Apple Mail is Mac’s built-in email client. It didn’t get a big update in macOS Big Sur, although, like most built-in apps, it looks very different from its predecessors in earlier macOS versions. Despite the lack of new features or changes, many users have reported problems when using Mail in Big Sur. If you’ve encountered issues with Mail since upgrading to Big Sur, read on, we have the solutions below.
What’s new in Mail app?
Free 5000+ macOS app icons in the style of macOS Big Sur. Fully open source and community led. How to install custom icons on macOS Big Sur. When the Big Sur operating system hit the shelves, many Mac users were excited, expecting the next best thing. However, in reality, the new OS left many longing to come back to the system they knew before. Not that Big Sur is the worst thing that Apple has released, but it seemed to be rushed in production, linked to many problems along the way. Free 5000+ macOS app icons in the style of macOS Big Sur. Fully open source and community led. How to install custom icons on macOS Big Sur.
There are no big new features in Mail app in macOS Big Sur. However, it does get the same interface as the rest of the OS. The sidebar now runs to the full height of the window. Icons have been refreshed to match those in other Apple apps. Sheets, the alerts that drop down from the top of the window when you need to take action, are now scaled to the center of the window and are accompanied by the screen dimming.
Mail problems in Big Sur and how to fix them
Messages deleted from server before going to Trash
When you press delete on a message in your Mail inbox, it should go to the Trash folder so that you can retrieve it later if necessary. However, some users have reported that instead of going to Trash, messages were immediately deleted from the server. This appears to be a bug; however, it does have a workaround.
Solution: Instead of pressing delete, right-click, or Control-click the message and choose Move to Trash. Alternatively, click the message and drag it to the Trash.
If you’re having general problems with Mail, not just in Big Sur, CleanMyMac X can help. It can speed up Mail and help it run more smoothly. The tool you need is in the Maintenance section. It’s called “Speed Up Mail,” and that’s exactly what it does. It re-indexes Mail’s message database so that Mail will find messages much more quickly the next time you use it.
All Trash and All Junk mailboxes are missing
Another issue reported by Big Sur Mail users is that they can no longer find the mailboxes that hold deleted messages and junk for all accounts. It’s as if junk mail has disappeared. This only affects users who have more than one account set up in Mail. The Junk and Trash mailboxes still appear for each account; it’s the combined ones that are missing. Also, the mailboxes still exist; they are just not visible.
Solution: This appears to be related to the way Favorites is configured in Big Sur Mail. So, the solution is to use Favorites to restore those mailboxes manually.
- In the sidebar, move the mouse pointer to the right of Favorites until you see a “+” sign.
- Click the “+” and choose All Trash from the dropdown menu in the window that appears.
- Repeat step 2 but this time, choose All Junk.
Mail search is not working
Apple Mac Os Big Sur Problems
If you use the search box in Mail’s toolbar to search for messages and the results aren’t what you expect, it may be that Mail is not searching the mailboxes in which the messages are stored.
Solution: To fix the problem, when you search, make sure “All” is highlighted in the toolbar and not, for example, “All inboxes.”
IMAP timing out
It seems that lots of macOS Big Sur users are having problems with connections to IMAP mail servers timing out before they make a connection. The problem occurs in Mail but also seems to affect other email clients in Big Sur.
Solution: The problem appears to be related to third-party apps with network filters such as anti-malware tools and utilities that monitor outgoing connections. So far, the only solution seems to be to uninstall Little Snitch if you use it and to turn off email protection in anti-malware tools.
Bonus tip: Clear up Mail attachments
I already told you how to speed up Mail using CleanMyMac X. This app has another tool that will help you clear some space on your Mac by removing saved Mail attachments. For most mail systems, attachments and messages are stored on the server, so even when you delete them, they remain available for download. Deleting them frees up space on your Mac and should make Mail run more smoothly. Download CleanMyMac X here to clear all mail attachments.
While Mail hasn’t had a significant upgrade in macOS Big Sur, it does appear to have had quite a few problems in early releases. These should be fixed in future updates. However, in the meantime, follow the steps above to resolve issues. And if you use CleanMyMac X, you can speed up Mail and free up space no matter which version of macOS you use.
When the Big Sur operating system hit the shelves, many Mac users were excited, expecting the next best thing. However, in reality,the new OS left many longing to come back to the system they knew before. Not that Big Sur is the worst thing that Apple has released, but it seemed to be rushed in production, linked to many problems along the way. Though some of the problems have been solved, many wonder if it is worth the download or no. To decide whether or not you should download the new operating system or stick to Catalina for the time being, we have lined up a few of the pros and cons to help you weigh your options.
Pro: The Look Is Hot
One of the first things that every user who has downloaded the program boasts about is the new look. Everything seems much clearer and crisper, with a bright white display that only Apple can perfect. The designers took their time taking care of every detail, fusing each application’s corners to the background and blending colors to make them pop like never before. The entire look takes a modern spin on things, making them attractive and new to the eye.
Pro: Upgraded Notification Center
One may quickly realize that the upgrade came with just a few changes. Instead of lying in an awkward place within the system, the Big Sure system has placed it within the clock, leaving it out of the way until you need it. This is a huge pro, making things more accessible and clean at first glance.
Pro: Say Hello to Widgets
Mac’s Catalina operating system had no kind of widget. In the Big Sur operating system, you’ll find widgets that appear right alongside notifications, including calendar, weather, and more. This makes the overall appearance more organized and gets things out of your way so that you can use them with more ease.
Con: New Control Center
Apple Macos Big Sur 11.2
A new icon will appear in the new interface presented in the Big Sur operating system that wasn’t there before. While that is something new and seemingly ok, it is where the new control center rests, leaving us asking if it is really needed or not. Here, you will find shortcuts and other useful items, but it turns out unnecessary, seeming to take up more space than it needs to.
Con: The New Maps Upgrade
Maps have been part of the Apple system since 2013, making a big splash in the world of travel. The maps in the new Big Sur version of the Apple system are indoor maps that can help with things like airports and shopping. There is also an upgraded 360 degree look around for other types of maps. The only problem is, these features sound great but are not really practical in today’s fast-paced world. These maps are great for someone who wants to sit and map out an entire plan, but who has time for that?
Verdict? To Download or Not to Download
After taking a look at the pros and cons, one last question remains. Should you upgrade or not?We lean more toward a ‘no’ answer, but only for the time being. To date, many users were left to resolve the issues that came along with the new version of the Mac operating system. But Apple will soon have many of the issues worked out, making this an excellent upgrade for anyone who loves their Macs. So we say, give it a try, just as long as you have the time to get used to all the small changes.
