Mac mail not sorting into mailboxes

Question

Mac mail not sorting into mailboxes

I use apple mail as an email client.

I use a couple of email addresses - and use the "favourites" (All Inboxes", "AllSent" ect).

All emails are "sorted" by date received... easy enough - but lately (since the recent ventura upgrade) emails are not sorted to date received when the application is "opened" again (it doesn't need to be a quit and re-start... just a close and open).

Additionally, sent emails are included in the "all inbox" listing and vice versa.......

This is nothing to do with "Rules" - these are working normally.

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 13.1

Posted on Dec 23, 2022 09:15 PM

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Answer 1

Owl-53

Level 10

100,105 points

Dec 24, 2022 02:16 AM in response to YES_Im_looking_at_YOU

1 - Restart in Safe Mode. This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts. The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal.

2 - Safe Mode will also eliminate Third Party Software, extensions and drivers from loading

3 - Does the issue present in this mode ?

4 - Sometimes a Safe Boot followed by a Normal Boot will just put things right.

5 - If not - there could be something in the main User Account playing up. To further isolate this - Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac. Then log out of the Main User account and log into the dummy account and test again if the issue persists.

6 - If the issue is present in the dummy account - then, this appears to be a System Wide issue on the computer.

7 - If still having issues report back

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Answer 2

Owl-53

Level 10

100,105 points

Dec 25, 2022 01:52 AM in response to YES_Im_looking_at_YOU

Q -" I then went back and to the original user, found that the items out of order (by date) were those "sent items" that were in the "inboxes" folder. "

A - In image below, I have only Received e-mails on another question unrelated to yours.

The point being, the Organize by Conversation feature Groups all Sent and Receive Message with the specific

" Subject" line into a coherent and chronological order

refer to image

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Answer 3

Dec 24, 2022 02:13 AM in response to Owl-53

... been through all that with a recent upgrade in thunderbird.... so it was one of the first things I looked at...

It happens every time Mail is closed (including if it is "quit").... when it's opened again the mail is as described (out of date order - with "sent items" in the "All inBoxes etc).

There is no "order" to how they are arranged....

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Answer 4

Dec 24, 2022 05:48 PM in response to Owl-53

Hi, I was going through your suggestions - and found that when set up in another username, mail was sorting things "properly".

I then went back and to the original user, found that the items out of order (by date) were those "sent items" that were in the "inboxes" folder.

I had previously thought that the "rebuild" command automatically affected each folder - but it appears that it only affects whatever folder is highlighted at the time.

I tried the "rebuild" command on each of the inboxes and the sent folders for each email address separately.

This fixed the problem.

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Answer 5

Dec 25, 2022 02:24 AM in response to Owl-53

Hello again,

I understand your point - but in this case it does not apply.

I had some similar "problems" in Thunderbird (which I use for my "private" or "non-business" email address) some time ago.

The "organise by thread/conversation" was therefore the first thing I checked.

I'm thinking there was an issue arising form the last Mac OS "upgrade" that "unsettled" the mailbox somehow.

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Answer 6

Owl-53

Level 10

100,105 points

Dec 25, 2022 02:25 AM in response to YES_Im_looking_at_YOU

Download the Application Etrecheck directly from the Developer.

This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer.

It makes a coherent and readable inventory of both the Hardware and Software used on the computer

The application is free or paid from added features.

The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information.

Post back the Full Report - copy and paste - >>>> using the Additional Text Icon ( 3rd Icon to last ) <<<<

We can have a look at the report for possible issues and may have possible suggestions to resolve the issues

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Answer 7

Jan 11, 2023 10:39 PM in response to Owl-53

The problem has resurfaced.

Done a "check" on "Etrecheck".... not all reviews are good. Given what is on my computer I'm not comfortable taking a risk with software I do not know.

Is there an "Apple tool" that can be used to diagnose mail issues?

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Answer 8

Jan 13, 2023 01:14 AM in response to YES_Im_looking_at_YOU

I saw on line somewhere a "solution"...

Open Apple mail - then use "Force Quit" to close it.

Then open it again.

.... seems to be working for now. Let's hope it lasts longer than "rebuilding the mailboxes".

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Answer 9

Owl-53

Level 10

100,105 points

Dec 24, 2022 01:56 AM in response to YES_Im_looking_at_YOU

refer to below illustration as mentioned by previous Contributor

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Answer 10

Dec 24, 2022 01:10 AM in response to YES_Im_looking_at_YOU

Do you have checked “Organize by Conversation “? This puts a “conversation” together, and would explain why your sent messages appear next to received ones.

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