How to always show attachments in Apple Mail as symbols?

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Level 1

8 points

How to always show attachments in Apple Mail as symbols?

All,

I am running Apple Mail version 10.3 (3273) on macOS Sierra version 10.12.6 (16G1036) on an iMAC 27", mid 2011.

Even if I am quite happy with the built-in mail app, there is one annoying behaviour I am struggling with. When creating and sending an email with one or more attachments those are displayed as symbols (that's what I want).

However, if I review my sent items the same emails display the attachments as inline previews (if the attachment has just one page) or as symbols (if the attachment has more than one page). The same happens to received emails with one or more attachments.

I did some research here and there, but couldn't find any real solution. All the mentioned terminal tricks like "defaults write com.apple.mail DisableInlineAttachmentViewing -bool YES" seem to have no positive effect any longer.

My question is quite simple.

How can I set up Apple Mail in a way so that it displays any attachment for sent and received emails always as a symbol regardless of the number of pages in the attachment?

Many thanks in advance.

--

Uwe

iMac (27-inch Mid 2011), macOS Sierra (10.12.6)

Posted on Feb 4, 2018 3:44 AM

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Answer 1

getangar

Level 5

4,548 points

Feb 4, 2018 4:05 AM in response to ukadner

Ok, then this should be what you're looking for: OS X: Turning Off Inline Mail Attachments – The Mac Observer 🙂

In few words, just open the terminal and past this command:

defaults write com.apple.mail DisableInlineAttachmentViewing -bool YES

If you want to revert the settings, type this:

defaults write com.apple.mail DisableInlineAttachmentViewing -bool NO

Tested with success 🙂

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Answer 2

getangar

Level 5

4,548 points

Feb 4, 2018 4:24 AM in response to ukadner

Hi Uwe,

then I would quit Mail, then give a

sudo defaults write com.apple.mail DisableInlineAttachmentViewing -bool NO

with "sudo" you force the command to be executed as root.

then

sudo defaults write com.apple.mail DisableInlineAttachmentViewing -bool YES

and at this point try again.

If still doesn't work, you can trash the Mail preferences files

Select Finder > Menu Bar and open the "Go" menu.
Select "Go to Folder..."
Type the following: ~/Library/Preferences
Delete "com.apple.mail.plist" and relaunch the Mail app.

But be aware that you can loose your settings and then you need to re-configure mail from the scratch (so, make a back-up before to do anything).

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Answer 3

ukadner Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 4, 2018 5:22 AM in response to getangar

Thanks again for your suggestions. Unfortunately (and as said) I tried all the "sudo defaults write com.apple.mail..." mumbo jumbo before I wrote my question to the community.

Even deleting "com.apple.mail.plist" and relaunching the Mail app didn't change anything. Also installing some 3rd party plug-ins like http://clivegaleni.com/os-x-mail-anti-inline-plugin/ haven't had any positive impact.

It appears to me (after reading some other community entries on the same subject) that this is an ongoing problem after some OS version upgrade.

However, thanks for your time and your hints.

Cheers.

--

Uwe

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Answer 4

ukadner Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 4, 2018 3:52 AM in response to getangar

Thanks for your quick response. Unfortunately that's NOT what I want.

I don't want to ctrl-click every single attachment in every single email. I am looking for a general setting that tells Apple Mail "Display attachments always as symbols".

Cheers.

--

Uwe

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Answer 5

ukadner Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 4, 2018 4:11 AM in response to getangar

So you are one of the lucky ones then. I tried the command before I wrote my original message and it doesn't have any effect on the attachment behaviour for Apple Mail on my side, I am afraid.

Cheers

--

Uwe

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Answer 6

getangar

Level 5

4,548 points

Feb 4, 2018 3:47 AM in response to ukadner

Hi there, check if this is useful to get what you expect: Hiding attachment previews in Mail

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How to always show attachments in Apple Mail as symbols?

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