Recent Mail crashes: SSL, Java, Growl incompatibilities

There have been several reports of Apple's Mail application not functioning properly and crashing with an unexpected quit. For some, it seems the crashes occur randomly, but for others the crashes happen with handling attachments, either when receiving or sending them.

Apple discussion poster "thenao" writes:

"Hi, my Mail keeps crashing anytime there is an attachment in incoming messages. also whenever i try to attach a file to a new message, it crashes. anyone knows anything similar? I have updated the system to 10.5.7 and still does it. I have also tried all tips from the apple site, except for the 'archive' or 'erase' and 'install' process."

This problem may be related to a variety of settings and installed options, including faults with Java and Growl, as well as improper handling of SSL.

Java

Apple has released a knowledgebase article that outlines how to remove and reinstall the Java internet plugin if you are experiencing crashes with Mail, Safari, or iChat on systems running 10.5. To test the Java plugin, go to the /username/Library/Internet Plug-ins/ folder and delete the "JavaPluginCocoa.bundle" file. Then launch the affected application and test it. Reinstalling the update by downloading it from the following site may help:

Growl

In the past, the Growl notification software has been responsible for problems with Mail and other applications in OS X, especially after system updates. Removing the plugin and either reinstalling or waiting for an update from the developer should prevent the crashes.

SSL

Some users have claimed this problem to be with an incompatibility between their email servers and the way Mail handles SSL. In the same discussion referenced above, user "katzlbt" writes:

"The crashes [pertaining to attachments] appear to be related to the recent switch to SSL-only access at hostmonster.com. Switching my POP account to SSL (chechbox SSL checked) has stopped the random crashes."

While a server-side SSL requirement should not crash the program, ensuring your settings are as the server wants them to be may prevent any unexpected incompatibilities from resulting in a crash.

Other Mail troubleshooting

There are several other approaches you can try for handling Mail crashes. The first is to use OnyX or another system maintenance program to clear the system and application caches, and also the Mail Downloads folder (which can also be done by hand at the /username/Library/Mail Downloads/ folder). In addition, removing the Mail preferences file is another common approach, which is called "com.apple.Mail.plist" and is located in the /username/Library/Preferences/ folder. Doing this will require you to set up your accounts again, but your emails and inbox organization should still be intact once the accounts are set up. Lastly, if Mail crashes on launch, you can try launching it in "Safe" mode (where it does not immediately check for new messages or display any downloaded emails) by holding the shift key while it launches. This will allow you to change any faulty settings or rebuild mailboxes as may be required to fix the problem.

Resources