Mac OS X Mail comes with a built-in feature that shows image or PDF previews of attachments in emails. While this is a useful feature for most users, it can slow down the Mail app on older Macs with limited system resources. In this guide, we’ll show you how to disable image attachment previews to speed up the performance of the Mail app on your Mac.
How to Disable Image Attachment Previews in Mac OS X Mail
- Close the Mail application.
- Open Terminal, which can be found in Launchpad or /Applications/Utilities/.
- Type the following script:
defaults write com.apple.mail DisableInlineAttachmentViewing -bool true - Restart the Mail app for the changes to take effect.
After you disable image attachment previews using the command above, you’ll see only a generic thumbnail that shows the file type and name. You can double-click on the thumbnail to open the image in Preview or save it by dragging and dropping it to a location on your Mac. This simple trick can make the Mail app run much smoother, especially on older Macs with limited resources.
The Benefits of Disabling Image Attachment Previews in Mac OS X Mail
Disabling image attachment previews can help you speed up the performance of the Mail app on your Mac, especially if you’re working with several large full-resolution images. It frees up system resources by reducing the RAM and CPU usage required to display previews of images and resize them to fit the screen. This trick is simple yet effective, and it has no negative impact on the functionality of the Mail app.
How to Re-enable Image Attachment Previews in Mac OS X Mail
If you want to restore the default settings of the Mail app and re-enable image attachment previews, follow these steps:
- Close the Mail application.
- Open Terminal, and type the following script:
defaults write com.apple.mail DisableInlineAttachmentViewing -bool false - Restart the Mail app.
FAQs
1. Why should I disable image attachment previews in Mac OS X Mail?
If your Mac has limited resources, disabling image attachment previews can help speed up the performance of the Mail app, especially when dealing with large images.
2. How can I re-enable image attachment previews in Mac OS X Mail?
Open Terminal and type the following command: defaults write com.apple.mail DisableInlineAttachmentViewing -bool false. Restart the Mail app for the changes to take effect.
3. Is this trick only applicable to older Macs?
This trick can be used on any Mac running Mac OS X Mail, but it is especially useful for older Macs with limited resources.
4. Will disabling image attachment previews affect the functionality of the Mail app?
No, disabling image attachment previews has no negative impact on the functionality of the Mail app.
Final Thoughts
Disabling image attachment previews in Mac OS X Mail can help speed up its performance on older Macs with limited resources. It’s a simple yet effective trick that can make a significant difference in the app’s responsiveness. If you’re experiencing sluggish performance in the Mail app, give this tip a try!
