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How can I get the Mail App to run in the background at startup?

P

Pepper Pot

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 15, 2009
86
2
i know I can choose to open at startup but I don't want it to do that because I find it annoying lol..

is there a way to just make it run in the background at startup because emails don't come through until I actually run it and close it.

thanks.
 
miles01110 said:
Sorry, but in order to get new e-mails you have to have the Mail client open.
Click to expand...

I don't, If I run the Mail client and then close it again it stays running in the background (not open), but I was wondering if there was a way to make it run automatically at startup in the background instead of having to run it and close it again because sometimes I forget to do this and I miss emails.

thanks.
 
Pepper Pot said:
I don't, If I run the Mail client and then close it again it stays running in the background (not open),
Click to expand...

This isn't really the correct way to think about it. All you did was open Mail and then close the viewing window. It's still open.

but I was wondering if there was a way to make it run automatically at startup in the background instead of having to run it and close it again because sometimes I forget to do this and I miss emails.
Click to expand...

There's no way I've ever come across to open a program without opening its window on startup.
 
You can also add Mail to start up on log in. Then set it to hide so when it opens, the Mail window will not open automatically until you click on the icon.

This way mail will open when you log in and you get all of your messages without it bothering you.

Here is a pic of what mine is set to:

Screenshot2010-06-20at91814AM.png
 
emiljan said:
You can also add Mail to start up on log in. Then set it to hide so when it opens, the Mail window will not open automatically until you click on the icon.

This way mail will open when you log in and you get all of your messages without it bothering you.

Here is a pic of what mine is set to:

Screenshot2010-06-20at91814AM.png
Click to expand...

thankyouuu that is exactly what I was looking for:D
 
miles01110 said:
This isn't really the correct way to think about it. All you did was open Mail and then close the viewing window. It's still open.
Click to expand...

which in other words is "running... in the background" like I said.
it is not open, otherwise I would be able to see it.
 
Pepper Pot said:
which in other words is "running... in the background" like I said.
it is not open, otherwise I would be able to see it.
Click to expand...

It's not running in the background, the main window is just hidden, something you can do with CMD+H on almost every Mac OS X application.

It's nice to see, that the Hide Mail at Startup feature has been solved, as I remember from my AI days, it was not working correctly.
 
Pepper Pot said:
which in other words is "running... in the background" like I said.
it is not open, otherwise I would be able to see it.
Click to expand...

There's a difference between running "in the background" and just being hidden. An example of something running in the background would be "iTunes Helper" or "Apple Mobile Device Helper" (or any one of the many UI-less processes that you can see by opening Activity Monitor). Hidden just means the application's window isn't immediately visible. That's what you've achieved by selecting the checkbox in the login items pane.
 
Pepper Pot said:
Lmao I love how you are all getting bothered about a little thing like this:)
Click to expand...

We're actually all just trying to help you understand the difference between "hidden" and "backgrounded". Did you not get your problem solved?? You indicated that you did, so that should be the end of the matter. If you don't like the level of community-based service that you're getting at macrumors.com, or the type of people that participate, there are a number of other support forums available to you.
 
brijazz said:
We're actually all just trying to help you understand the difference between "hidden" and "backgrounded". Did you not get your problem solved?? You indicated that you did, so that should be the end of the matter. If you don't like the level of community-based service that you're getting at macrumors.com, or the type of people that participate, there are a number of other support forums available to you.
Click to expand...

Well of course I understand the difference I'm not stupid, it's just that I don't like people just posting to pick at my wording in my original post, and it was worth a shot arguing my point.
I also don't like people sarcasticly replying, there's no need.

Yes I got my answer, and I said thankyou to them.

PS- the poster who solved my question knew exactly what I meant, without being picky and point proving.
 
Pepper Pot said:
Well of course I understand the difference I'm not stupid
Click to expand...

I'm not trying to fan the flames here, but you previously stated:

Pepper Pot said:
"which in other words is "running... in the background" like I said.
it is not open, otherwise I would be able to see it."
Click to expand...

This statement shows a fundamental lack of understanding of the concepts of backgrounded vs. hidden, and forum members are just trying to clarify things before you. We are a helpful bunch who want you to understand the difference. Besides, if you're such a bloody expert, you'd know about the "hide" checkbox in the login items pane, it's Mac 102. Anyways, I'm done here.
 
Pepper Pot said:
Well of course I understand the difference I'm not stupid, it's just that I don't like people just posting to pick at my wording in my original post, and it was worth a shot arguing my point.
Click to expand...

Clearly you don't understand the difference, and while it doesn't particularly make a huge difference in this case, there are numerous cases when this would be a critical point. Proper terminology is usually a requirement to asking a technical question in order to get a quick resolution.

And in the larger picture, you are not the only person who will read this thread. Perhaps someone in the future will find it enlightening that their definition of "in the background" differs from the correct definition.

Pepper Pot said:
PS- the poster who solved my question knew exactly what I meant, without being picky and point proving.
Click to expand...

Give a man a fish and feed him for a day; give a man a fishing pole and feed him for life.
 
brijazz said:
I'm not trying to fan the flames here, but you previously stated:



This statement shows a fundamental lack of understanding of the concepts of backgrounded vs. hidden, and forum members are just trying to clarify things before you. We are a helpful bunch who want you to understand the difference. Besides, if you're such a bloody expert, you'd know about the "hide" checkbox in the login items pane, it's Mac 102. Anyways, I'm done here.
Click to expand...

Forum members really love to argue don't they:)
 
miles01110 said:
Clearly you don't understand the difference, and while it doesn't particularly make a huge difference in this case, there are numerous cases when this would be a critical point. Proper terminology is usually a requirement to asking a technical question in order to get a quick resolution.

And in the larger picture, you are not the only person who will read this thread. Perhaps someone in the future will find it enlightening that their definition of "in the background" differs from the correct definition.



Give a man a fish and feed him for a day; give a man a fishing pole and feed him for life.
Click to expand...
Okokok I completely understand where you're coming from, lets just leave it there now please then.

GGJstudios said:
Actually, I see several members trying to clarify information, so readers of this thread won't be mislead by misinformation. I only see one poster who's arguing. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I just don't like being proved wrong:( but I have been lol
so lets just leave it there.
 
Pepper Pot said:
I just don't like being proved wrong:( but I have been lol
so lets just leave it there.
Click to expand...

Nothing bad about being proven wrong. That just means you learned something. Happens to all of us. The healthy response is, "Thanks! Ya learn something new every day!"
 
Any solution to run Mail.app in the background?

Any solution to run Mail.app in the background (instead of just hidden) so that I can get new mail notifications with growl. I installed the growl mail plugin and would love to see just the growl notifications and have mail behave like it is closed so when I do the alt+tab thing, I don't see Mail.app.
 
lawlist said:
Any solution to run Mail.app in the background (instead of just hidden) so that I can get new mail notifications with growl. I installed the growl mail plugin and would love to see just the growl notifications and have mail behave like it is closed so when I do the alt+tab thing, I don't see Mail.app.
Click to expand...
No, Mail won't get new mail unless the app is running. There's no way to change that.
 
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