Level 1

20 points

Mail is always "Downloading Messages".

I've noticed that Apple Mail is always "Downloading Messages". This process will happen approximately every 10 minutes. This is usually about 250-270 messages. (screenshot) However, there are no duplicate or extra emails. Further, the number of emails being downloaded usually doesn't change (maybe by 1 or 2 later in the day).

I have 4 emails accounts in Mail, all of which are Gmail accounts. I have gone through each account settings and made sure they are all handled similarly and have the same options checked.

I believe I found the problem account, because I have tried to right-click and select "Take account offline" when I see that it starts to download messages. Once I take it offline, the downloading stops. I have tried deleting this suspected account and re-adding it, but it still does the same thing. Any help would be appreciated!!

Posted on Oct 7, 2016 9:47 AM

Top-ranking reply

skablitz

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Oct 26, 2017 1:48 AM

Hiya,

I found a fix for that behaviour. I don't know if it will help all of you.

In the folder ˜User/Library/Mail/V5/MailData/

you will find three files starting "ExternalUpdates.*", shut down Mail, delete these and restart.

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38 replies

Feb 5, 2018 3:47 AM in response to insooth

I think it should be okay – if you only have a V3 folder instead of V3 that probably means you're running an older version of Mail.app than the most current which comes with macOS High Sierra. So I guess you're not using macOS High Sierra then?

I have tried deleting the three files suggested by @skablits now and will see if it helps in the long run. So far so good, but I think a simple quit and re-launch of Mail.app would also take away the problem temporarily.

Eric Root

Level 10

685,233 points

Oct 9, 2016 5:29 PM in response to ggerrits

Mail/Preferences/Accounts/Account Information and uncheck Enable this account. See if you can change the setting. If so, after making the change, go back and Enable the account.

ggerrits Author

Level 1

20 points

Oct 10, 2016 5:44 AM in response to Eric Root

Unchecking "Enable this account" does not allow me to change the setting for "Automatically detect and maintain...". That option is still grayed out.

Feb 21, 2017 1:23 AM in response to i_rina

Nope

Feb 21, 2017 1:24 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Not true here

Jul 28, 2017 5:47 AM in response to AtomicChilli

I couldn't agree more.

Same issue here - and I can't find any resolution.

Whether it's coincidence or not, it happens specifically with an IMAP account I have. Gmail and iCloud inboxes are fine.

Aug 30, 2017 5:33 AM in response to kurtfromwhitehorse

Just to be clear: you are not talking to Apple here. We are all users like you.

tygb

Level 9

65,010 points

Sep 15, 2017 8:15 AM in response to Neddog

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Mail is always "Downloading Messages".