View source for Apple Mail

{{Short description|Email client by Apple}}
{{Redirect|AppleMail|the piece of System 7 software|PowerTalk}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Mail
| logo = Apple Mail.png
| logo alt = 
| logo caption = 
| screenshot = Mail iOS 17.PNG
| caption = Apple Mail app in [[iOS 17]]
| developer = [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]
| released = 
| ver layout = simple
| latest release version = 
| latest release date = 
| latest preview version = 
| latest preview date = 
| engines = [[WebKit]], [[JavaScriptCore|Nitro]]
| included with = [[macOS]], [[iOS]], [[iPadOS]], [[watchOS]], and [[visionOS]]
| platform = 
| language = English, Arabic, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Norwegian Bokmål, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese
| language count = 33
| language footnote = <ref>{{cite web |title=Mail |url=https://apps.apple.com/app/id1108187098 |website=App Store |date=9 December 2022 |access-date=24 April 2023 |language=en-us |archive-date=28 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328112532/https://apps.apple.com/app/id1108187098 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| genre = [[Email client]]
| license = [[Proprietary software]]
| website = {{URL|https://support.apple.com/mail}}
}}
{{macOS topics}}

'''Mail''', also known as '''Apple Mail''', is an [[email client]] included by [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] with its [[operating system]]s [[macOS]], [[iOS]], [[iPadOS]], [[watchOS]], and [[visionOS]]. Mail grew out of [[NeXTMail]], which was originally developed by [[NeXT]] as part of its [[NeXTSTEP]] operating system, after Apple's acquisition of NeXT in 1997.

The current version of Mail utilizes [[Simple Mail Transfer Protocol|SMTP]] for message sending, [[Post Office Protocol|POP3]], [[Microsoft Exchange Server|Exchange]] and [[Internet Message Access Protocol|IMAP]] for message retrieval and [[S/MIME]] for end-to-end message encryption.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://support.apple.com/kb/TA22353|title=Mac OS X 10.3: Mail - How to Use a Secure Email Signing Certificate (Digital ID)|website=support.apple.com|access-date=March 17, 2018|archive-date=January 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128114625/http://support.apple.com/kb/TA22353|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://support.apple.com/HT202345|title=Use S/MIME to send encrypted messages in an Exchange environment in iOS|website=apple.com|access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref> It is also preconfigured to work with popular [[Email hosting service|email providers]], such as [[Yahoo! Mail]], [[AOL Mail]], [[Gmail]], [[Outlook.com|Outlook]] and [[iCloud]] (formerly [[MobileMe]]) and it supports [[Microsoft Exchange Server|Exchange]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Use your Internet accounts on Mac |url=https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mh35565/mac |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=Apple Support |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326123812/https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mh35565/mac |url-status=live }}</ref> iOS features a mobile version of Mail with added [[Exchange ActiveSync]] (EAS) support, though it notoriously missed the functionality of attaching files to reply emails until the release of [[iOS 9]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.macrumors.com/2015/06/08/ios-9-tidbits-and-hidden-features|title=iOS 9 Tidbits: Battery Saving Features, Search for Settings, Keyboard Changes, Email Attachments, and More|website=[[MacRumors]]|last=Clover|first=Juli|date=June 8, 2015|access-date=June 19, 2015|archive-date=June 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620003312/http://www.macrumors.com/2015/06/08/ios-9-tidbits-and-hidden-features/|url-status=live}}</ref> EAS is not supported in the macOS version of Apple's Mail app, the main issue being that sent messages will incorrectly be duplicated in the sent messages folder, which then propagates via sync to all other devices including iOS.

Features of Mail include the ability to configure the software to receive all of a user's email accounts in the one list, ability to file emails into folders, ability to search for emails, and ability to automatically append signatures to outgoing emails. It also integrates with the Contacts list, Calendar, Maps and other apps.

==History==
{{For|a list of Apple Mail version numbers with associated macOS versions|macOS#Software compatibility}}

===NeXTMail===
Mail was originally developed by NeXT as NeXTMail, the email application for its NeXTSTEP operating system. It supported rich text formatting with images and voice messaging, and [[MIME]] emails. It also supported a text-based user interface ([[Text-based user interface|TUI]]) to allow for backwards compatibility.

When Apple began to adapt NeXTSTEP to become [[macOS|Mac OS X]], both the operating system and the application went through various stages as it was developed. In a beta version (codenamed "[[Rhapsody (operating system)|Rhapsody]]") and various other early pre-releases of Mac OS X, Mail was known as MailViewer. However, with the third developer release of Mac OS X, the application had returned to being known simply as Mail.

===First release===
Mail was included in all versions of macOS up to and including [[Mac OS X Panther]], which was released on October 24, 2003. It was integrated with other Apple applications such as [[Address Book (application)|Address Book]], [[iChat]], and [[Calendar (Apple)|iCal]]. Some of its features that remain in the most recent version of Mail include rules for mailboxes, [[email spam|junk mail]] [[email filtering|filtering]] and multiple account management.

===Mac OS X Tiger (10.4)===
In [[Mac OS X Tiger]] (version 10.4), Mail version 2 included a proprietary single-message-per-file format (with the [[filename extension]] '''.emlx''') to permit indexing by [[Spotlight (software)|Spotlight]]. Additional features were:
* "Smart mailboxes" that used Spotlight technology to sort mail into folders.
* the ability to flag messages with a low, normal or high priority and to use these priorities in mailbox rules and smart mailboxes.
* tools for resizing photos before they are sent to avoid oversized email attachments.
* the ability to view emailed pictures as a full-screen slideshow.
* parental controls to specify who is allowed to send email to children.
* [[HTML]] message composition.

The new version also changed the UI for the buttons in the toolbar. Whereas previous buttons had free-standing defined shapes, the new buttons featured shapes within a [[Lozenge (shape)|lozenge]]-shaped capsule.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inessential.com/2005/05/27/what_i_think_happened_to_mail|title=inessential: What I think happened to Mail|website=inessential.com|access-date=March 17, 2018|archive-date=March 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318055040/http://inessential.com/2005/05/27/what_i_think_happened_to_mail|url-status=live}}</ref> According to many users, and even Apple's own [[human interface guidelines]] at the time, this was worse for usability.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2005/04/macosx-10-4.ars/3|title=Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger|website=arstechnica.com|date=28 April 2005|access-date=March 17, 2018|archive-date=9 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509073813/http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2005/04/macosx-10-4.ars/3|url-status=live}}</ref> An open-source third-party application that reverted the icons to their former shapes was available. Nevertheless, Apple updated their guidelines to include capsule-shaped buttons, and the new UI persisted.<ref>{{cite web |title=Guides and Sample Code |url=https://developer.apple.com/mac/library/DOCUMENTATION/UserExperience/Conceptual/AppleHIGuidelines/XHIGIcons/XHIGIcons.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20000967-TPXREF102 |url-status=live |access-date=March 17, 2018 |website=developer.apple.com |archive-date=August 31, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831154127/http://developer.apple.com/mac/library/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/AppleHIGuidelines/XHIGIcons/XHIGIcons.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20000967-TPXREF102 }}</ref>

===Mac OS X Leopard (10.5)===
In [[Mac OS X Leopard]] (version 10.5), Mail version 3 included personalized stationery, handled in standard HTML format. In addition, it offered notes and to-dos (which could be synced with [[Calendar (Apple)|iCal]]) as well as a built-in [[RSS]] reader. It also introduced [[IMAP IDLE]] support for account inboxes.

===Mac OS X Snow Leopard (10.6)===
[[Mac OS X Snow Leopard]] (version 10.6) brought [[Microsoft Exchange Server#Exchange Server 2007|Microsoft Exchange Server 2007]] support.

===Mac OS X Lion (10.7)===
In [[Mac OS X Lion]] (version 10.7), Mail featured a redesigned [[iPad]]-like user interface with full-screen capabilities, an updated message search interface, support for [[Microsoft Exchange Server#Exchange Server 2010|Microsoft Exchange Server 2010]] and [[Yahoo! Mail]] (via IMAP). Also added was the capability to group messages by subject in a similar fashion to Mail on [[iOS 4]]. The bounce function, where unwanted emails could be [[bounce message|bounced back]] to the sender, was dropped, as was support for Exchange push email.

===OS X Mountain Lion (10.8)===
In [[OS X Mountain Lion]] (version 10.8), Mail received VIP tagging, [[Safari (web browser)|Safari]]-style inline search for words within an email message, the ability to sync with [[iCloud]] and new sharing features. [[Notes (Apple)|Notes]] was split off into a stand-alone application. The RSS reader and to-dos were discontinued.

===OS X Mavericks (10.9)===
In [[OS X Mavericks]] (version 10.9), Mail ceased support for plain-text MIME multipart/alternative messages and solely retained the HTML or rich-text version.

===OS X Yosemite (10.10)===
In [[OS X Yosemite]] (version 10.10), Mail introduced Markup (inline annotation of PDF or image files) and Mail Drop (automatically uploads attachments to iCloud, and sends a link in the message instead of the whole file).

===OS X El Capitan (10.11)===
In [[OS X El Capitan]] (version 10.11), a filter was added to the message list to filter by various options such as Unread, Flagged, or messages with attachments. The conversation display was also redesigned and various disk space saving optimizations were implemented. Streaming notification support for Exchange accounts was also added.

=== macOS High Sierra (10.13) ===
In macOS 10.13 ([[MacOS High Sierra|High Sierra]]) Mail reached version 11.5, a version that was not further upgraded (in High Sierra, at least until 2021).

===macOS Mojave (10.14)===
Support for macOS's new "[[dark mode]]" was added to Mail.

===macOS Catalina (10.15)===
Added support for Block Sender, Unsubscribe, Mute Thread and layout options.

===macOS Big Sur (11.0)===
In [[macOS Big Sur]], Mail was updated alongside the other first-party apps to feature the new design language of Big Sur, with a full-height sidebar and updated icons that match the blue color of the app's icon. The Mail app icon was changed to be more consistent with the iOS version, depicting a white envelope on a blue background, albeit with a more "3D" look that has the text "Apple Park California 95014" subtly etched on the envelope. Mail now also supports interactive notifications and integrates with the Reminders app to let Siri suggest possible reminders based on who you are emailing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-29 |title=macOS Big Sur - Features - Apple |url=https://www.apple.com/macos/big-sur/features/ |access-date=2022-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129224428/https://www.apple.com/macos/big-sur/features/ |archive-date=2020-11-29 }}</ref>

===macOS Monterey (12.0)===
Mail now has an option to block trackers in emails from viewing a user's IP address and being notified of whether they have read an email. Extensions from the Mac App Store can now integrate with the Mail app, and iCloud+ subscribers can easily create a new email address that forwards to their primary address.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What's new in Mail on Mac? |url=https://support.apple.com/guide/mail/whats-new-in-mail-cpmlwn/15.0/mac/12.0 |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=Apple Support |language=en |archive-date=2022-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125113330/https://support.apple.com/guide/mail/whats-new-in-mail-cpmlwn/15.0/mac/12.0 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===macOS Ventura (13.0)===
Mail has been updated to include features from popular competitors, such as allowing a user to undo sending an email for up to 10, 20, or 30 seconds, scheduling an email to be sent at a user-set time, reminding the user to follow up on an email, and notifying the user to add an attachment or recipient if they seemed to forget to do themselves. Search has been improved by using synonyms for search terms and automatically correcting typos. It also shows shared content and previous search terms when invoked. Messages you sent which haven't received a reply will also move to the top of the inbox to send a follow-up. Emails from companies now show their logo using BIMI support.<ref>{{Cite web |title=macOS Ventura - New Features |url=https://www.apple.com/macos/ventura/features/ |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=Apple |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125113328/https://www.apple.com/macos/ventura/features/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Apple Intelligence Features ==
[[Apple Intelligence]] enhances Apple’s Mail app with various [[Artificial intelligence|AI]]-powered features that significantly improve email efficiency. One of the key additions is the automatic summarization of emails and email threads. This feature generates concise and clear summaries, allowing users to grasp the most important content of a message or an entire conversation at a glance, without having to read every single email in full.

Another new feature is the prioritization of important emails. Apple Intelligence identifies particularly relevant or time-sensitive messages—such as invitations, boarding passes, or appointment confirmations—and highlights them in the inbox. This ensures that critical information isn’t overlooked.

In addition, the Mail app now offers intelligent reply suggestions. Based on the content of an incoming email, the app proposes suitable and context-aware responses that users can easily accept or customize with just a few clicks.

Furthermore, AI-powered writing tools are available. These assist with composing, rephrasing, or refining email texts, helping users create messages that are clear, effective, and engaging.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Use Apple Intelligence in Mail on Mac |url=https://support.apple.com/en-euro/guide/mac-help/mchlb2dbea8f/mac |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Apple Support |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[NeXTMail]]
* [[GNUMail]]
* [[Comparison of email clients]]
* [[Comparison of feed aggregators]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Aggregators}}
{{Email clients}}
{{macOS}}
{{iOS}}

[[Category:MacOS email clients]]
[[Category:MacOS]]
[[Category:IOS software]]
[[Category:WatchOS software]]
[[Category:Software based on WebKit]]
[[Category:1997 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:IOS-based software made by Apple Inc.|Mail]]