Can't Wait For A Mavericks Update? This Fix Could Help Your Mac's Mail App

We’ve been counting down to the release of OS X 10.9.2 in the hope that a number of crucial fixes could help our Mavericks-powered Macs regain form. Now, however, Apple has acknowledged that its Mail app in OS X Mavericks is indeed suffering a handful of problems, and in a recent support document the Cupertino, Calif. company has offered users a semi-useful workaround. The awkward fix essentially involves disabling then enabling your accounts in order “to re-establish a connection to the server,” Apple explains, and even though it’s definitely not an ideal solution, this could nevertheless help you maintain a workable relationship with the Mail app until OS X 10.9.2 hopefully fixes this problem. The support document explains:

Quitting and reopening Mail forces t (sic) to re-establish a connection to the email server. You can use these steps to receive new mail messages without quitting Mail:

1. Choose Mailbox > Take All Accounts Offline.
2. Choose Mailbox > Get All New Mail.

As a shortcut, you can also add the Take All Accounts Offline and Get Mail buttons to your Mail toolbar.

1. Choose View > Customize Toolbar.
2. Drag the Take All Accounts Offline button to the Toolbar if it is not there already.
3. Drag the Get Mail button to the Toolbar if it is not there already.
4. Click Done

To receive new mail messages, click the Take Offline button, then click the Check Mail button.

I’ve definitely been struggling with Google Mail and Google Apps accounts in the Mavericks Mail app, but for me, the solution outlined above isn’t the one I’ve chosen. Instead, the best fix involves switching over to the useful (and usable) Sparrow for Mac app – it might cost $9.99, but this well-made application has helped keep my personal and professional email alive during the reign of OS X Mavericks (a free version, Sparrow Lite, is available too). How have you been finding the Mail app in Mavericks? If you’ve run into trouble but are maintaining allegiance to the application, the above fix may help. For those of you who’ve had little or no luck with Apple’s workaround, however, we’re hoping the bug-fixing OS X 10.9.2 could be just around the corner. We’ll keep you updated with further information as we receive it. In the meantime, see: You’re Going To Love The New, Sweet And Tasty Update To Smurfs’ Village, NBC Sports Live Extra 3.0 Is All Set For Its Live Coverage Of The 2014 Winter Olympics, and Google Maps For iOS Now Lets You Know When There’s A Faster Route Available.

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