Mac Mail: Stop downloading my messages

July 4, 2016 3:30 PM

I only want to receive new mail when I click the "Get Mail" button in Mac Mail.

I have a Mac desktop running OSX El Capitan with Mail.app version 9.1. I receive mail on a custom domain. I can't remember if it's a POP or an IMAP account. Mail preferences doesn't want to tell me, and I'm not sure why this would matter anyway. It is not an Exchange account.

I have Mail set to check for new messages manually. I only want to receive new mail when I click the "Get Mail" button.

However, Mail downloads messages whenever it receives focus. If I keep Mail running in the background, it doesn't download new messages. As soon as I switch to the Mail app, it downloads all my new messages. I don't want it to do that.

Where's the magic setting to keep Mail from downloading messages until I actually click the "Get Mail" button?

posted by Joleta to Computers & Internet (6 answers total)

Best answer: Under Preferences > Accounts > Advanced have you also unchecked “Include when automatically checking for new messages” for the account in question?
posted by bcwinters at 4:24 PM on July 4, 2016

If you go to "accounts" and select that account, then look in the "advanced" section, there is a checkbox that says "include when automatically checking for new messages." I think you should get what you're after if you uncheck this box.
posted by slkinsey at 4:25 PM on July 4, 2016

Sigh. What bcwinters said.
posted by slkinsey at 4:25 PM on July 4, 2016

Response by poster: Thanks. Don't know how I missed that. Now it's working the way I want it to.
posted by Joleta at 8:35 PM on July 4, 2016

Ok, I'll admit to being curious about why you want this behavior.
posted by uberchet at 9:32 AM on July 5, 2016

I can think of at least a few reasons ubercet, but not sure if this is the place to discuss them. Email me if you want my 2¢.
posted by terrapin at 11:27 AM on July 5, 2016