Apple mail folders on external hard drive

Outlook on Windows will allow me to organize some (or all) of my mail folders on an external hard drive for real-time access. Is there a way do that with Apple Mail? I know I can export a folder to an external - that’s not what I’m trying to do. I want some (or all) of my Apple mail folders on a external in such a way that when I move (by rule or click-action) an Inbox message to a folder, Apple Mail behaves as if those folders were ‘local’.

Mac mini (M1, 2020)

Posted on Sep 23, 2023 10:35 AM

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1 reply

Old Toad

Level 10

214,596 points

Sep 23, 2023 10:51 AM in response to Ted Woodrow

I don't think so but you can try this:

1 - copy the Users/Home/Library/Mail/V10 folder to the external drive.

2 - delete the V10 folder from the Mail folder.

3 - make a Symbolic Link of the V10 email folder on the external drive and place it in the Mail folder.

4 - reboot and open mail.

If the above fails you can copy the V10 folder from the external drive back to the Mail folder and delete the symbolic link.

I've not tried this so proceed at your own risk.

in the Users/Home/Library/Mail folder. Then move the V10 folder

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Apple mail folders on external hard drive

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