Is It Possible To Have 2 Mac Mail Apps

[nickm11]

I would like to be able to have two separate versions of the Mac Mail app on my computer.

I use mac Mail for my personal email, but I have to use a separate email client for my charitable work. I'm not real crazy about any of the other email clients (I miss the old Eudora client) and would like to use a totally separate version of Mac Mail for my charitable work. Is that possible to have to versions running at the same time on my Mac?

 

[Basic75]

If you want full separation, would it be acceptable to use a separate user account for your charitable work?

 

[velocityg4]

If you need it totally separate for whatever reason. You can run a macOS virtual machine then run Mail inside that. Just note the VM will eat up RAM and CPU resources. As you are running another instance of macOS by running a VM.

 

[Fishrrman]

I'm thinking that "a second account" would be the way to go here.

The Mail.app itself would still be the same.
But...
All the saved files/preferences/etc. would be "separated" (into two separate accounts).

If you need more "separation" than that, perhaps the best course of action is to get a separate MAC for the charity work...

 

[nickm11]

Interesting answers, but none are what I'm looking for. I already have two accounts on the app, but I want total separation.

Thanx

 

[chrfr]

Interesting answers, but none are what I'm looking for. I already have two accounts on the app, but I want total separation.

Thanx

The Mail app will use the same databases and settings even if you have two copies of the app itself, so this won't work to do what you want.

 

[appltech]

In case of total-total separation, as a choice you may install 2nd macOS (older or recent one) on your Mac.
Accounts, apps, etc.

Use more than one version of macOS on Mac - Apple Support

If you install a compatible macOS on an additional internal or external storage volume, your Mac can start up from either volume.

support.apple.com

 

[chown33]

Interesting answers, but none are what I'm looking for. I already have two accounts on the app, but I want total separation.

Thanx

He's talking about making a separate Mac user account.

Add a user or group on Mac

On your Mac, add accounts for users and groups.

support.apple.com

 

[nickm11]

I understand, but then I have to log out and in to use it. I just want to be able to start up a second app.

 

[chown33]

See here about switching between user accounts:

Switch quickly between users on Mac

If your Mac has multiple users, turn on fast user switching to quickly switch between accounts.

support.apple.com

Most apps, and this includes Apple's Mail.app, maintain a single set of settings for each user account. Duplicating the app will not produce a new set of settings, because the settings aren't stored in the app. The settings are typically stored in the ~/Library folder of the user account. Exactly where under that directory depends on the app, and it may evolve with different versions of the app.

If you want to just start a second app, then you'll need to use an app other than Apple's Mail.app, and that app must not use the same stored settings as Apple's Mail.app.