Mail import fails after Sonoma 14.0 update (iMac)

Since Apple's most recent update (Mac OS Sonoma 14.0 - Sept 26, 2023), every time I try to open my email, I get a message that my mail messages need to be imported. I have tried to import them several times and each time get the message that an error occurred during the import and"Make sure you have available space in your home folder and try again." I tried a fix that I saw online that said to move com.apple.mail.plist to the desktop, but that did not work. What can I do to enable my mail messages to be imported?

iMac 21.5″, macOS 14.0

Posted on Oct 2, 2023 05:15 PM

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Posted on Dec 15, 2023 08:44 AM

I got my IMPORT to work ..

Having been trapped in a loop where Mail automatically starts an IMPORT of email Accounts on its own accord, and then abends, suggesting lack of space on Home folder (which is not the case).

I watched carefully which Account it failed on.

I then went into System Settings, then Internet Accounts, selected the Account where it failed the Import on and I un-ticked "Mail".

I then restarted Mail and again the Import starts Automatically, but hey this time it is much less to Import .. because I unticked the failing Account.

Voila ! Mail starts and I see all of my Accounts other than the unticked one. I now have Mail on my iMac and much more control than the endless loop I was in.

So then, I go back into System Settings and tick Mail and low and behold the ticked Account shows up in Mail.

It is now going through a very large download (as seen in Activity) of messages, which hopefully will flatten out at some stage. But progress and think all is good now ! 😊

Maybe this was caused by Sonoma 14, but Apple said nobody had reported it as a problem. 🤔


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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 15, 2023 08:44 AM in response to WHWilder

I got my IMPORT to work ..

Having been trapped in a loop where Mail automatically starts an IMPORT of email Accounts on its own accord, and then abends, suggesting lack of space on Home folder (which is not the case).

I watched carefully which Account it failed on.

I then went into System Settings, then Internet Accounts, selected the Account where it failed the Import on and I un-ticked "Mail".

I then restarted Mail and again the Import starts Automatically, but hey this time it is much less to Import .. because I unticked the failing Account.

Voila ! Mail starts and I see all of my Accounts other than the unticked one. I now have Mail on my iMac and much more control than the endless loop I was in.

So then, I go back into System Settings and tick Mail and low and behold the ticked Account shows up in Mail.

It is now going through a very large download (as seen in Activity) of messages, which hopefully will flatten out at some stage. But progress and think all is good now ! 😊

Maybe this was caused by Sonoma 14, but Apple said nobody had reported it as a problem. 🤔


Feb 3, 2024 02:02 PM in response to Sinfuljimbo

I was in the same predicament. I finally gave up and contacted Apple Support (in Sweden) and a very skilful and helpful guy helped me through the problem. To solve the problem I had to cancel all three mail accounts I have in System settings. Be sure that you have all data about your accounts stored somewhere or printed out so you can reregister again.

After that I started Mail app again and now it launched but of cource with very few data.

Then I registred the account from my internet provider (but leaving the two accounts which were private domains) and all of a sudden the import begun.

Then we tried to reenter one of the other accounts, but failed when using the private domain email adress. We then changed to the ”original” account (used for redirecting incoming and outgoing mails) which is from the same provider as in the first attempt. Now this account also showed up and imported all stuff related, but as the ”original"email account. The same procedure with the last account was successful, and now I’m very glad that everything is up and running.

So there is some some mismatch between Sonoma and my private adresses which I have to figure out with my domain service provider.

Of course there is a lot of things to sort out (layout, delete old stuff, move certain mailes to right folders etc) before all is back to ”normal” again.

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Mail import fails after Sonoma 14.0 update (iMac)

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