Mail 11 (High Sierra): mail attachments "downloading" but never actually download

For me, I managed to fix this issue by turning off any rule that automatically put a message with an attachment into a sub-inbox OTHER THAN THE MAIN INBOX.

When left in the main inbox, the images are available.

It seems that the rules are the problem.

I really hope this helps everyone!

I spent the last two hours trying to figure out this same problem. After figuring it out I found this thread where someone else came up with the same solution. The attachment won't download when it goes to a filtered mailbox but will download when it goes to the main inbox. I hope this gets fixed because I use several filters.

I spent over an hour with Apple SR tech. They seemed clueless as to this being a problem. This form does not get seen by Apple to solve any problem. They need more info: Sent logs, etc...

Anyone who has an hour to kill, Call Apple Tech and get to a SR Tech and get your logs uploaded.

My experience with this is it happens when the computer first boots up. I auto start computer and Mail to sort email. That way I can peak at mail at home on an iOS device and not see SPAM and things I use Rules to save elsewhere.

That early morning startup and email check/filter seems to create a the issue. Emails from the same address during the rest of the time the computer is on seem to be filtered without issues.

Had two late night emails last night not download, yet when they were re sent this morning, no problem.

not sure how changing email to purposely NOT download attachments solves the problem of email Not downloading attachments.

My issue is with Rules moving emails that have attachments before the download is completed from an email server. And when it is moved, it is removed from the server. Attempts to manually download the attachment is not possible then.

Same problem here. Even after updating to High Sierra 10.13.2. Luckily I still have another machine running El Capitan, which has no problems with the same attachments in the same IMAP stored iCloud messages. Will think twice before upgrading to a new MacOS version in the future.

Yeah, I just updated to 10.13.2 hoping for a fix, but no luck. As soon as I move mail with attachments through Rules, the attachments never make it. If anyone has better luck, please let us know, otherwise it looks like getting rid of Rules is the only fix.

I had the same problem but wasn't using any rules. What did the trick was disabling the only plugin I used, namely Herald. I used it constantly but I do prefer being able to see the attachments without restarting Mail.

I found the solution by reading the posts on this page, so many thanks!

This does not solve the same problem.

I have had the same problem since the latest upgrade. It occurs when an incoming file is filtered to one of my email folders, at which point it gets stuck downloading. If I get rid of the filter it downloads fine. It's a pain because I have to turn my filters off. I have a filter which puts all of my scanned and email files into one folder; now it just goes to the main email list. Hopefully Apple will fix this.

I already use mail rules for ages to move incoming and sent messages to specific folders. Never had this problem before. Mail attachments of many years have become inaccessible in Mail version 11.2.

The attachments are still there on iCloud and I can view them when I login to iCloud.com. But Apple Mail of High Sierra never finishes downloading them and only shows the icons with a progress indicator that is stuck.

This really is a nuisance.

Call Tech support, Get to a Senior Tech who knows Mail.

Apparently nobody is complaining about this bug to the right people. Not seen a single comment from Apple on the forums about this. Yet Tech's claim Apple sees all.

Get to a Senior Tech who knows mail....!!!

I've had them grab your logs.

I suspect this is happens when mail first runs and there is a rush of mail to handle.

I've had mid day emails from the same source not have issues. Simply requesting the original email be resent.

In the mean time, I'm changing rules.

Change the Color, then COPY the email, not Move.

Color change in my In Box makes it easy to pick out those emails and make sure they got to the proper folder.

Then just delete those in the In Box.

If they stay in the In Box, your email server will keep the email and the attachment will ultimately download.

Yep Rules IS the issue - !! turn off the rule and OR change rule to copy from the mail box to a sub folder ( as your rule stated )

- the copy versions all show the downloading Icon but NEVER do -

But they are showing just fine and downloaded in the unfiltered main in box.

However - if you drag the mail out of the main in box into the subfolder - the attachment follow it perfectly !

Most annoying

On my home Mac, I have same problem re attachments not downloading even though I do not use mail filtering. Try changing the "Download Attachment" to 'None' This can be found in Mail Preference/Accounts/Account Information. That got attachments to download, go figure.

BTW, my attachments do download automatically in my office Mac even though for the longest time, Download Attachment was set to "none". I have never had any trouble downloading attachments on this office Mac.

Also , it depends upon the sender in which format they created the folder is it in pdf format , used Microsoft word or what and you must also have that compatible format installed in your Mac .

I also get mails from different senders and sometimes I have to call them or mail them , please send the mail once again in the suitable format ,also large files take time , senders are using window computers or Mac don't know ( in Mac there is mail drop feature to attach large attachments ) , it happens in my system also , it shows downloading but have to wait and let the file be completely downloaded or possibilities are there the file send from the sender is corrupted .

Dears (I have solution).

I have this issue too, And my friend which have MacBook's have it too.

I tries many things to solve this issue and found only one which can solve this issue:

Its depending on if you are using "Rules" to move emails from IMAP-inbox dir to in-mac Folders (Or any rules on that email) .... I found that the issue is showing only with emails that already moved by any Rules.

Finally Solved this when disable the rules ...

So the email attachments download fine when there are in their root IMAP dir (like inbox) which mean I have to disable Rules on that Emails.

Note: When email with attachment just received wait some seconds till downloading done.

And like many email hosts, Keeping emails inside the IMAP will make the limit goes full.

** Hope apple will/can solve this issue as soon as passable. **

That is all well and good!. Sadly I fall at the first hurdle!

You said "You can click on apple logo > About this Mac > Manage > click on mail on the left side bar if you see this option dont automatically download attachments ."

When I click Apple Logo / About this Mac I get the choice of Overview, Displays, Storage, Support, and Service - there is no "Manage" option.

There have been other suggestions about changing the attachment download options using the Mail App - select Preferences / Accounts / <account name>, and use the option there. However I notice no beneficial effect when doing that.