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How to Speed up Mac Mail? Different Methods to Fix Slow Apple Mail

  author
Jamie Kaler   Contribution
Rollins Duke
Rollins Duke  Approved By
Published On December 19th, 2024 • 6 min read

Mac Mail is a powerful email client, but like any other software, it can eventually slow down sometimes. As we are dealing with an email client that frequently receives new data now and then, there are high chances of slowing down Apple Mail. Whether it is the slow interface, loading time, or other performance issues, several steps can be taken to speed up Mac Mail.

Quick solution: Extract all the emails from Apple Mail to the system using the Email Backup Tool and clean the account effortlessly. Thus it could speeds up the application. Save the data in a different file format or transfer it to another account within the tool itself. Get the desired version from the below links.

Table of Content 

Why is Apple Mail Slow?

Some of the common causes of Mac Mail running slow.

  • Large Mailboxes: The bigger your mailbox, the more time it will take to load and search for emails. Oftentimes, the reason for the delay in Apple Mail’s performance is due to the large mailboxes.
  • Complex Filters: Overly complex filters will slow down sorting and categorization considerably.
  • Old Version of Mac Mail: An old version of Apple Mail or macOS has no guaranteed optimization.
  • Network Limitations: If the internet is extremely slow, or servers are down, email downloads and sync may fail.

As the reasons could vary, the solutions remain the same. Let’s find out how we can improve the performance of a slow Apple Mail.

What are the Steps to Take to Speed up Mac Mail?

Here we have categorized the troubleshooting procedure into 4 different sections. As per the user’s requirement navigate to the particular method and resolve the issue instantly.

1. Optimize the Mac’s Performance

Before we install the Apple Mail application, we must check the macOS performance to determine the cause of this issue.

Update macOS

  • Go to Apple Menu in the left top corner.
  • Select System Settings>General.
  • Click on Software Update.
  • If any software update is available you will see.
  • Click on Update Now and install all the available updates.update mac os

Check for Malware

Use in-built security features such as Gatekeeper, xProtect, Firewall, etc. These would help identify any virus attack or malware and give warnings like “can’t be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.” Also, check for any Malware in the system, as it could cause Apple Mail to run slow.

Free-up Disk Space

Delete unnecessary files or folders from the Mac. Empty the trash, remove large Download files, remove the download folders if not required, and uninstall unnecessary Apple. You can use MacUncle DateWipe as a single solution for permanently deleting emails.

2. Clean Up Mac Mail Inbox

Unwanted email clutter in the inbox can significantly affect Mac Mail’s performance. Here’s how to tidy up the things:

Locally Save old Emails:

You can externally save the important emails and declutter the emails in the account. Backup Apple Mail to the external hard drive and then clean up the Mac Mail inbox.

Delete Unnecessary Emails

  • Start the Apple Mail Application.
  • Select all the emails you want to delete.
  • Right-click and select Delete.
  • Press the Ok button to confirm the deletion.

Delete all Apple Mail Emails if required to speed up the performance00. This is one of the simple and proven methods to speed up any email client.

Unsubscribe from Unwanted Newsletter: Ensure to unsubscribe from all the unwanted newsletter to avoid decluttering the emails in the account. You can find the unsubscribe option at the end of every newsletter email.

3. Troubleshooting Specific Issues to Speed up Mac Mail

If you’re still experiencing performance problems, try these additional troubleshooting steps:

Rebuild the Mailbox

Most of the issues with Mac Mail can be resolved by rebuilding the mailboxes.

  • Open the Apple Mail application.
  • Go to the Mailbox in the Menu.
  • Then, select the option Rebuild.
    rebuild mailboxes
  • Soon, Apple Mail will recreate the Mailboxes.

Check Internet Connection

A slow or unstable internet connection can affect Mac Mail’s performance. Check the Internet connection if your Apple Mail is Slow. Browse other sites using any reliable search engine. If that’s causing the issue, ensure that the connection has a proper connection for the smooth operation of Mac Mail.

Disable Mail Drop

If you are using Mail Drop, once disable it check whether the Mac Mail works or not.

  • Launch the Mail app.
  • Click on Mail in the menu bar and select Preferences.
  • Click on Accounts.
  • Select the account and click on Account information.disable mail drop to speed up mac mail
  • Uncheck the “Send large attachments in Mail Drop“.

This will prevent the large attachments being sent via iCloud instead you need to attach directly to the emails.

Reset Mac Mail: As a last step, you can reset the Mac Mail account at once. However, it will remove all the data within the system, thus, it is recommended to have the backup before proceeding.

4. Use Professional Tool to Speed Up Apple Mail

If none of the above methods worked then, try using the MBOX splitter. As the name suggests it splits the mailboxes into reasonable size, and thus you can speed up the Mac Mail’s performance. Extract the mailboxes from the Apple Mail and then use the tool to divide the files into smaller ones.

Conclusion

Remember, the key to a fast and efficient Mac Mail experience is a combination of regular maintenance, optimized settings, and effective troubleshooting. By following the suggested methods users can level up the performance of the Apple Mail. Without having any technical know anyone can speed up Mac Mail with the help of this article.

FAQs

Q) Why is My Mac Mail so slow?

A) The reason could vary from user to user. It can be caused by common factors like messy inboxes, large attachments, etc.

Q) How to speed up Mac Mail’s loading time?

A) By removing junk emails, optimizing mailboxes in Mac Mail, etc.

Q) How to fix the slow interface on Mac Mail?

A) To make the interface appear more responsive, you can disable unwanted features, adjust font sizes, or close unnecessary apps.

Q) How do I minimize the size of my Mac Mail database?

A) Archiving old emails, deleting big attachments, and optimizing mailboxes may minimize your database size.

Q) Does Mac Mail speed improve if my Mac is cleaned?

A) Yes, cleaning up your Mac is going to remove unwanted files, empty Trash, and optimize disk space for better functioning of Mac Mail.

Q) How can I avoid the slowdown of my Mac Mail?

A) Clean your inbox optimize your Mac for performance in general and ensure regular software updates for maintaining the maximum speed.