How to delete mac var mail file
The infamous ~/Library/Mail
folder!
Deleting the Mail
folder in ~/Library
can be a bit tricky, but I'll guide you through the process. Please note that this will delete all your email data, including messages, accounts, and settings.
Before you start:
- Backup your email data: If you want to preserve your email data, you can export your emails from the Mail app using the "Export Mailbox" feature. Go to Mail > File > Export Mailbox, and choose a location to save your emails.
- Make sure you're using the correct folder: The
~/Library/Mail
folder is specific to the user account you're currently logged in with. If you're using a different user account, you'll need to navigate to that account's~/Library/Mail
folder.
Deleting the Mail
folder:
- Open the Terminal app: You can find Terminal in the Applications/Utilities folder, or use Spotlight to search for it.
- Navigate to the
~/Library/Mail
folder: Type the following command and press Enter:cd ~/Library/Mail
This will take you to the
~/Library/Mail
folder. - Delete the
Mail
folder: Type the following command and press Enter:rm -rf Mail
This will delete the entire
Mail
folder and all its contents.
Alternative method using the Finder:
- Open the Finder: You can find the Finder in the Dock or use Spotlight to search for it.
- Navigate to the
~/Library
folder: Go to the~/Library
folder by clicking on the Finder menu and selecting "Go" > "Library" (or use the keyboard shortcutCmd + Shift + L
). - Find the
Mail
folder: Look for theMail
folder inside the~/Library
folder. - Delete the
Mail
folder: Right-click (or control-click) on theMail
folder and select "Move to Trash" (or use the keyboard shortcutCmd + Delete
). - Empty the Trash: Go to the Finder menu and select "Empty Trash" (or use the keyboard shortcut
Cmd + Shift + Delete
) to permanently delete theMail
folder.
After deleting the Mail
folder:
- Restart your Mac: To ensure that the changes take effect, restart your Mac.
- Recreate your email accounts: You'll need to set up your email accounts again in the Mail app.
Remember that deleting the Mail
folder will remove all your email data, including messages, accounts, and settings. If you're unsure about deleting the folder, you can always back up your email data using the "Export Mailbox" feature before proceeding.