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

Unfortunately, I am another user who has been on the Mac bandwagon since 1985, paying too much because we believed in the reputation of Apple. Having been involved in IT since the late 60s, I had the opportunity to have hands-on trials of a number of early personal computers. I wasn't overly impressed by the Apple II. A friend bought one of the original Macs in 1984, and when I got a change to try using it, I said to myself, "Finally, a home computer I would actually want to own!"

I was looking forward to going through all the attachments (in the last few years) in Mail to extract all the photos I've not taken the time to store in Photos. I felt no need to hurry, just wanted to wait for a time when job and family stresses were lessened. Unfortunately, they are not accessible, since I used a large number of Rules to automatically sort and file incoming mail into various mailboxes. As first, I thought it was an anomaly, when the attachments would not open and just showed "Downloading..." indefinitely. Can't describe how I felt when I realized the truth.

In the last few years, in my opinion, Apple has morphed into, "just another computer maker", with the exception that their hardware and software are still priced too high. And now, considering the persistent lack of response to known issues, the over-pricing is no longer warranted. I've owned a Fat Mac, Mac Plus, Mac Classic, Mac Classic II, Mac IIvx, Mac Centris 650, original iMac (68000-series one-piece), G3 laptop, G3 tower, G4 laptop, G4 tower, G5 tower, Mini iPad, iPhone 4s, 12.9" iPad Pro, iPhone 6, and an iMac 26".

I just bought a Dell laptop (for less than 20% of what my iMac 26" price) and I am working my way through transferring everything. Enough is enough. I am sad, but the reality is that Apple is no longer Apple.

It's really saddening, isn't it? I can't imagine why I keep hanging on. I've got an iPhone, an iPad I never use, a MacBook Pro, etc etc. I guess it's normal for the creative industry but I wish Apple were really on my side... my new MacBook Pro has NEVER worked properly for wifi, and I don't have time to ship it to a Genius Bar someplace!

I am having the same problem, except I am on Mojave. Never had this issue before upgrading.

Restarting the application has no effect. In all cases, I have needed to have the sender re-send the email and attached file.

I have this issue also. I have tried all the suggestions above, but I cannot open some attachments they are stuck downloading. Not all attachments have this issue. Just from certain people sending them. PDF Documents Jpgs from particular clients are all stuck not downloading. If I ask my client to send the attachments to my gmail account, I can then go to Gmail through my browser to download the attachments. I have tried going to mail on iCloud.com through the browser, but they are not downloading from there either. All started happening after upgrading to high sierra and iOS11. I have an iPad still on iOS10, but the same emails with attachments are still stuck.

Yes, this is the exact solution for me.

This is exactly my problem, too.

Same here, I can't download eMail attachments . Not sure switching rules are the (only) solution. Attachments with eMails in my inbox which have not be redirected by rules fail to download, too.

I don't have any rules enabled whatsoever and I have the exact problem mentioned above. Here is an image file from an email received yesterday, still purportedly "downloading".

Manage is under the Storage tab.

Thanks for the info, but it didn't work for me.

Yes I have this problem also

Yes that would work. Can't wait to see the script you write!

Attachments are lost when a rule is applied to move the mail to a mailbox on your Mac.

I solved this without disabling all of my rules by adding this as the first rule:

You are a genius ! Thank you !