How to delete the Mail app on your Mac

Whether you’ve found a better client-based email app or an online alternative, deleting or disabling the default Mail app from your Mac can free up valuable storage space and streamline your email management.

Are you looking to uninstall the Mail app on your Mac? Or maybe you simply want to hide it so that it doesn’t get in the way. This guide will walk you through all the necessary steps to accomplish this. We’ll also cover how to remove email accounts, reinstall the Mail app, and discuss the potential consequences of these actions.

Reasons to delete or hide the Mail app on your Mac

• Free up storage space: The Mail app on your Mac downloads attachments when it retrieves messages. Over time, these can accumulate and consume a tremendous amount of storage. By choosing to delete Mail, you can free up significant space for other apps and files.
• Streamline your email management: If you use a different email client, having the default Mail app on your Mac can feel redundant.
• Personal preference: Some users simply prefer the interface and functionality of a third-party email client on their Mac.

Relevant Read:How to change the default mail app on Mac

How does deleting the Mail app free up storage space?

When you delete the Mail app on your Mac, you’re not just removing the app itself; you’re also deleting all its associated data: email messages, attachments, and app files stored on your Mac. The more emails and attachments you’ve accumulated, the more storage you’ll free up by deleting the app.

Is it possible to hide the Mail app instead?

If you’re not ready to delete the Mail app but don’t want it cluttering your dock or taking up screen space, you can hide it instead.

Hiding the Mail app keeps it installed on your Mac but removes it from view. This might be a good option if you occasionally use Mail but don’t want it front and center.

Step-by-step instructions to delete the Mail app

This section will guide you through the necessary steps to safely and effectively delete the Mail app, from disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP) to using Terminal.

Do you need to disable SIP to remove the Mail app?

The Mail app is a system application, meaning it’s protected by macOS’s SIP, a security feature that prevents modifications to critical system files, including the Mail app.

To delete the Mail app on your Mac, you’ll need to temporarily disable SIP:

1. Restart your Mac in Recovery Mode: Press and hold the Command (⌘) + R keys during startup.
2. Open Terminal in Recovery Mode: Go to the Utilities menu and select Terminal.
3. Disable SIP: In Terminal, type “csrutil disable” and press Enter.
4. Restart your Mac: Exit Recovery Mode and return to your normal desktop mode.

Can you use Terminal to remove the Mail app?

Once SIP is disabled, you can use Terminal to delete mail from your Mac:

1. Open Terminal in Normal Mode: On your normal desktop, open Terminal again.
2. Remove the Mail app: Type the following command and press Enter:
   sudo rm -rf /Applications/Mail.app
3. Re-enable SIP: Restart your Mac in Recovery Mode, open Terminal, and type “csrutil enable” to re-enable SIP.

After this, the Mail app will be removed from the applications folder in Finder.

How to remove email accounts from the Mail app

Before you delete the Mail app on your Mac, it’s a good idea to remove any email accounts linked to it. This ensures that you don’t lose any important data or continue syncing with the app. Here’s how:

1. Open Mail Preferences: Go to the Mail app and select Mail > Preferences from the Apple Menu.
2. Select Accounts: Click on the Accounts tab.
3. Remove email accounts: Select the account you want to remove from Mail and click the minus (-) button. Confirm that you want to delete the account.

Will removing accounts affect my email?

When you remove email accounts from the Mail app, email may still be stored on mail servers (like Gmail or Yahoo). However, any locally stored messages (those saved only on your Mac) will be deleted. As such, it’s best to back up your Mac or move important messages to an external storage device before proceeding.

Consequences of deleting the Mail app

Before you delete the Mail app, it’s important to understand how removing it could impact your email accounts, what data might be lost, and how it might affect your overall macOS experience.

How does deleting the Mail app impact your email accounts?

Deleting the Mail app on a Mac will not delete your email accounts themselves; it will only remove them from your Mac. You can still access your email accounts through webmail or another email client. However, any messages stored locally on your Mac will be deleted unless you back them up beforehand.

Can you reinstall the Mail app after deleting it?

Yes, you can reinstall the Mail app if you change your mind. To do this, you’ll need to reinstall macOS, which will restore all default applications, including the Mail app. You won’t lose any of your personal data by reinstalling macOS, but it’s still a good idea to back up your Mac just in case something goes wrong.

How to reinstall the Mail app on a Mac

If you deleted the Mail app and now find yourself needing it, don’t worry because you can reinstall it. This section will walk you through the steps required to get the Mail app back.

Steps to reinstall the Mail app:

1. Restart your Mac in Recovery Mode: Hold down Command (⌘) + R during startup.
2. Reinstall macOS: From the Recovery menu, select "Reinstall macOS". Follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Restore email accounts: Once macOS is reinstalled, open the Mail app and reconfigure your email accounts.

Do you need to back up your Mac before reinstalling?

Reinstalling macOS shouldn’t affect your personal files, but it’s always a good idea to back up your Mac to an external storage device before performing a reinstall. This ensures that all your data is safe, even if something goes wrong during the installation.

Disabling the Mail app instead of deleting it

If you’re not ready to completely remove the Mail app but still want to reduce its presence, disabling the app will be your best option. Let’s explore how disabling the Mail app works, the benefits of doing so, and how it compares to deleting the app entirely.

What does it mean to disable the Mail app?

Disabling the Mail app means preventing it from running without actually deleting it. This can be useful if you’re unsure about removing the app entirely or if you want to keep it available for future use.

Are there any risks involved in disabling?

Disabling the Mail app is less risky than deleting it because you can easily re-enable it if needed. However, if you disable it incorrectly, you may experience issues with email syncing or receiving notifications. It’s also worth noting that disabling the Mail app won’t free up as much storage space as deleting it.

Conclusion

It’s up to you to decide whether to delete, disable, or hide the Mail app on your Mac. From freeing up storage space to ensuring your email accounts are properly managed, the choice is yours. Remember, if you ever need the Mail app again, you can always reinstall or re-enable it, so the risks are minimal.