I'd really like to move my mac mail, at least all of the mailboxes, to a dedicated external drive. Not to archive, but to be fully functional. Is this possible?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iMac 27″, macOS 15.3
Looks like it takes some work but:
AI Overview
Yes, you can move your Mac Mail data to an external drive, but it requires creating symbolic links to the Mail folder on the external drive.
Here's a breakdown of how to do it:
1. Prepare Your External Drive:
2. Locate and Copy the Mail Folder:
3. Create Symbolic Links:
4. Test and Verify:
Important Considerations:
Thank you for this detailed, and easy to follow, tutorial on accomplishing this task.
The attached image is what appears when I launch Mac Mail after making the transition, creating and renaming the alias.
My concern is that if I 'continue' I will import all of the mail I just moved, back to the hard drive.
Your thoughts are appreciated. thank you
that;s exactly what I did... I followed your directions to the letter.
Are you able to answer my specific question?
If not, please tell me...
This is a picture of my dock.
I have a MAIL link which should take me to the ~/Library/Mail on my HD which now has the alias to the Mail folder on my external. But... when I click on this link I get the message above and I'm trying to find out, if I click on this 'continue' will it reload to my computer HD or to the external??
Thank you... but I would like to clarify.
I followed your directions to the letter.
When, on my MAC, I click to load MAC MAIL, that's the message I see.
My concern is that if I click 'continue' I'll be downloading all of my mail to the MAC HD.
Again, once I copied the MAIL folder to the external I deleted the Mail folder on the MAC HD.
Thank you.. a million thank you's
I created the symbolic link by creating an alias from the MAIL folder I created on the dedicated external drive. I first copied the 'MAIL' folder per the directions you offered. I then deleted the HD mail folder and placed the alias to the external in its place.
When I return to the computer and click on the MAIL app in my dock I get the message you see above.
So, what have I done wrong?
And, if I click on continue to import import messages am I importing them back to the HD or to the external drive folder?
I appreciate your help, I'm lost without my email so I'm hoping to get this resolved... thanks for sticking with me.
The instructions I posted are not mine but AI generated. What I’m saying is do not use this alias process, i have found moving Apple apps to an external drive can create issues even if you believe you have followed the process. Why do you want your mail app on the external drive? As I stated make a larger bootable thunderbolt drive and have all on that which will preclude any issues.
Here's a screen capture of what my external looks like. I don't see a way to launch mail from the external.
Is that the message you get when opening mail on the external drive? If so that means it needs to import the mail to your external drive.
wait.. am I now supposed to launch mac mail from the external? I only copied the MAIL folder as directed.
Not sure you have created the symbolic link which is required to make mail work from the external drive. I have never done this process myself so I'm afraid I cannot provide anymore assistance.
Why cannot you access your mail from the internal drive? If you are concerned about internal storage then make an external boot drive using a larger drive then no more issues.
How do I move all mailboxes to external drive on iMac?
