For several weeks now I have been unable to open Mail. If I click on it, it just sits there with the black dot underneath it. I've tried: opening Mail from Applications folder - doesn't work; restarting in safe mode; reinstalling the OS; I've run Malwarebytes. Mail remains frozen and unresponsive.
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.5
Re: Mail won't open in 2021 Macbook Air Sequoia
After trying to open Mail: (ie: when "with the black dot underneath it")
Wondering if you have tried clicking File > New Viewer Window to see if Mail opens a window
Else: If you haven't already tried this sequence:
Try clicking the Apple menu (black apple: on the left in top menu bar), and choose "Force Quit"
From the small menu that opens: Click on "Mail" from the list of open apps to Force Quit Mail
Then choose Apple menu > Restart to restart your Mac: wait while Mac restarts, and log-in again
(Deletes temporary files, re-establishes connections, may update recent setting
changes etc, and often restores order if something is not working as expected
Now open the Mail app, and see whether it is working ok
___________________________________________________________
More trouble=shooting articles online (from Apple Support) if needed:
See what to do: If an app on your Mac stops responding, quits unexpectedly, or won’t open - Apple Support
and
Sorry I don't know anything about Gemini.
Malwarebytes is not a problem, (it was developed by a respected Apple community member.)
CleanMyMac could be a problem / cause interference. (Seems our Macs clean up whenever we restart them). You might want to try turning CleanMyMac off, (or you can use the uninstaller from the developer so files are not left behind.), and see if there is any improvement with Mail app.
In some cases, (where troublesome third-party software is suspected) it is advisable to download and run the free copy of "Etrecheck" https://etrecheck.com which can reveal troublesome files in a report (that can be posted here using the "additonal text" icon below .. ) Some community members are expert at pin-pointing issues revealed by the etrecheck report)
I concur with both @brbo and @ BDAqua
Start Over from Scratch
For Apple Silicon computer >> Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon.
Always make a Time Machine Backup before proceeding
Emphasis on User Account Only
If going this route - I suggest Not using Startup Assist to migrate everything back.
This will probably Re-Introduce ( BrickMtMac ) back into the Operating System
Thank you 👍 No worries there!
Third-party (non-Apple) apps are another possibility:
If you have VPN, any un-necessary virus-checkers, ad-blockers, cleaners, or the like installed: Try turning them off, to check if they are responsible for causing interference, or are running in the back ground all the time
Any necessary third-party apps need to always be kept up-to-date
Start Over from Scratch
Heavy Handed ? - Yes
Effective in removing the BrickMyMac Software ? - Yes
You can spend hours or days hunting down all the bits and pieces of this software and never really get it all off the computer
For Apple Silicon computer >> Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon.
Always make a Time Machine Backup before proceeding
Emphasis on User Account Only
If going this route - I suggest Not using Startup Assist to migrate everything back.
This will probably Re-Introduce (CleanMyMac , aka BrickMyMac ) back into the Operating System
Thank you. I have done the force quit and restart many times and even re-installed the OS a few times. Clicking File/New Viewer Window leads to the Spinning Beachball of Death, but that was something I hadn't tried.
Re: "Clicking File/New Viewer Window leads to the Spinning Beachball of Death",
Wondering if your Mac has enough free memory / storage space in which to operate smoothly, Eg: a Mac generally needs at east 50 Gb free in which to operate and do all we ask it to. (Note: Any storage space available in iCloud is quite different)
You can check if you want:
See used and available storage space on your Mac - Apple Support
I'm starting to think only erase and reset the Mac is going to solve the problem? I don't use the Macbook as often as the Mac Mini so nothing of great importance is stored on it, but all my receipts I need to do my tax are in the emails. That's why I'm trying to get Mail up and working again.
brbo wrote:
Thank you kindly Owl-53! Most grateful to you and BDAqua for your prompt replies, and for sharing your expertise / guidance / and suggestions. 👍👍
You, @brbo, have done a lot of great leg work which led us to these conclusions
Thank you too for posting your " Bat Call " 📞
Keep up your dedicated good work and see you around 👍
I can get webmail, so I'm not panicking over it. It's The Messaging Company (Australia). The thing is, I received a lot of receipts relating to tax via email over the past year, and now I want to do my tax, but I don't have the information I need, because I stored it in a file called "Tax Receipts" in Mail! Also, my other computer is a Mac Mini. The mail is set up the same on that computer, and there's no problem opening Mail.
Hmmm,looks like ail is opening, just not displaying, did you ever have another monitor conennected?
Makw a new admin account,
logout & into the new account, does mail open there?
What is not clear to me
Are you saying the " it in a file called "Tax Receipts" in Mail! " only appears in the problematic computer and No where else like webmail ??
This is critical moving for forwards.
Illawarrian wrote:
Yes but I re-installed the OS so shouldn't that have sorted it if that was the case?
Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS, is an invitation for disaster.
Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store - this only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a percentage on each sale.
What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase
To put the Third Party Disk Cleaner / Optimizer in context and the damages it may have or has already done.
This type of applications can or will Muck Up your User Account ( Home Folder ) of this machine.
It does not touch the Operating System itself unless you consider your User Account ( Home Folder ) as part of the Operating System.
The Operating System is hosed
OK @BDAqua I switched to a guest user, opened Mail, added my mail settings, and the mail arrived. What on earth is going on with my usual user account? Is there any way to fix it? (as explained, the receipts I need for tax nearly always arrived via email, so they're in a folder in Mail, which I need to do my tax).
BDAqua wrote:
Hmmm,looks like ail is opening, just not displaying, did you ever have another monitor conennected?
Makw a new admin account,
logout & into the new account, does mail open there?
All your's my friend
Mail won't open in 2021 Macbook Air Sequoia
