Sierra Mail - Remove Attachments doesn't work!

10.12.6 update does not fix this annoying issue for me.

Much wasted space on HD, due to inability to remove attachments.

Please fix this Apple!

Yes, I filled out the bug report (again)

(BTW, the "which O.S" drop down on the report to Apple does not yet include 10.12.6, had to select 10.12.5)

The reality is that we will not be able to manage iOS apps from our Macs any more, except making backups of our iDevices, when these iDevices are restored in the future our settings will still be brought back over from the Mac backup but any iOS apps will now have to be re-downloaded over our network - basically the same as if you restored via the cloud option.

Yes, for those on a slow internet connect or capped download it might give issues, but the upside is we can now release-up storage space, I've just moved all Apps to an external drive (just incase I need in the future) then deleted from the iTunes directory and it gave me back over 2Gb of space.

With this next update (11) to iOS just round the corner we will see what impact the change to iTunes actually has because like a lot of users for a major update I always restore (not upgrade) so it will be interesting to see how much extra time it takes to get the Apps from the internet compared to them coming from within iTunes.

Time will tell.

I did the update for iTunes (12.7) & I still have macOS 10.12.6 Sierra, since HS is not yet released.

I don't have any IOS devices. I have not really used iTunes much so, any changes won't really affect me.

I just want my Mail fixed so I can remove attachments from incoming emails in my inbox.

I use POP, not IMAP & have an HTML signature.

I may have to switch my email accounts to IMAP to see if that fixes the issue... if Apple doesn't fix it with HS!

Hi Coxorange,

same problem with attachments. I worked out a simplier way of deleting unwanted attachements.

First: I have no problem with deleting attachments from my own sent mails. So I create a new (intelligent) folder with all sent mails I want the attachments to get deleted. Then I switch all received mails with attachments in this folder. Then "select all". After this the command "Delete attachments" is not longer greyed and I execute the command. That's all. Please try.

Best,

G.

Hi Coxorange,

Yes, it is a similar path.

I create an intelligent folder (postbox) in Mail that shall contain all sent mails with attachments and all received mail with a file size bigger than X (maybe 300 kb - there should be an attachment attached). And then you select all and delete all attachments. The benefit: you have not to move the mails back and forth.

Best

G

I found an old article (2013) that tells how to turn off inline attachments:

http://www.macinstruct.com/node/502

I have not tried it since it is old info.

It probably will not work. But, if instead of inline, the attachments in mail were icons, then they probably could be removed.

Good trick, Thanks to you and to Coxorange!

But the trick just removes attachments from the email and not from the Mail folder, alas

user Library/Mail/V4 folder:

Since -at least-the last Sierra update 10.12.6 they appear along with the email they belong to, before they didn't.

Today I did the trick and I tried to look for the image I just deleted from the email, if it stil was in the Mail folder

and there it was!

Now, before deleting the image from the email, I copy its name and then look for it in the Mail folder and delete that one as well.

P.s. About your "cleaning " method

I figured out an easier way to do it, just creating a folder On My Mac, called Remove Attachments

I move one sent email (to myself) with an attachment and the others received that need the cleaning.

Then I select them all and the removal it's easy as you suggested.

Then I put back the emails where they belong.

A few updates ago Apple re-wrote Mail and screwed up the remove-attachments feature, POP or IMAP. I worked with an Apple rep both on the phone and at the Genius bar and they couldn't make it work (but could easily duplicate the bug). It has been reported as a bug for a couple of years. Note that the bug is for verifiable attachments, in-line additions notwithstanding. Keep reporting the bug and perhaps the developers will pay attention.