Mac Mail with a false unread message tag

[EternalNewbie]

I'm running Mac Mail on a 2014 Mac Air, everything up to date.

I've gone back to Mail since I found Spark unsatisfactory. Since I fired it up again, I have one of my four inboxes showing six unread messages. But there aren't any. I've sorted by unread; I've eyeballed the whole inbox; I even marked all emails unread, then read. Still I have that mystery 6 staring at me.

There's no badge showing unread mail on the dock icon. The other inboxes are all fine.

I found this on StackExchange, and tried it, too.



Didn't change anything. While I search for yet another mail app to love - help me fix this?

 

[IWT]

May I assume that you have completely Quit Mail, then re-opened it? That has worked for me on many occasions when a spurious number of unread emails has appeared.

Rebooting the Mac would have the same effect.

Ian

 

[pine man]

I had a similar issue to you and also the need to double click to launch Mail last March, which I posted here https://www.mac-forums.com/threads/mac-osx-mail-read-emails-showing-as-unread-when-launched.355428/ I also posted the issue on Apple Support but got no reponses that made any sense.

I never did resolve the issue but one of the suggestions was reinstallation. I was loathe to try that and moved to Spark but, like you, I got dissatisfied with it and I moved to Microsoft Outlook, as I already had a 365 subscription, where I have been ever since.

Interestingly, I occasionally run Mail and, although double clicking remains, there is no evidence of 'phantom' emails or incorrectly badged Folders any more.

 

[MacInWin]

Here is what I've done that worked: Open Mail, then Edit on the top bar, Select All, then right click in the mail window and click on Mark all Unread, then Mark all Read.

 

[ferrarr]

Maybe you could delete/remove each individual email account, until the discrepancy is resolved? Add them back in later.

 

[EternalNewbie]

You all are so generous with your help! Thank you.

Taking this in order:

Ian, yes, I've quit Mail and restarted it, with no change. I'll try the reboot!

Peter, I read your thread. Like you, I'm queasy at the thought of reinstallation, but I'll hold it out as a last resort. I could just live with that inaccurate number sitting there, but it's like an unscratched itch - can't do it. (Spark is a real disappointment, huh? I loved it at first, but then bumped into one thing after another that it won't do. Being able to increase the message-reading font size is so basic! And importing mail from your previous app. The strangest omissions!)

Hi Jake! Yes, I tried that. It's kind of buried in my original question, but I did do it to no avail.

Bob, I may do that. Reboot first, delete and reinstall the accounts if necessary.

What a weird little problem. If I were wired differently, I'd just live with it!

I'll report back.

 

[EternalNewbie]

Found it! Way down the sidebar on the right, there are folders for "recovered messages", one for each account. I gave a quick scan to the recovered mails for that account - most were marked as Junk - then selected and deleted them all 1,024 of them. Kazzam! The mysterious 6 disappeared.

Thanks again!

 

[pm-r]

What a weird little problem. If I were wired differently, I'd just live with it!

To possibly help with your Mail app and the tag not working properly, try deleting the icon from your Dock and then replace it by dragging your Mail.app from the applications folder to the Dock or just open Mail and see if it includes the tag.

EDIT:
OK, I'm glad to read you got your problem resolved and you were busy posting your success while I was typing. Well done.



- Patrick
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[EternalNewbie]

I spoke too soon. The mysterious 6 came back again! Patrick, I'll try your suggestion.

 

[pm-r]

I spoke too soon. The mysterious 6 came back again! Patrick, I'll try your suggestion.

Bummer!!! Maybe you need to go through all the mailboxes once again with a fine-tooth comb, and maybe there are some other hidden mailboxes lurking somehow somewhere.

Another thought that just struck my old brain here for the problem, and that's to Rebuild all the mailboxes.
It may just fix things. Here's hoping.


- Patrick
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