How to remove a Mail plugin without opening Mail

Question

Level 1

83 points

How to remove a Mail plugin without opening Mail

I'm using a particular Mail plugin which has been very useful up until now. However this plugin has just been updated with the result that Mail won't open and the error message I get refers to a problem with the HockeySDK which I see this plugin has just installed. I'm waiting to hear from the developer about this but in the meantime I can't use Mail on my Mac. Since I can't open Mail I can't remove the whole plugin in the normal way. Is there another way I can remove this plugin in the meantime until this problem is sorted out?

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), MacBook Pro. iPhone 6, iPad Air 2

Posted on Sep 22, 2016 8:24 AM

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Answer 1

chris_g1

Community Specialist

Sep 24, 2016 8:52 AM in response to RobbieSnr

Hello, RobbieSnr!

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities! I see that you're having some issues with a third-party plug-in that you're using with your Mac Mail app. I know how important it is to be able to use your email communication, so I would be happy to help you get that working again!

Since I don't know anything about this particular plug-in you're using, it's difficult for me to tell you how to uninstall it. I did have an idea for getting your Mail app to open, though! First, make sure you have completely quit the Mail app (no dot under it on the Dock). Then, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, and while you're holding it, click the Mail app icon to open it. Keep holding Shift while the Mail app loads. The app should stay open for you, so you can remove your plug-in in the normal way that you mentioned.

You'll find more information about this feature in the section called "When you open and quit an app" in this document: Automatically re-open windows, apps, and documents on your Mac

Have a great weekend!

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Answer 2

RobbieSnr Author

Level 1

83 points

Sep 24, 2016 8:52 AM in response to chris_g1

Hello Chris

Many thanks for your suggestion. I see that holding the Shift key down prevents the app's windows and documents from loading so would Mail just show its menu bar? I'm not able to check this since sending the crash report to the developer - the plug-in is in fact MailButler - I've got the situation that Mail is now opening (but with a problem). If I try deleting Mail then opening it with Shift held down I get more than just the menu bar showing so if I'd still had the earlier problem would the menu bar have appeared?

The problem I have now is that when Mail opens I get a message that Mail has unexpectedly quit yet it's still open and working! At least now I can remove MailButler as there's a link to do this in Mail/Help if the developer can't sort this new issue out.

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Answer 3

i_rina

Community Specialist

Sep 25, 2016 2:33 PM in response to RobbieSnr

Hi, RobbieSnr!

In my experience, when you open Mail while holding the Shift key, it opens the regular Mail window, it just doesn't preselect any mail message or mailbox. This is helpful in case you have a corrupt mailbox or mail message that's "crashing" the app, giving you a chance to delete or otherwise deal with that message before the app crashes again. I'm glad to hear you were able to get into the app so you can remove MailButler! Hopefully the plugin developer can deal with the issues quickly so you can use it again soon!

Have a wonderful day!

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