Mail Won't Open

[Ellen]

All of a sudden my Mail app is not working properly. When I click on the dock icon (or the app in the Application folder), I see the top menu bar but no windows open or will open. I have force quit and rebooted several times. I tried to rebuild the .plist file and rebooted my laptop but that is not working. So right now I have an open app with a blank desktop. If you could help me I would appreciate it very much.

 

[Ellen]

I also reinstalled Big Sur using Internet Recovery and that did not fix the issue.

Then I tried opening Mail with the Shift key held down and it opened. I wonder what happened.

 

[NigelA]

This could be because you are running with a large number of mail windows open. Hold on keypad to see window, all open mail windows will show at the top, click on 'show all windows'. They will appear along the bottom. Open each one by clicking on it and then close it by clicking on top left close cross. Close them all and then try opening the mail icon. Boom!

 

[AlteMac]

Go to the Mail menubar. Hold Option while you click on "Mail" and then select "Quit and Close all Windows". If that doesn't work, also Force Quit Mail. This problem seems to reoccur so be prepared to go through the routine frequently.

 

[NigelA]

Quit and Close all Windows does not appear to be an option for me. If I 'Quit' and remove mail from the task bar/reinsert from applications it is resolved but, as you say it is only temporary until you have more than 1 mail window open

 

[AlteMac]

Make sure you are holding Option while clicking on "Mail" The menu for exit and close all windows should appear.

This started in Catalina and seems to be machine specific. It happens on 2 2013 MacPros but not on a 2020 MBA. Also no issues on my wife's 2015 iMac.

I think it has something to do with the mail "saved state" as as long as mail is open I have no issues. If I close it, however, I will frequently have to go through the routine of closing all windows and/or force quitting to get it to work.

 

[svenmany]

Make sure you are holding Option while clicking on "Mail" The menu for exit and close all windows should appear.

I don't see that menu item even with option key held down. I'm running Big Sur 11.4.

 

[AlteMac]

When I try to open Mail, it appears in th menu bar as open but no window ever opens. Pressing and holding option, and clicking on "Mail" in the menubar gives the entry Quit and Close all Windows at the bottom of the menu.