Feel like it forces one to use the menu bar more than in the past...switching the filter between unread messages and flagged messages...sorting email by date/sender/etc...am I missing something? Even within the mail app, you used to be able to customize the toolbar to switch between different inboxes...that seems to be gone, too.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
anyone else think Big Sur mail sucks?
- Thread starter adr1974
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Terrible. There is nothing to like with this bat-**** version upgrade, in terms of how it looks.
It sucks, now has more background processes than microgarbage windoze, its laggy imessage doesn't work properly its just bloated trash
Don’t hold back, guys. Let it all out. It is therapeutic for you. 
😂Don’t hold back, guys. Let it all out. It is therapeutic for you.
This really cracked me up! Thanks for the laugh this morning!Don’t hold back, guys. Let it all out. It is therapeutic for you.
Definitely worse from a user interface point of view. Some things that were very efficient in the prior version are either now poorly located or require extra clicks to accomplish. BTW, this seems to be the case across other parts of Big Sur as well. It's like they fired the Human Interface Guidelines folks and hired people from Microsoft. ARGHH!
For example, the trash/reply/move icons used to be on top of the sorted list of emails. You would quickly select from mails in that list, and pop to the top to delete, forward, reply, move, etc. Now those icons are located above the email window. And the same icons are located in the individual email window as a pop up as well. Counter-intuitive, since it suggests that the icon commands are for the individual email below, but in fact it is for whatever is selected in the sorted list of emails. And, it takes a greater mouse motion across the screen to move from a selected email to the icons. Who designed this ****?
Honestly, I’ve never used the stock mail app. On my mobile devices, I use Outlook and GMail apps for their respective accounts. In macOS, I use Outlook for both accounts.
Are there any benefits to using the stock mail app? I just keep seeing issues posted about it for the past 2 years.
Genuinely curious.
Are there any benefits to using the stock mail app? I just keep seeing issues posted about it for the past 2 years.
Genuinely curious.
Well, the 'new' Outlook no longer works with iCloud accounts. Last year, Outlook didn't work with Gmail - that got fixed last fall, but then the iCloud issue. And you can't adjust the toolbar icons in new Outlook, either. Step forward, two steps back.
Mac Mail has been the least painful of those I've tried - and I've tried a few. I don't want threading, curating or any other similar feature. I'm really not sure why they've decided to bugger with the layout of icons in Big Sur, while still leaving little niggly items alone - like you put unwanted mail in 'Trash', yet right-click offers 'Erase Deleted Items', rather than the more logical 'Empty Trash'.
Its a conundrum. Mail ain't sexy - I suspect they give it to an intern to play with, while they play with sexier things, like another way to change the icons...
I use the stock mail app as it's the only "free" private option. Switched from gmail to icloud email about 2 years ago.
Don't use Outlook for separation of work email and personal email.
I think Outlook is one of the worst Email clients ever, I do not understand why someone is using this voluntary. That mails can not be quoted correctly when replying is reason enough to not use it and in German there is the wrang translation of "Re" to "AW", which sometimes makes for long "Re Aw Re..." sequences...
Regarding GMail: I will never ever give Google access to my emails!
As Thunderbird has an even worse interface, for me the Apple mail client is the way to go.
Sorry but I love Big Sur, it seems faster on my machine, everything seems to be working fine
Is anyone getting a second sound when mail arrives? I'm getting the regular sound and then a "clunk" sound a second later. Is it just me?
EDIT (after certain issues were resolved):
My MacBook Air ARM was just delivered - I set it up using iCloud BUT, here are my current issues:
MAIL:
iCloud mail keeps stating server has timed out
Gmail (in Mail) keeps stating server has timed out
The above resolved after about an hour and all mail was downloaded
In Mail, there are no universal Junk, Trash and Archive folders, each one is separate
The above was resolved as I had to add those universal mailboxes as "Favorites" by clicking the "+" sign and adding each separately
MUSIC:
None of my songs have synced from iCloud
This is only partially resolved -- Apple support could not figure it out and while I was waiting to be transferred to someone else in the support chain, I saw a setting on my MP 7,1 for Music to Sync libraries -- so, I clicked this and all the iCloud music showed up on my MBA -- however, once I did this, I was forced to download all the iCloud songs onto my MP 7,1 Ughhhhh
DESKTOP/DOCUMENTS:
No thumbnail preview
None of the items will open
The above resolved after about an hour once iCloud finished syncing
My MacBook Air ARM was just delivered - I set it up using iCloud BUT, here are my current issues:
MAIL:
Gmail (in Mail) keeps stating server has timed out
The above resolved after about an hour and all mail was downloaded
The above was resolved as I had to add those universal mailboxes as "Favorites" by clicking the "+" sign and adding each separately
MUSIC:
This is only partially resolved -- Apple support could not figure it out and while I was waiting to be transferred to someone else in the support chain, I saw a setting on my MP 7,1 for Music to Sync libraries -- so, I clicked this and all the iCloud music showed up on my MBA -- however, once I did this, I was forced to download all the iCloud songs onto my MP 7,1 Ughhhhh
DESKTOP/DOCUMENTS:
None of the items will open
The above resolved after about an hour once iCloud finished syncing
Last edited:
Mail, like the rest of this mess, is a Big Suck.
My first thought was 'yuck' but then found that appearance and functionality could be restored with a bit of patience and the upshot is Mail also works faster on my previously struggling 2014 Mac Mini😊 The main downside is that hundreds of deleted emails have appeared in one of my account's inbox! I have no idea how Mail managed that as they were deleted on the server as well as on the computer. Any ideas how to get rid of them without going into Time Machine or re-deleting individually?
As mentioned elsewhere I"m really missing the "click to got to top" of the list of messages. Cmd-Home just doesn't cut it as an alternative. Painful!
Because if so that can be brought back: View > Show Favourites Bar (I think I accidentally hid it by mangling the keyboard shortcut when I was doing something else).
Just in case you're talking about the same issue I just came across & you mean this row of mailboxes across the top...?
Because if so that can be brought back: View > Show Favourites Bar (I think I accidentally hid it by mangling the keyboard shortcut when I was doing something else).
I use Gmail has my main e-mail client, so I have little use for the stock Apple mail client. That said, I do use my iCloud accounts for general online things—such as addresses for forums—that I don't want going to my regular e-mail account. The one thing I definitely don't like is the removal of "junk mail" from the side bar where it was easy to delete the junk. Now I have to hunt for it in the menu bar each time.
I did at first but once I got the toolbar laid out the way I like it's fine. Also got rid of all the Favorites except Flagged I liked it even better. Didn't like 2 Inboxes & multiple folders visible. If I could find a way to moved the Flagged folder down to iCloud it would be perfect. I use the Flagged folder for things I've ordered until they are received.
I'm not getting any sounds or unread numbers in the dock icon.
This is an old bug that Apple is ignoring.
Anyone else not receiving notifications o… - Apple Community
Why is there a delay between mail notific… - Apple Community
I don't mind it, having gotten used to it over the betas, although are two things I'm not keen on compared to the Catalina version.
First, like most of Big Sur, they waste space. The folder list in the sidebar has so much space between each line. Second, and more irritatingly, when you activate the universal mailboxes (adding Inbox, Sent, Trash etc as Favourites) they stay showing under the individual accounts.
First, like most of Big Sur, they waste space. The folder list in the sidebar has so much space between each line. Second, and more irritatingly, when you activate the universal mailboxes (adding Inbox, Sent, Trash etc as Favourites) they stay showing under the individual accounts.
macOS Big Sur Features: Everything New in Today's Release
I thought I was going crazy... but my (Catalina) install pings like 10 minutes after I have already READ an email.. At first it was "What is that ping......then I realized it was delayed... APPLE where is QA?"
forums.macrumors.com
That's what I was talking about...
macOS Big Sur Features: Everything New in Today's Release
Thanks for that. I was interested in what many here considered a minor bug not worth even thinking about, that apparently Apple has known about for several years, ie: delayed notification of new mail. Sometimes no notification, sounds, banners, nothing while Mail is hidden until un-hiding it...
forums.macrumors.com