Ever since OS X Mavericks was released, some customers using the built-in Mail.app application have repeatedly had issues retrieving new mail messages, deleting or moving messages, and more. Some of the problems were fixed in an update released back in November, and then in OS X 10.9.1, but for some, the issues retrieving new messages persist.
Some users found that quitting and restarting Mail forced the application to download new messages, but Apple has now published an awkward workaround that allows the app to stay open while still forcing a download of new messages.
OS X: New email messages not received until Mail is quit and reopened
Quitting and reopening Mail forces it 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 DoneTo receive new mail messages, click the Take Offline button, then click the Check Mail button.
There is no indication of when the bugs with Mail.app will be fixed, though beta releases of OS X 10.9.2 ask developers to test Mail.app for issues.
Top Rated Comments
I think this is a simpler fix. I have had a few employees run into this issue.
In Mail.app in 10.9, Apple implemented a new option under Mail Preferences/General/Check for new messages. There is an "Automatically" option which, I believe, doesn't work right.
Simply switch that to "Every minute" and (at least in my experience) the problem is solved.
I only wish I had used a similar amount of wisdom before upgrading my iPad 3 to iOS 7. :(
I sure do miss the Apple I once knew. The one that got things a LOT closer to ready-for-primetime before releasing them.
Mark
i thought i was opening the app in the wrong way.
But I have to grudgingly admit that I use Outlook on Windows every day at work, and it's so, so much better. I'm just not too keen on Outlook for Mac, and I hope that's what's stopping me from switching, rather than self-deluded fanboyism ... :(