---
id: mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-remove-attachments-but-keep-emails-in-mail
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-remove-attachments-but-keep-emails-in-mail
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "Mail, Messages and chat apps"
question: "How do I remove attachments from emails in Apple Mail but keep the messages?"
alt_questions:
  - "mail remove attachments"
  - "delete attachments keep email mac"
  - "strip attachments apple mail"
  - "mail message remove attachments menu"
  - "reduce mail size attachments"
  - "remove pdf attachments mail"
short_answer: "Select the messages and choose Message → Remove Attachments. On server-synced accounts the attachments may be removed from the server too, so save what you need first."
tags: ["mail", "attachments"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-stop-mail-downloading-attachments", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-find-the-biggest-emails-in-mail"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# How do I remove attachments from emails in Apple Mail but keep the messages?

In **Mail**, select one or more messages and choose **Message → Remove Attachments**. The messages stay; the attached files are removed.

Be careful with accounts that sync with a server: the change can apply on the server too, so the attachment may disappear everywhere. Save anything you need first (drag it to a folder in Finder). For a lighter touch, Mail's account settings can stop it downloading attachments automatically — see [stopping Mail downloading attachments](https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-stop-mail-downloading-attachments).