Apple mail app takes an excruciating long time to load

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Level 1

4 points

Apple mail app takes an excruciating long time to load

For as long as I can remember, I have been discouraged from opening mail from my iMac due to how long it takes to load content. I usually just pick up my phone and check my mail from there to alleviate any frustration. In an earlier post from 2022, an individual was having this issue from their iPhone and iPad and it was blamed on their wifi by the Apple gurus. I am hard wired into my router from home so wifi isn't the issue here. Is there a something that has been discovered over the last 3 years that may help me out? I am running macOS Monterey version 12.7.6 and am up to date.

iMac 27″, macOS 12.7

Posted on Jul 11, 2025 04:31 AM

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Answer 1

brbo

Level 8

38,137 points

Jul 15, 2025 10:52 PM in response to Robodog66

Hi, and welcome to this Apple (user-to-user) Community!

Re: Apple mail app takes an excruciating long time to load

Maybe it is all about how we prefer to use our Macs, and the settings / setup we choose.

Eg: Am using similar ethernet connection with MacOS Ventura on aging MacBook Pro:

Since the use of multiple desktops (often called windows or spaces) became available on Mac, my Mail app, and many other apps, have always been open, and ready to go. Swiping between apps / desktops is simple No need to re-establish the connection and download Mail every day. Emails are ready and waiting for me in the morning, and new mail generally arrives instantaneously.

Apps ready to go with no opening / closing / waiting:

Desktop 1 displays Calendar app + a second browser

2 displays Mail app

3 displays Pages app

4 displays Safari

5 displays Messages app and Text Edit side by side

6 displays current work / project files or apps

If this way of working interests you:

For MacOS Monterey: See how to: Work in multiple spaces on Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Jul 19, 2025 05:45 AM in response to Robodog66

It could be a bug that's intentionally installed in order to get people to upgrade their system. My 2019 iMac runs great otherwise with Sonoma, but the notifications that pop up at least twice a week trying to get me to upgrade to Sequoia are essentially a hard sell. They try to convince us that it's necessary in order to maintain "security." I was a certified Apple tech years ago, and I wouldn't put it past Apple to sabotage a system with a small annoyance that would lead to people throwing up their hands and acquiescing to the upgrade. Do that enough times and then your hardware becomes obsolete. Now you're forced to buy new hardware. It reads like a conspiracy theory, but why wouldn't this be a possibility?

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Answer 3

brbo

Level 8

38,137 points

Jul 19, 2025 04:27 PM in response to Droosmitty

Thank you for your opinion:

If you happen to have the setting in System settings (or System preferences) > General > Software updates set to "check for updates", then of course your Mac will keep checking for updates as requested. It's easy to toggle that setting off if you want to. (Just click the (i) info button there if needed).

To continue this discussion on topic:

Apple support's article (link below) points to some of the possible causes for a Mac that runs slowly: See what to do: If your Mac runs slowly - Apple Support for all their tips.

Eg: If installed: unnecessary third-party (non-Apple) apps that continually run in the background (eg: ad-blockers, virus checkers, cleaners and the like, (even VPN), can hog the processing power (or worse, cause interference). Try turning them off, or better yet, use their uninstallers (available from their developers), so they don't leave troublesome stray files strewn around in your Mac.

Any necessary third -party apps should be kept updated in order to remain compatible with the Mac.

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