The Mail app comes pre-installed on all Mac computers and cannot be completely deleted. However, there are some reasons why you may want to uninstall Mail:
- It takes up storage space on your Mac, especially if you have a lot of email stored locally
- You use another email client like Outlook or Gmail and don’t need Mail
- You want to reset Mail to troubleshoot issues or freezing
- You want to remove email accounts from Mail
Table of Contents
How to Clear Storage Space Used by Mail
While the Mail app itself is only around 20-30 MB, the emails stored locally can take up significant storage space. Here’s how to clear that out:
Use the Clean Mailbox Feature
Mail has a built-in feature to clean up space. Go to Mailbox > Clean Up Mailbox to remove attachments and older messages.
Remove Email Accounts
Deleting accounts removes all associated emails. Go to Mail > Preferences > Accounts and delete accounts.
Clear Cached Data
- Press Shift-Command-G to open the Go to Folder dialog
- Enter ~/Library/Containers
- Search for Mail folders and delete them
Use Third-Party Software
Tools like CleanMyMac X can scan and remove cached Mail data and attachments.
How to Reset the Mail App
If Mail is having issues like freezing or crashing, resetting the app may help:
- Quit Mail
- Hold Option while clicking the Mail icon to launch
- Click Yes to confirm reset
How to Uninstall Updates or Downgrade Versions of Mail
If issues started after a Mail update, you can uninstall updates:
- Go to ~/Library/Receipts
- Delete files for the Mail version you want to revert from
- Restart your Mac
How to Completely Uninstall Mail
It is possible to fully delete Mail, though the process is a bit complex:
- Disable SIP Protection: Reboot to Recovery Mode and run a command to disable SIP
- Delete Mail: Quit Mail and delete the app from /Applications
- Empty Trash
- Enable SIP Protection: Reboot to Recovery Mode again and re-enable SIP
WARNING: Disabling SIP leaves your system vulnerable, so only do this briefly while deleting Mail.
Best Mail Alternatives for Mac
If you decide to replace Apple Mail, here are some top alternatives:
- Outlook – Best for Exchange/Office 365 users
- Spark – Most innovative features
- Airmail – Lightning fast performance
- Canary – Strong security features
- Postbox – Great customization options
Transferring Your Email Data
When switching from Mail, transfer your old emails with these steps:
- Export mailbox from Mail as a file archive
- Import the archive into your new email application
This preserves your email history.
Conclusion
While the Mail app can’t be completely deleted, you can remove accounts and cached data to save storage space. Fully uninstalling Mail is possible but complex. For most users, the easiest option is to continue using Mail or switch to a third party Mac email client like Outlook or Spark. Migrating your email data to the new application ensures you don’t lose any history.
Citations:
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