You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Restoring one email using Time Machine

OS 12.2 and on BOTH my late 2014 27" and my 2019 27" Macs - Same on both machines:

I am unable to see individual emails in ™ on either my Mac or a back-up drive.

I get either 1) a mail screen with just a couple of CURRENT emails regardless of what date I go to in right column, or 2) a mail screen with says (close to)

Restore to recover inbox mail from each of your accounts

but times on the right are greyed out as is the restore button and no emails are shown.


I only need to find and restore ONE important email from either inbox or sent mail, not the whole inbox or sent from a data. With prior OS I was able to flip through dates and through emails to read individual emails.


This is exactly what one other user thread in discussions found (thread seemed to end in August 2020).

Thanks for help!

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Feb 13, 2021 11:07 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 13, 2021 1:37 PM

I'm afraid starting with Catalina you can no longer use TM to scroll back through your emails. Apple knows about this issue but has not fixed it to date. You can go to your library/mail/V folder and search through the specific mailbox but it is very tedious and slow. I finally got a mail backup app like mail backup X that is much more user friendly. I could not wait for Apple any longer to fix.

Similar questions

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 13, 2021 1:37 PM in response to Explorers

I'm afraid starting with Catalina you can no longer use TM to scroll back through your emails. Apple knows about this issue but has not fixed it to date. You can go to your library/mail/V folder and search through the specific mailbox but it is very tedious and slow. I finally got a mail backup app like mail backup X that is much more user friendly. I could not wait for Apple any longer to fix.

Feb 14, 2021 12:48 AM in response to Explorers

Hi Explorers,

You've nailed the problem with TM and Mail.

tbirdvet has confirmed. And I must have a look at a non Apple solution too - thanks tbirdvet for the pointer.

In case you wanted to review the relevant threads I copy them here.


And you can also spend a couple of minutes giving Apple feedback?


https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251621494?answerId=253240620022#253240620022


https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252029977?answerId=253896610022#253896610022


https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252064246?answerId=253992717022#253992717022


And a useful thread from MacRumours site:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/catalina-10-15-4-and-time-machine.2237262/


And the feedback?


https://www.apple.com/feedback/timemachine.html

Restoring one email using Time Machine

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.