Apple mail trash icon missing

The frustration of a missing icon!

If the Trash icon is missing in Apple Mail, here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

  1. Restart Apple Mail: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve the issue. Quit Apple Mail, then relaunch it.
  2. Check for updates: Ensure that you're running the latest version of Apple Mail. Go to the App Store, click on "Updates," and check if there are any updates available for Apple Mail.
  3. Reset Apple Mail: Try resetting Apple Mail by going to the Apple Menu > System Preferences > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Reset. This will reset your Mail settings to their default values.
  4. Check for conflicts with other apps: If you've recently installed a new app, it might be causing a conflict with Apple Mail. Try closing all other apps and see if the Trash icon reappears.
  5. Check your Mail settings: Go to the Apple Menu > System Preferences > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Accounts. Ensure that your email account is set up correctly and that the "Trash" folder is enabled.
  6. Try a different email account: If you have multiple email accounts set up in Apple Mail, try switching to a different account and see if the Trash icon appears.
  7. Reset your System Management Controller (SMC): This might sound like a drastic measure, but resetting your SMC can sometimes resolve issues with missing icons. To reset your SMC, follow these steps:
    • Shut down your Mac.
    • Locate the following keys: Command (⌘) + Option (⌥) + Shift (⇧) + Power button.
    • Press and hold these keys while powering on your Mac.
    • Release the keys when you hear the boot chime for the second time.
  8. Reinstall Apple Mail: If none of the above steps work, you can try reinstalling Apple Mail. Go to the App Store, click on "Purchased," find Apple Mail, and click the "Install" button.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, you may want to reach out to Apple Support for further assistance.