Strange text changes in Mac Mail (not "predictive text")

Since I updated to Sonoma 14.3, Mac Mail has started to behave VERY strange.


When I write an email, small snippets of the already written text can change to earlier versions of the text.


For example, say I was writing this in Mac Mail and had just edited the sentence above by adding the "the already written" part.


While writing this sentence right now the former sentence could suddenly change back to:

When I write an email, small snippets of text can change to earlier versions of the text.


This can change back and forth while writing. Sometimes it happens in several places. Very strange, and very very disturbing.


To be sure I was sending the correct version of a mail, I tried to cut and paste the text into a raw text editor, and then copy and paste it (unformatted) back to Mail. And the text I pasted just turned into a different version than the one in the editor / clipboard (!).


I use Proton mail with Mail Bridge, btw, if that matters.


Anyone experiencing this? Solution?

MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

Posted on Jan 25, 2024 04:10 AM

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Posted on Jan 28, 2024 11:02 AM

I am having the same issue. Working on a long email I may delete entire paragraphs because I want to rework them, then as I am typing my new version, for reasons that aren't clear, suddenly Apple Mail will simply replace my new paragraph with the previously deleted version. Something odd is going on.

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11 replies

Jan 31, 2024 06:48 PM in response to BeaBanton

I'm experiencing this exact same problem on two machines. One is a MacBook Pro M3 16" running Sonoma 14.3 and the other is a MacBook Air 14" M2 running Sonoma 14.0. The problem is somewhat intermittent and I have tested resizing the window as @BeaBenton suggested and that so far has seemed to resolve the problem, but I haven't tested this more than a few times. But this issue is absolutely maddening and makes the Mail app nearly unusable when it happens.

Feb 13, 2024 06:39 AM in response to BeaBanton

In response to the above 02/13/24 post about the recent update, macOS Sonoma 14.3.1, I turned predictive text back on and started a new test email in Mail. I put a lot of text in the email, made several experimental editing changes, and resized the window several times. So far I am no longer experiencing the odd text changes or text overlap events. Here's hoping that Apple fixed the issue with this update. I'll look forward to hearing if others have tested since the update to see if this issue is now resolved.

Feb 1, 2024 03:57 AM in response to BeaBanton

I'm having this problem too! When you say resize the window, are you making the new message window smaller or larger? I'll have a play but be good to know what you guys have found fixes the problem. Really hope they fix this bug soon. I like to keep the new message window quite small so I can sit it next to the message I'm replying to on the screen, and I've got it all set up how I like to work.... This glitch is going to make me change the whole blinkin' screen set up.

Feb 10, 2024 06:17 PM in response to BeaBanton

I haven't yet experienced the same issue in Sonoma, but I have predictive text turned off.

I know you said this isn't a "predictive text" issue, but I'm just curious--with the issue you are having, do you have "Show inline predictive text" turned off or is it still enabled? (System Settings > Keyboard > Text input > Edit)


https://appleinsider.com/inside/macos-sonoma/tips/how-to-use-or-disable-inline-predictive-text-in-macos-sonoma


Feb 11, 2024 12:31 AM in response to formertester

Predictive text is definitely turned off. When I went googling how to fix, that's the first thing I tried. When I first googled the problem I couldn't find anyone having the same issue, and now it seems to be popping up more and more on forums. Guessing it's a bug from a recent update that's quite specific so only affecting some people, and hoping they'll send an update to fix it soon! In the mean time, if I'm typing long emails, I'm composing in Mac Pages and copying the text over to mail and just hitting send.

Feb 15, 2024 05:58 PM in response to BeaBanton

I have had the same issues since updating to Sonoma a week ago and it is doing my head in.

I also turned off predictive text (System Settings > Keyboard > Text input > Edit), but that did not change anything.

Resizing the window has stopped the text changing. (just dragging the side of the window out a bit). I did notice flickering sender names on the side menu whilst in mail, but that isn't a big issue (yet!).

Mar 16, 2024 07:52 AM in response to BeaBanton

I have this problem too, and my remedy has been to bring another window (from any app, including Mail) in front, and then bring back the message window. This indicates clearly (to me) that the mail text is not replaced, it's just a matter of how the text is drawn up (not sure of the correct term here) on the screen. Hiding and revealing the message window forces the text to be re-drawn.


I haven't tried resizing the message window but I will, and I'm sure it works since it (presumably) forces a re-draw.


BTW: flickering names in the mail list for me too.

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Strange text changes in Mac Mail (not "predictive text")

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