Mail.app pops up from running in the background

[cronn]

This is a weird bug that’s been with me for several major macOS versions now and I still get it on Mojave.

I like to keep Mail running windowless, for the badge notification when new mail comes in. Some years ago the main window started appearing by itself and stealing focus as if someone clicked the dock icon. Doesn’t matter if I’m using the Mac or if it’s sitting idle. It might happen a couple times per day or sometimes once a week.

When it happens, I can see a “connection error” message flash by in the status bar under the search box in the top right corner. I’ve tried looking at the logs but I can’t find anything that stands out. I’ve reinstalled and even changed computers, the bug still remains.

I’m managing three gmails and a vanilla IMAP in the app. I have the same accounts set up on an iPhone and an iPad as well, with no issues.

I’ve asked this on other forums and been met with dead silence. It seems nobody has experienced this bug except me.

And yes, I know there are other mail clients out there but I actually really like Mail and would like to continue using it.

 

[getrealbro]

This is a weird bug that’s been with me for several major macOS versions now and I still get it on Mojave.

I like to keep Mail running windowless, for the badge notification when new mail comes in. Some years ago the main window started appearing by itself and stealing focus as if someone clicked the dock icon. Doesn’t matter if I’m using the Mac or if it’s sitting idle. It might happen a couple times per day or sometimes once a week.

When it happens, I can see a “connection error” message flash by in the status bar under the search box in the top right corner. I’ve tried looking at the logs but I can’t find anything that stands out. I’ve reinstalled and even changed computers, the bug still remains.

I’m managing three gmails and a vanilla IMAP in the app. I have the same accounts set up on an iPhone and an iPad as well, with no issues.

I’ve asked this on other forums and been met with dead silence. It seems nobody has experienced this bug except me.

And yes, I know there are other mail clients out there but I actually really like Mail and would like to continue using it.

I suspect you aren’t getting responses because most folks consider this a “feature” rather than a ‘bug”. And I don’t think this is a “bug” either — just poor software design. IMHO there should be an option that would stop the Mail.app from spontaneously opening its main window and stealing focus. But I haven’t found it.

FWIW I finally resorted to keeping the Mail.app’s main window open on a second monitor that I use for various system/network monitors e.g. Peak Hour 4, Activity Monitor, etc.. Luckily the Mail.app does remember the window location of the last email opened. So when I open an email, it appears on my main monitor. Small mercies.