Apple mail hidden files

The joys of digging through hidden files in Apple Mail!

In Apple Mail, there are several hidden files and folders that contain important data and settings. Here are some of the most notable ones:

  1. Envelope Index: This is a hidden file that contains a list of all your emails, including their subject lines, sender and recipient information, and timestamps. The file is located at ~/Library/Mail/Envelope Index.
  2. Mailboxes: This folder contains all your email accounts, including their settings and data. The folder is located at ~/Library/Mail/Mailboxes.
  3. Message Attachments: This folder contains all the attachments you've received in your emails. The folder is located at ~/Library/Mail/Message Attachments.
  4. Message Bodies: This folder contains the actual text of your emails, including HTML and plain text versions. The folder is located at ~/Library/Mail/Message Bodies.
  5. Smart Mailboxes: This folder contains the settings for your smart mailboxes, which are custom folders that automatically filter and organize your emails. The folder is located at ~/Library/Mail/Smart Mailboxes.
  6. Spam: This folder contains emails that have been marked as spam by Apple Mail's spam filter. The folder is located at ~/Library/Mail/Spam.
  7. Trash: This folder contains emails that you've deleted from your inbox. The folder is located at ~/Library/Mail/Trash.

To access these hidden files and folders, you'll need to use the Terminal app or a file manager like Finder. Here's how:

Using Terminal:

  1. Open the Terminal app on your Mac.
  2. Type cd ~/Library/Mail and press Enter to navigate to the Mail folder.
  3. Use the ls command to list the contents of the folder.
  4. Use the cd command to navigate to a specific folder, such as Envelope Index or Message Attachments.
  5. Use the cat command to view the contents of a file, such as the Envelope Index.

Using Finder:

  1. Open the Finder app on your Mac.
  2. Go to the ~/Library folder and navigate to the Mail folder.
  3. You should see the various folders and files listed above.
  4. You can view the contents of a folder by clicking on it.
  5. You can view the contents of a file by right-clicking on it and selecting "Open With" > "TextEdit" (or another text editor).

Remember to be careful when editing or deleting files in these folders, as it can affect the functionality of Apple Mail.