955      iPhone_iPad_Mac_apple

Mail not launching after Sierra update

I updated to macOS Sierra 10.12.3 and not Mail is not launching. When clicked the "configuration" window that usually comes up after an update pops up and then it crashes and displays an error message (in which code is also shown.) I've tried launching the programme from a guest account and it works. I've tried launching it in safe mode and Mail didn't work. I also tried to disable all email accounts before trying to launch mail and that didn't work either.

Possible Fixes for El Capitan and Later Installations

You should try each, one at a time, then test to see if the problem is fixed before going on to the next.

     Be sure to backup your files before proceeding if possible.

1. Resetting your Mac’s PRAM and NVRAM
2. Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
3. Start the computer in Safe Mode, then restart normally. This is slower than a standard startup.
4. Repair the disk by booting the from the Recovery HD. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Utility Menu appears. Choose Disk Utility and click on the Continue button. Select the indented (usually, Macintosh HD) volume entry from the side list.  Click on the First Aid button in the toolbar. Wait for the Done button to appear. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu. Restart the computer from the Apple Menu.
5. Create a New User Account Open Users & Groups preferences. Click on the lock icon and enter your Admin password when prompted. On the left under Current User click on the Add [+] button below Login Options. Setup a new Admin user account. Upon completion log out of your current account then log into the new account. If your problems cease, then consider switching to the new account and transferring your files to it - Transferring files from one User Account to another.
6. Install Combo Updater Download macOS Sierra 10.12.3 Combo Update and install.
7. Reinstall OS X by booting from the Recovery HD using the Command and R keys. When the Utility Menu appears select Reinstall OS X then click on the Continue button.
8. Erase and Install OS X Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:

1. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on Continue button.
2. When Disk Utility loads select the drive (out-dented entry) from the Device list.
3. Click on the Erase icon in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.
4. Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
5. Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
6. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
7. Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.

How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac - Apple Support

try to make a test user

if you have same issues  reinstall macOS Sierra  macOS Sierra: Reinstall macOS

if it does work in  test  user though then its user specific issue and best  to  call apple care  1-800-275-2273

oh you beat me to it

If Mail quits immediately upon launching it the following instructions may be applicable: If Mail unexpectedly quits when viewing certain messages - Apple Support.

If Mail then launches successfully, do not select any messages. It might be crashing when attempting to read a malformed email message. Instead, rebuild that Mailbox, or all Mailboxes, according to the following: Mail for Mac: Rebuild mailboxes.

Hi Kappy,

Thanks for the help! I've tried steps 1-7 in order and I will try the full erase-and-reinstall one tomorrow. I've one question, though: is there a possibility that the downloaded "copy" of Sierra that's already on the computer is damaged? Could that be while Mail fails to update and crashes? If so, is there any way to re-download the entire OS? Could that happen?

Thanks, again!

Hello John! Thanks for the help. I'm afraid I tried that one option and it didn't quite work.

When Mail crashes with the "unexpectedly quit" message, copy the entire text of the crash report. Send it to Apple, but also paste the text of that crash report in a reply to this Discussion. It may or may not yield any actionable information.

If you see any information in that report that you consider personal, please delete or obscure it before posting your reply.

Do a backup, preferably 2 on 2 separate drives.

Quit Mail.

Go to Finder and select your user/home folder. With that Finder window as the front window, either select Finder/View/Show View options or go command - J.  When the View options opens, check ’Show Library Folder’. That should make your user library folder visible in your user/home folder. Go to Library/Containers/com.apple.mail.  Move the folder com.apple.mail to your desktop. You must move the entire folder, not just the contents.

Restart, re-launch Mail and test. If the problem is solved, recreate any required Mail settings and import any emails you want to save from the folder on the desktop. You can then put the folder in the Trash. If the problem remains, return the folder to where you got it replacing the one that is there. 

If that doesn’t solve it repeat the above using Containers/com.apple.MailServiceAgent.

Information learned from Linc Davis. Thanks to leonie for some information contained in this.

Mail crashing

Crashes/quits unexpectedly

I had the exact same problem only my Mac came with Sierra as part of a new BTO.

Found this fix. Worked perfect. Mailboxes and accounts automatically rebuilt in moments. Been running for 3 days problem free!!

I entered each of these three commands INDIVIDUALLY in Terminal using copy/paste (don't know if you can copy/paste all three at once)

cd ~/Library/Mail/V2/MailData

rm -rf Envelope\ Index*

rm -rf ExternalUpdates.storedata*

Below is the full article and the web addy if you want to check for yourself. I SPENT HOURS in these Apple resource pages and nothing worked ...and NONE had this solution.

Good luck ..hope I save some others some time. xoxo

https://rick.cogley.info/post/fix-apple-osx-mail-crash-and-hang/

How to Fix a Hung or Crashed Mail.app

Screenshot: OS X Lion Mail Import

I’ve found that deleting Mail.app’s “envelope” index seems to alleviate crashing or hanging.

I suspect what happens is, a malformed email message is received, and Mail.app hangs on processing that. I’ve found that one can delete recent messages one by one, sometimes, and this fixes the problem. But other times, just selecting the faulty message will cause a crash, so you need to take measures to fix that.

To delete your “envelope” index: first, shut down Mail.app, using Force Quit if needed. Then, at the Terminal: