced in size. Now I have to shove arround window, to see what´s on the right side. If I move the cursor to the right outside edge no double arrow appears. There is only an arrow appears to amplify the already too large new-message-window. I tried a clean install, but the problem is still there. I changed the toolbar. Does not helped. Even my 27“ iMac shows the same issue. The new-message-Window covers the whole screen. The only good thing is, that the 27" is big enough to show the whole window. It seems that Apple programmed a fixed non-adjustable size of the new Message-window. Any Ideas?

MacBook Air (13-INCH, MID 2011)

Posted on Oct 17, 2014 10:53 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jul 27, 2017 6:16 PM

I had the same issue - I found this fix:


  • go to mail > preferences > signatures.
  • In the middle box which shows the 'name' of the signature, the system seems to automatically populate this with the entire string of text from the right hand box where you type in your signature text.
  • Click on each of your signature names and go in and find the end of the name (which can take a long hold of the right hand arrow key to get to the end if you have a long signature)
  • Delete this back to only being one or two words long
  • Do this for each of the names is you have multiple signatures
  • Exit and restart mail.
  • Restart mail - The width of the Signature selection box in the new message window will now be much shorter to correspond to the longest signature names you entered earlier - and this lets you reduce the width of the new mail window.
34 replies

Jul 1, 2015 11:08 AM in response to Beroli

Actually, you don't have to delete the whole signature, all you have to do is go into mail preferences and shorten the signature "descriptor(s)" (the line on the left that when selected, shows the signature to the right.) After you shorten the descriptors (and you can do it visually... for instance, shorten the descriptors to leave only the first few words) then close the mail preferences. Now open a new email -- it will open large again but this time you will be able to size it from the lower right hand corner. Size it to your preferred email size, then close the email (no need to send it). When you open to write a new email, it will open to the previously sized version. Wallah!

new message window in Yosemite Mail is way to big for a small screen

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.