How Do I Free Up Storage Space on Apple Mail in Mac OS?

 If you’re running out of space in your inbox, this guide will show you practical tips to free up storage space on Apple Mail in Mac and keep your email account running smoothly.

Many Mac users rely on Apple Mail, the default email app on macOS, for everyday communication. Over time, as emails pile up especially those with large attachments like videos, images, and hefty documents they begin to eat into your Mac’s storage. Since these attachments are often downloaded automatically, they can quietly accumulate and take up significant disk space. That’s why it’s important to regularly review your inbox and either delete emails you no longer need or move them to an external drive to help free up storage space on Apple Mail in Mac.

How to Check How Much Storage Apple Mail Is Using on Your Mac?

Before you start clearing out space, it’s helpful to see how much storage Apple Mail is actually using on your Mac. Here’s how you can check:

• Click the Apple Menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select About This Mac.
• Go to the Storage tab.
• Click the Manage button next to your storage drive. A new window will open.
• In the sidebar, find and click on Mail.
• You’ll now see how much space is being taken up by the Mail app and its data.

How to Free Up Storage Space on Apple Mail in Mac OS?

If your Mail app is using too much disk space, there are several simple and effective ways to clear out unnecessary data. Below are some proven methods to help free up storage space on Apple Mail in Mac.

1. Remove Email Attachments to Save Space

Email attachments, especially large files like images, videos, and PDFs often take up the bulk of Mail’s storage. Since attachments are saved locally by default, deleting them can free up a significant amount of space.

• Hit the Apple Menu and pick About This Mac.
• Go to the Storage tab and click Manage.
• From the sidebar, select Mail.
• Choose Attachments, then click the Delete button.

2. Move Emails to Other Mailboxes

Transferring old or archived emails to another mailbox can help reduce the size of your primary mailbox.

• Open the Mail app and select the messages you want to move.
• Drag them to a different mailbox listed in the sidebar or Favorites bar.
• Alternatively, tick the Move To button and pick a mailbox destination.

3. Save Attachments Locally, Then Remove Them from Mail

You can manually save important attachments to your Mac and then delete them from Mail to free up space without losing important files.

• Open the Mail app.
• Click View > Sort by > Attachments to filter emails that have attachments.
• Open an email, click the Message menu, and select Remove Attachments.
• Repeat for other messages as needed.

4. Delete Attachments Directly Using Finder

If you want more control over what gets deleted, you can manually locate and remove attachment files using Finder.

• Open Finder.
• Click Go in the menu bar, then select Library (hold the Option key if you don’t see it).
• Navigate to the Mail folder.
• Open the folder labeled V (followed by a number, e.g., “V10” or “V9”).
• In the search bar, type attachment.
• Select the attachment files or folders you want to delete.
• Right-click and choose Move to Trash.

Freeing Up Apple Mail Storage or Moving to Another Email Client? Here’s What to Know

Apple Mail (or simply “Mail”) is the default email application on macOS. Thanks to its clean interface and ease of use, many Mac users prefer it for managing their emails. However, since Apple Mail stores emails, attachments, and metadata directly on your Mac’s local drive, it can consume a large amount of storage over time. To keep your Mac running smoothly, it’s important to regularly free up storage space using the methods we discussed above.

But what if you’re planning to switch from Apple Mail to another email client, like Microsoft Outlook?

In that case, you’ll need to convert your Mail data into a compatible format. This is where a professional tool like MacMister Apple Mail Converter for Mac comes in handy. It’s a powerful utility designed to export Apple Mail data into PST and other formats (PDF, EML, MSG, MBOX, Thunderbird, ICS, CSV, IMAP, Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) with 100% accuracy.

Highlighted Features of Mac Apple Mail Converter:

• Export emails into PST, MSG, HTML, PDF, EML, Office 365, and more.
• Convert multiple mailboxes at once to save time & effort.
• Maintains folder structure, email formatting, metadata, and attachments.
• Built-in email viewer lets you preview emails before conversion.
• User-friendly for both novices and advanced users.
• No data loss or corruption throughout the migration task.

Whether you’re running out of space or planning a switch to Outlook, Mac Mail Converter makes the conversion quick and stress-free. It’s a perfect and powerful solution for managing and migrating your Apple Mail mailbox data efficiently.