chefpeon

Q: Since upgrading to Sierra, Mail won't recognize or filter junk mail

I am having the problem where almost nothing goes to my junk mail folder anymore. I have double checked my junk mail filtering preferences and I have it set to enable filtering and move junk mail to junk mail folder. Those are the only two boxes I have checked. As mail comes in, I consistently flag it as junk, but no matter how many times I do that, the junk mail is still not flagged as junk in the future, nor is it moved to my junk email box. I really don't know what to do at this point.

iMac, iOS 10.0.2

Posted on Sep 30, 2016 12:06 PM

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Q: Since upgrading to Sierra, Mail won't recognize or filter junk mail

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  • Helpful answers

  • by dianeoforegon,

    dianeoforegon dianeoforegon Sep 30, 2016 12:41 PM in response to chefpeon
    Level 5 (5,731 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 30, 2016 12:41 PM in response to chefpeon

    RE-INDEX YOUR SPOTLIGHT CACHE FILES

    From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.

     

    *  Click Spotlight.

    *  Make sure  Mail & Messages is checked under the Search Results tab.

    *  Click the Privacy tab.

    *  Drag your drive to the list. Wait a couple of minutes.

    *  Remove the item you added.

    *  Spotlight will re-index the contents of the item you initially dragged to the list.

     

     

    Boot into the Recovery Drive by holding down Command R when restarting.

    Open Disk Utility and Run First Aid for your Macintosh HD (internal) and any volumes you have data.

     

    To Restart: Click Mac OS X Installer in the top left and click Quit Mac OS X Installer. Click the Startup Disk button. Click on your main hard drive and click the Restart button.

    When you restart Spotlight will reindex your entire drive.

    accept the warning presented). When you type your password, it will look like nothing is being typed. That's normal. Once you've typed your administrator password, press Return.

     

    SUMMARY:

     

    Depending on your Mac and the contents of it's hard disk, re-indexing may take several hours. Doing this overnight is a good option if you have a large drive.

     

    Open Activity Monitor in Applications/Utilities and type in md in the search filter. You should see mdworker process files. This shows Spotlight indexing your files. Until this process is finished, Spotlight won’t know the contents of your disks and neither will Mail.

     

    With Mali quit....

     

    Go to User's Library

    Scroll to Containers

    Delete the com.apple.mail folder.

    Scroll to Mail >V4 > MailData

    Find the 3 files with envelope in the name.

    Delete the files.

    Log Out under the Apple in the Menu bar

    Log in

    Open Mail

    Mail will reindex your files.

     

    It's possible you'll also need to reindex your Contacts.

     

    Let me know if this helps.

  • by chefpeon,

    chefpeon chefpeon Sep 30, 2016 7:06 PM in response to dianeoforegon
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 30, 2016 7:06 PM in response to dianeoforegon

    I don't completely understand parts of this procedure. When I drag my drive into the privacy tab of Spotlight, it warns me that Spotlight won't be able to search the drive.

     

    Do I need to perform all three tasks: Re-indexing Spotlight cache files, booting into recovery drive, and then the procedure with "Mali" quit? I assume this is a typo. I'm a little confused.

  • by dianeoforegon,

    dianeoforegon dianeoforegon Oct 1, 2016 10:34 AM in response to chefpeon
    Level 5 (5,731 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 1, 2016 10:34 AM in response to chefpeon

    Yes, when you drag your drive into Privacy it will give you the warning. We want to delete the current Spotlight cache files and recreate. When you remove the drive it will start a new index of your drive.

     

    Booting into Recovery Drive and running First Aid is easy to do and often fixes issues on your Mac. The third option is also easy to do since it will reindex your mail data.

  • by chefpeon,

    chefpeon chefpeon Oct 2, 2016 2:59 PM in response to dianeoforegon
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 2, 2016 2:59 PM in response to dianeoforegon

    I did the first two procedures. On the second procedure, the first time First Aid failed, but I tried it again and it supposedly ran successfully, but it didn't take as long as I thought it should, so I'm wondering.

     

    On the third procedure, I completed deleting the com.apple.mail folder and also deleted the "envelope" files. I logged out, logged back in, and opened Mail, and all I'm getting is a spinning beach ball with "application not responding". Does this indicate that Mail is re-indexing my files? Opening the Activity Monitor is not really telling me much.

  • by dianeoforegon,

    dianeoforegon dianeoforegon Oct 2, 2016 3:14 PM in response to chefpeon
    Level 5 (5,731 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 2, 2016 3:14 PM in response to chefpeon

    No, you should not get a spinning ball. When you delete these files, Mail should open and you'll see a window that it's indexing your data.

     

    I'm suspicious that you have drive issues. Do you have an external drive? I advise that you clone your drive then boot from the clone and erase your internal drive. If the drive has bad blocks erasing could fix the drive.

     

    After erasing you can clone back or do a clean install of Sierra.

     

    Otherwise you could try reinstalling over your Sierra install.

    How to reinstall OS X

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

     

    Note: A clone backup will give you a bootable backup of your current drive. In case the drive is bad and fails, you would have your data safely backed up on the clone.

     

    Just like a seat belt and an air bag protect you in different ways when driving, you need both Time Machine and a clone for full protection.

     

    Create a Clone backup:

     

    A clone is an exact bootable copy of your internal drive. Unlike standard copying of all files to another drive, the clone software copies hidden files along with other in-use files that are not available  when you copy over files to another drive.

     

    Software used to Clone:

     

    SuperDuper! http://www.shirt-pocket.com/ free to do erase then copy

  • by chefpeon,

    chefpeon chefpeon Oct 3, 2016 12:22 PM in response to dianeoforegon
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 3, 2016 12:22 PM in response to dianeoforegon

    Here's what's been happening.

     

    When I deleted the com.apple.mail folder and the three "envelope" files in the V4 Maildata folder, Mail would not open and just hung with the spinning ball. I tried adding the deleted files back to the original folders, and Mail still wouldn't open. Booted into recovery drive and tried to reinstall Sierra from there, but nothing would happen, the system just hung. So I reinstalled Sierra via the app store. Still no Mail. Booted into recovery drive again, and reinstalled MacOS via my Time Machine backup. Now I have Mail back, but back to my original problem except it's not as bad now. Mail will filter SOME junk mail into my junk mail folder, but not all. No matter how many times I flag it as junk. What now?

  • by dianeoforegon,

    dianeoforegon dianeoforegon Oct 3, 2016 3:02 PM in response to chefpeon
    Level 5 (5,731 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 3, 2016 3:02 PM in response to chefpeon

    Download and run Etrecheck.  Copy and paste the results into your reply. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here (and recommended by Apple Support personnel) in the ASC to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.

     

    http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

  • by chefpeon,

    chefpeon chefpeon Oct 3, 2016 4:26 PM in response to dianeoforegon
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 3, 2016 4:26 PM in response to dianeoforegon

    Here is the EtreCheck report:

    EtreCheck version: 3.0.6 (315)

    Report generated 2016-10-03 16:23:51

    Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

    Runtime 3:06

    Performance: Good

     

    Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

    Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

     

    Problem: Other problem

    Description:

    Mail doesn’t reliably filter junk mail despite junk mail being consistently flagged as such.

     

    Hardware Information:

        iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009)

        [Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

        iMac - model: iMac10,1

        1 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core

        8 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

            BANK 0/DIMM0

                4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

            BANK 1/DIMM0

                4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

            BANK 0/DIMM1

                Empty  

            BANK 1/DIMM1

                Empty  

        Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

        Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

     

    Video Information:

        ATI Radeon HD 4670 - VRAM: 256 MB

            iMac 1920 x 1080

     

    System Software:

        macOS Sierra  10.12 (16A323) - Time since boot: about 17 hours

     

    Disk Information:

        Hitachi HDE721010SLA330 disk0 : (1 TB) (Rotational)

            EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

            Annie's Sex Drive (disk0s2) /  [Startup]: 999.35 GB (921.05 GB free)

            Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>  [Recovery]: 650 MB

     

        PIONEER DVD-RW  DVRTS09   ()

     

    USB Information:

        Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

        Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

            Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

        Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

        Tablet XD-0608-U

        Apple Card Reader

        Western Digital My Passport 259D

     

    Gatekeeper:

        Mac App Store and identified developers

     

    Kernel Extensions:

            /System/Library/Extensions

        [not loaded]    com.wacom.kext.wacomtablet (Wacom Tablet 6.1.5-2 - 2016-09-21) [Support]

     

    System Launch Agents:

        [not loaded]    8 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    156 Apple tasks

        [running]    107 Apple tasks

     

    System Launch Daemons:

        [failed]    org.postfix.master.plist (2015-08-22)

        [not loaded]    38 Apple tasks

        [loaded]    162 Apple tasks

        [running]    103 Apple tasks

     

    Launch Agents:

        [not loaded]    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2016-09-27) [Support]

        [failed]    com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (2016-07-13) [Support]

        [running]    com.wacom.wacomtablet.plist (2010-02-25) [Support]

     

    Launch Daemons:

        [loaded]    com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-07-13) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-07-13) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist (2016-09-27) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-08-29) [Support]

        [running]    com.fitbit.galileod.plist (2015-10-30) [Support]

     

    User Launch Agents:

        [loaded]    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2016-09-27) [Support]

        [failed]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2015-01-07) [Support]

        [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-11) [Support]

     

    User Login Items:

        iTunesHelper    Application  (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)

        Fitbit Connect Menubar Helper    Application  (/Applications/Fitbit Connect.app/Contents/MacOS/Fitbit Connect Menubar Helper.app)

        CricutLauncher    Application  (~/Library/Application Support/CricutDesignSpace/BRIDGE/CricutLauncher.app)

        EEventManager    Application  (/Applications/Epson Software/Event Manager.app/Contents/Resources/Assistants/Event Manager/EEventManager.app)

        ConnectService    Application  (/Library/Application Support/ArcSoft/Connect Service/ConnectService.app)

     

    Internet Plug-ins:

        JavaAppletPlugin: 15.0.1 - SDK 10.7 (2014-11-19) Check version

        FlashPlayer-10.6: 23.0.0.162 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-13) [Support]

        QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-09-13)

        AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-04) [Support]

        AdobePDFViewer: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-04) [Support]

        Flash Player: 23.0.0.162 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-13) [Support]

        WacomNetscape: 1.1.0-5 (2010-02-25) [Support]

        WacomSafari: 1.1.0-5 (2010-02-25) [Support]

        Silverlight: 4.0.50524.0 (2015-04-22) [Support]

        iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 (2010-07-02)

     

    User internet Plug-ins:

        Java Applet: 10.0.2 (2015-04-22)

        QuickTime Plugin: 7.0.3 (2015-04-22)

     

    Safari Extensions:

        AdBlock - BetaFish, Inc. - https://getadblock.com (2016-10-03)

        Dashlane - Dashlane Inc. - http://www.dashlane.com (2016-09-28)

        Ebates Cash Back - Ebates Performance Marketing, Inc. - http://ebates.com/ (2016-07-22)

        Grammarly for Safari - Grammarly - https://www.grammarly.com (2016-10-03)

     

    3rd Party Preference Panes:

        Flash Player (2016-08-29) [Support]

        Widgets (2005-09-05) [Support]

     

    Time Machine:

        Skip System Files: NO

        Mobile backups: OFF

        Auto backup: YES

        Volumes being backed up:

            Annie's Sex Drive: Disk size: 999.35 GB Disk used: 78.29 GB

        Destinations:

            Annie's Backup [Local]

            Total size: 2.00 TB

            Total number of backups: 45

            Oldest backup: 8/17/16, 8:50 AM

            Last backup: 10/3/16, 4:17 PM

            Size of backup disk: Adequate

                Backup size 2.00 TB > (Disk used 78.29 GB X 3)

     

    Top Processes by CPU:

             4%    WindowServer

             3%    kernel_task

             1%    fontd

             1%    WacomTabletDriver

             0%    Finder

     

    Top Processes by Memory:

        2.12 GB    com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(3)

        662 MB    kernel_task

        524 MB    Safari

        229 MB    mdworker(18)

        123 MB    mds_stores

     

    Virtual Memory Information:

        198 MB    Free RAM

        7.81 GB    Used RAM (1.59 GB Cached)

        180 MB    Swap Used

     

    Diagnostics Information:

        Oct 2, 2016, 10:23:11 PM    Self test - passed

  • by chefpeon,

    chefpeon chefpeon Oct 6, 2016 9:39 AM in response to chefpeon
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 6, 2016 9:39 AM in response to chefpeon

    So any idea as to what might be going on? Or is it too complicated for a forum diagnosis?

  • by chefpeon,

    chefpeon chefpeon Oct 6, 2016 12:22 PM in response to dianeoforegon
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 6, 2016 12:22 PM in response to dianeoforegon

    Also, I don't know if this is helpful or not, but all the mail I have applied rules to filters into the boxes I've designated with no problem. It's just the junk mail that is affected. About a quarter of what I have designated as junk goes to the junk folder. The rest just shows in my inbox no matter how many times I flag it as junk.

  • by dianeoforegon,

    dianeoforegon dianeoforegon Oct 6, 2016 2:13 PM in response to chefpeon
    Level 5 (5,731 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 6, 2016 2:13 PM in response to chefpeon

    System Launch Daemons:

        [failed]    org.postfix.master.plist (2015-08-22)

        [not loaded]    38 Apple tasks

    • Remove the org.postfix.master.plist
    • Not loaded is usually a memory issue

     

    Macintosh HD Root folders

      Applications

      Library

      System > Library > Launch Daemons

      Users

     

     

    Top Processes by Memory:

        2.12 GB    com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(3)

    See dominic23's reply here: com.apple.WebKit.WebContent

  • by dianeoforegon,

    dianeoforegon dianeoforegon Oct 6, 2016 2:25 PM in response to chefpeon
    Level 5 (5,731 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 6, 2016 2:25 PM in response to chefpeon

    I suspect your rules are playing a part. Personally, I use SpamSieve to get rid of spam. It has a demo you might want to check out. http://c-command.com/spamsieve/

     

    1. Disable all rules.
    2. Make sure you have added all good addresses to Contacts. Under Window in the Menu bar, select Previous Recipients. You'll see an icon to show emails that are in Contacts. Add other good contacts to AddressBook.

     

    add-to-contacts.png


    3.  Reset your Junk Filter

    To reset the junk mail database to its original state and remove everything Mail learned from you about what is or isn’t junk, click Reset at the bottom of the Junk Mail pane in Mail preferences.


    Mail (Yosemite): If junk mail filters aren’t working correctly