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

I think you are on the right track as when comparing the RAW email data with the file which was copied by RULES the copied file was truncated. This makes me also believe that the file was not fully downloaded when being copied. If I copy the good, completed downloaded attached file manually, it copies correctly.

I have this SAME problem and believe that the update to 10.13.6 has caused the problem. This is something that Apple really needs to FIX. I keep having to go back and tell people to send again. The problem co-exists on Mojave as well. I think the problem may have something to do with the fact that my iPhone logs in via IMAP to fetch mail. Even if I don't read the attachment, when I then get it in Mac Mail, the attachment says "Downloading..." for ever.

well that is a crappy solution. Apple, let's see some QA here. Why do i feel Steve would not let this have happened?

I can confirm what K33DMT writes. Switching rules off helps cut down the number of glitches but the "incomplete download" problem still eventually occurs.

A couple of weeks back I submitted this to the Apple Bug Reporter, but it got listed as a duplicate bug report so I won't be able to see the status updates. But they definitely know about this bug.

I just updated to 10.13.4 and tested this.

This bug is NOT FIXED in 10.13.4 😟 😟 😟

Can't remember where it was in HS, but on Mojave it is in >About this Mac>Storage>Manage. It will take a little time to calculate.

I'm having the same issue, only since upgrading to High Sierra. I've tried the suggestions to work around but none have worked. With any of the methods I try to download the attachment (clicking the attachment icon, clicking the paperclip icon, going to File > Save Attachment), it either won't open the Save dialog at all, or if it does that step, nothing is saved to the Finder. The attachment icon changes from its original icon to a generic file icon with an unfilled progress bar and says "Downloading..." underneath.

One thing I noticed is that this is only happening with one client who is sending to me from a gmail account. My incoming address is not gmail, but rather an account set up with my hosting provider.

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.

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.

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.

For me, email's with attachments that are moved with a rule are not downloaded when Mail first runs.

Good thing the new Mac OS update 10.13.3 solved the more critical error of Messages not being sorted properly sometimes! Not sure how I would be able to work without my Messages sorted properly!

@Board Head2 -- thank you! This worked and, with some tweaking, I can get all my messages where they need to be. Only the ones with attachments sail straight through to the InBox, then I can put them where I want.

Still hope Apple fixes this in an update soon, but it's nice to have this work around.

Thanks for taking the time to share!

First of all, Board Head2 did not say he fixed the bug, but he (or maybe she) solved the headache for all of us by finding out a creative way to define "all the emails with attachments", and he kindly shares the effective work around with us.

I understand what you mean, but people here already know that this community is a place to share information among users, and not the place to persuade Apple to fix bugs. That's why I already submitted a bug report to them by the feedback form, and I guess many others did.

As a starter, why don't you share with us what reaction you got from Apple when you talked with their Senior Advisor/Engineer ?