Why does mail keep crashing on mac

The frustration of Mail crashing on a Mac! There are several reasons why Mail might be crashing on your Mac. Here are some possible causes and solutions:

  1. Corrupted Mail database: The Mail database can become corrupted, causing the app to crash. Try rebuilding the database:
    • Go to ~/Library/Mail/V2/MailData (or ~/Library/Mail/V3/MailData for macOS High Sierra or later).
    • Move the Envelope Index and Envelope Index.lock files to a safe location.
    • Restart Mail.
  2. Outdated or corrupted plugins: Plugins can sometimes cause issues with Mail. Try disabling or removing any recently installed plugins:
    • Go to Mail > Preferences > Accounts > View > Show Develop Menu.
    • Click on Develop > Show Plug-ins.
    • Disable or remove any suspicious plugins.
  3. Conflicting apps or extensions: Other apps or extensions might be interfering with Mail. Try closing or disabling any recently installed apps or extensions:
    • Check the Activity Monitor app (in /Applications/Utilities) for any apps that might be causing issues.
    • Disable any recently installed extensions in System Preferences > Extensions.
  4. Outdated macOS or Mail: Ensure your macOS and Mail are up-to-date:
    • Check for macOS updates in System Preferences > Software Update.
    • Check for Mail updates in Mail > Help > Check for Updates.
  5. Corrupted preferences: Mail preferences can become corrupted, causing issues. Try resetting Mail preferences:
    • Go to ~/Library/Preferences and move the com.apple.mail.plist file to a safe location.
    • Restart Mail.
  6. Large or corrupted email attachments: Large or corrupted attachments can cause Mail to crash. Try deleting or moving large attachments:
    • Go to Mail > Preferences > Accounts > View > Show Junk Mail.
    • Delete any large or suspicious attachments.
  7. Third-party email clients: If you're using a third-party email client, try disabling it or switching to the built-in Mail app:
    • Check if you're using a third-party email client like Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird.
    • Try disabling or uninstalling the client.
  8. System resource issues: Mail might be experiencing system resource issues, such as low memory or CPU usage. Try closing other resource-intensive apps:
    • Check the Activity Monitor app for any apps that might be consuming excessive system resources.
    • Close any resource-intensive apps.
  9. Mailbox corruption: Mailbox corruption can cause Mail to crash. Try rebuilding the mailbox:
    • Go to Mail > Preferences > Accounts > View > Show Mailboxes.
    • Select the mailbox that's causing issues and click Rebuild.
  10. Resetting NSEvent: This is a more advanced troubleshooting step:
    • Restart your Mac.
    • Immediately hold down the Command (⌘) key and the Option key while booting up.
    • Release the keys when you hear the boot chime for the second time.
    • This will reset the NSEvent system, which can sometimes resolve Mail crashes.

If none of these solutions work, you may want to try reinstalling Mail or seeking further assistance from Apple Support or a Mac expert.