Apple Mail for macOS lets you sort your messages into mailboxes according to your preferences. But you might have been confused after choosing to sort your most recent messages at the top and realized that they are not in order. The reason is that Apple uses almost the same language in two places in the Mail interface, which serves different purposes.
In Mail > Settings > DisplayYou’ll see the “Show most recent message at the top” checkbox. However, if you’re just looking for that option, you may have missed (as at least one igamesnews reader did) the “Show Conversations” label above this section. Apple seems to use the terms “conversations” and “threads” interchangeably between macOS and iOS/iPadOS, because they mean the same thing: a series of email messages between the same people, usually with the same subject line. (You can control this behavior somewhat by checking or unchecking “Include related messages” in the same section.)
This display setting only applies to threads/conversations.
This display setting only applies to threads/conversations.
Foundry
This display setting only applies to threads/conversations.
Foundry
Foundry
With “Show newest message on top” checked under “Show conversations”, all messages with a conversation/thread will be displayed so that the newest is at the top.
To change the order in which messages appear in a mailbox, close the Settings window and choose a mailbox from the sidebar on the left. You can now choose Show > Sort byChoose a sort method (such as Date or Subject), and then choose again to switch between newest and oldest messages at the top. If you choose Date and newest message at the top, the mailbox is sorted starting with the newest.
Sort your mailbox using the View > Sort By menu.
Sort your mailbox using the View > Sort By menu.
Foundry
Sort your mailbox using the View > Sort By menu.
Foundry
Foundry
iOS and iPadOS do not have mailbox sorting options, although sorting conversations/threads is available in Settings > Mail > Threaded as most recent message at the top.
This Mac 911 article is a response to a question submitted by igamesnews reader Eric.
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