Com.apple.mail shared.plist

A file from the Apple Mail app!

com.apple.mail.shared.plist is a property list file (.plist) that stores configuration settings for the Apple Mail app on a Mac. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect to find in this file:

File Structure:

The file is organized into a hierarchical structure, with each top-level key representing a specific setting or category. The file is divided into several sections, including:

Accounts: This section contains settings for each email account configured in Apple Mail, including account names, passwords, and server settings.
Preferences: This section stores general preferences for the Apple Mail app, such as the default email client, font sizes, and other user interface settings.
Rules: This section contains rules for filtering and organizing email messages, such as moving messages to specific folders or deleting them.
Smart Mailboxes: This section stores settings for smart mailboxes, which are custom folders that automatically filter and organize email messages based on specific criteria.

Example Contents:

Here's an example of what you might find in the com.apple.mail.shared.plist file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
  <dict>
    <key>Accounts</key>
    <array>
      <dict>
        <key>AccountName</key>
        <string>My Email Account</string>
        <key>AccountType</key>
        <string>IMAP</string>
        <key>Password</key>
        <string>mysecretpassword</string>
        <key>Server</key>
        <string>imap.gmail.com</string>
      </dict>
    </array>
    <key>Preferences</key>
    <dict>
      <key>DefaultEmailClient</key>
      <string>Apple Mail</string>
      <key>FontSizes</key>
      <dict>
        <key>Body</key>
        <integer>12</integer>
        <key>Headers</key>
        <integer>10</integer>
      </dict>
    </dict>
    <key>Rules</key>
    <array>
      <dict>
        <key>Condition</key>
        <string>from contains "example.com"</string>
        <key>Actions</key>
        <array>
          <string>Move to folder "Example.com"</string>
        </array>
      </dict>
    </array>
  </dict>
</plist>

Security Considerations:

As with any configuration file, it's essential to handle com.apple.mail.shared.plist with care. Make sure to:

Store the file in a secure location, such as the user's home directory or a secure storage service.
Use strong passwords and encryption to protect sensitive information, such as account passwords.
Regularly back up the file to prevent data loss in case of a system failure or corruption.

Remember that this file is specific to the Apple Mail app and may not be compatible with other email clients or platforms.

Mail Knowledge

Com.apple.mail shared.plist