How to Fix the “Apple Mail Not Working” Issue in a Few Minutes?

admin | Apple Apple Mail macOS software technology | 4 minutes read | Modified on: 03-07-2025

Having trouble with Apple Mail? If you’re unable to send or receive emails, you’re not alone. This issue can pop up for a number of reasons, ranging from incorrect settings to connectivity problems. The good news is, there are simple steps you can take to get Apple Mail back up and running. In this write-up, we’ll walk you through some easy fixes to help resolve the “Apple Mail Not Working” problem.

There may be times when Apple Mail (also known as Mac Mail) becomes unresponsive, leaving you unable to send or receive emails. This frustrating issue can stem from several causes such as a weak or missing internet connection, outdated macOS or Mail app, corrupted data files, or even a temporary Apple server outage. No matter the reason, getting things back to normal quickly is a priority. In this guide, we’ll walk you through some simple and effective ways to troubleshoot and solve Apple Mail when it stops working or responding.

Apple Mail Not Working? Here’s How to Get It Working Again

Before diving into detailed fixes, it’s worth restarting your Mac. A simple reboot can clear temporary glitches by removing cached data and refreshing system processes. If that doesn’t solve the issue, try the following methods to get Apple Mail working again:

# Method 1: Check Your Internet Connection

A poor or unstable internet connection is one of the most common reasons Apple Mail may stop sending or receiving emails. To verify if your connection is active, try opening a website in your browser or use an internet speed testing site like Speedtest.net.

If your connection seems slow or unresponsive, restart your Wi-Fi router. If the issue persists, contact your internet service provider for further help.

# Method 2: Force Quit the Mail App

If Apple Mail has frozen or stopped responding, force quitting the app might fix the problem. Here’s how:

Click Option + Command + Escape to open the Force Quit menu.
Select Mail, then click Force Quit.
Reopen the Mail app and check if it’s working normally again.

# Method 3: Close Background Apps and Restart Your Mac

Too many open applications can drain system resources and interfere with Mail’s performance—especially if any of them are buggy or consuming a lot of memory. To prevent this:

Quit all unnecessary apps running in the background.
Once closed, restart your Mac to refresh the system.
Launch Apple Mail again to see if the issue is resolved.

# Method 4: Disable and Re-Enable Your Email Account

If Apple Mail still isn’t working, a corrupted or misconfigured email account might be the cause. Disabling your accounts temporarily can help you isolate the issue—especially if you have multiple accounts set up in Mail.

Follow these steps to disable your email accounts:

Click the Apple menu and go to System Preferences (or System Settings on newer macOS versions).
Select Internet Accounts.
In the sidebar, choose each email account one by one and uncheck the “Mail” option to disable Mail access for that account.
Once all accounts are disabled, relaunch the Mail app and check if it behaves normally.

If Mail starts working again, you can re-enable your accounts one at a time to identify which one might be causing the problem.

Important Tip: If disabling doesn’t help, try removing the problematic account entirely, then add it back using the correct credentials and server settings.

# Method 5: Update Mac to the Up-to-date Edition

Keeping your macOS up to date is essential for ensuring that apps like Apple Mail run smoothly. If your system is missing recent updates, it could lead to compatibility issues or performance glitches in Mail.

Here’s how to check for and install the latest macOS updates:
Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences (or System Settings on newer versions).
Choose Software Update.
If an update is available, hit Update Now or Upgrade Now to install it.

Once your Mac is updated, restart the device and open Apple Mail to see if the issue is resolved.

Still Having Trouble? Consider Switching to a Different Email Client

If Apple Mail continues to give you problems despite all troubleshooting efforts, it might be time to consider an alternative email client like Microsoft Outlook.

If you decide to make the switch, you’ll need to move your emails and other data items from Apple Mail to Outlook. The MacMister Apple Mail Converter for Mac Tool helps you to export multiple emails from Apple Mail to Gmail, Office 365, IMAP, Thunderbird, Outlook.com, MBOX, CSV, PDF, EML, HTML, and more options at once without missing any data.

The tool keeps email structure, metadata, and folder hierarchy throughout the conversion process, guaranteeing that no data is lost, changed or corrupted. It’s user-friendly, doesn’t require any technical expertise, and supports batch conversion for saving time.

Mac Apple Mail Migrator also offers a free demo version that permits you to test the software before purchasing. The demo lets you convert up to 25 items per folder, so you can evaluate its performance and features without any commitment. It’s a great way to see how well the utility works before opting for the full edition.