Mac storage basics · Mail, Messages and chat apps

How do I find the biggest emails in Apple Mail?

Q: How do I find the biggest emails in Apple Mail?

In Mail, select a mailbox and choose View → Sort By → Size, then sort descending to see the largest messages first. Repeat for big folders like Sent and Archive. Delete or archive large messages you don't need, then choose Mailbox → Erase Deleted Items to free the space. For IMAP accounts this also removes them from the server, so save attachments you want first.

Short answer: Select a mailbox and choose View → Sort By → Size (descending). Delete what you don't need, then use Mailbox → Erase Deleted Items.

In Mail, select a mailbox and choose View → Sort By → Size, then sort descending to see the largest messages first. Repeat for big folders like Sent and Archive.

Delete or archive large messages you don't need, then choose Mailbox → Erase Deleted Items to free the space. For IMAP accounts this also removes them from the server, so save attachments you want first.

Last reviewed October 1, 2026

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How do I find the biggest emails in Apple Mail?

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