How to disable partial download of attachments apple mail

A common issue!

By default, Apple Mail allows partial downloads of attachments to speed up the download process. However, this can sometimes lead to incomplete or corrupted attachments. Here's how to disable partial downloads of attachments in Apple Mail:

Method 1: Disable partial downloads for a specific account

  1. Open Apple Mail and select the account for which you want to disable partial downloads.
  2. Click on "Mail" in the top menu bar and select "Preferences" (or press Cmd +,).
  3. In the Preferences window, click on the "Accounts" tab.
  4. Select the account you want to modify and click on the "Advanced" tab.
  5. Uncheck the box next to "Download attachments in the background" and "Download large attachments in the background".
  6. Click "OK" to save the changes.

Method 2: Disable partial downloads for all accounts

  1. Open Apple Mail and click on "Mail" in the top menu bar and select "Preferences" (or press Cmd +,).
  2. In the Preferences window, click on the "General" tab.
  3. Uncheck the box next to "Download attachments in the background" and "Download large attachments in the background".
  4. Click "OK" to save the changes.

Method 3: Disable partial downloads using a Terminal command

  1. Open the Terminal app on your Mac.
  2. Type the following command and press Enter: defaults write com.apple.mail DisableBackgroundDownloads -bool true
  3. Restart Apple Mail to apply the changes.

By disabling partial downloads, you'll ensure that attachments are downloaded completely before they're available in your email inbox. However, keep in mind that this may slow down the download process and increase the time it takes to receive your emails.