Certain emails will cause Apple Mail to crash/quit on my iMac

This may be a long shot but boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

NOTE 2: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.

Opus_Maru wrote:

For some reason, certain emails will cause Apple Mail to crash/quit. Often times, icloud account messages sent either won't render or the application will quit. Has anyone experienced this?

iMac 27″, macOS 13.1

The current stable release of Ventura including bug fixes, security updates is macOS Ventura 13.2 I would start there.

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

Opus_Maru wrote:

I used the term "toxic" because the messages will cause the application to crash. One weird work around is to have another application open (i.e. Calendar), on top of the mail window. Right mouse click the message in the list and it will open in the background. However, if you bring mail to the front with the message open, it will crash. The actual message is not a malicious one. It's a legitimate message that, for whatever reason, Mail can't handle. I removed the message from the "v" folder and eventually removed the mailbox folder as well (not the "v" folder). After that, Mail appears to be functioning normally.

 you can file a bug report /submit your Apple Feedback here:  https://www.apple.com/feedback/mail.html

I have experienced and I'm still experiencing this issue with Ventura 13.2. Ventura 13.1 worked fine but when I upgraded to 13.2 Mail was crashing every time I opened it. I've track it down to certain email messages that causes it to crash. I do not have iCloud Mail enabled. Mail is total unusable. I've contacted Apple about this being a vulnerability since Mail can brought down with an email message, but Apple doesn't view it as a vulnerability. I will probably do a clean install and downgrade to Ventura 13.1.

Macbook Pro 2021 (M1)

MBP 16 M2

I'm having the same issue. I found this issue is being caused by a single email or two. If I log into webmail or delete the email from my phone, then Mail work but once some odd mail comes in again Mail will crash again. I've redone th emal account along with reloading the machine from scratch and still have the same issue with Mail crashing.

Opus_Maru wrote:

I fixed my mail. It was a very tedious process. I had to work my way through the chaotic mail data in the User Library and had to, eventually, remove the mailbox/folder that contained the toxic message. Fortunately, it was the only message in the box and I was able to replace it with a new one. I stored all the potentially bad emails in another folder for analysis - if Apple wants them.

"certain emails will cause Apple Mail to crash/quit."

Maybe you can say more as to how exactly you discern " toxic message." Is this all one source...(?)

Is this sifting through the V10 folder...(?)

Unfortunately, I have several years of work emails that I currently can't get to. I was corresponding with the Apple's Security and Vulnerability team and even sent them a couple of "toxic" emails. I thought that that would be enough, but they have determined it was not a vulnerability and told me to contact Apple Support. There was a similar bug called MailJack in IOS 16.0.2 - https://www.macworld.com/article/1073815/os-16-mail-bug-app-crashing-fix.html and it was considered a vulnerability. I going to rollback to 13.1 this weekend.

I did a clean install of Ventura 13.1 and restored my applications and files from a Time Machine Backup that I made right before the clean install. Mail is functioning normally. I believe the issue is with Ventura 13.2. Hopefully Apple will fix it.

Here's how I downloaded a version of 13.1:

In the Terminal App type softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 13.1

This will download Ventura 13.1 and place it in you Applications Folder.

Then make a bootable flash drive which it sounds like you've already done that with 13.2. Since Apple doesn't give us the ability to downgrade without performing a fresh install, make sure a Time Machine Backup is performed before you perform the 13.1 install so you can reinstall all of your files and applications.

I hope that helps.

How did you downgrade to Ventura 13.1 from 13.2? I would love to go back but have not found any options to do so - thank you!

Since my Mac is an M1 I also needed to reinstall Rosetta since none Apple Silicon apps would not run.

Using the Terminal App enter /usr/sbin/softwareupdate --install-rosetta --agree-to-license