Quick answer
Mail rules can move, mark or forward messages. Some run only while the Mac is using Mail, so distinguish them from server-side filters.
Applies to
For an authorized mailbox user. Interactive Online manages settings only for mail hosted on the selected service; mail hosted elsewhere uses that provider's settings. The preserved lesson shows an earlier interface.
Steps
- Open the intended application or account and confirm its complete mailbox address and provider.
- Open Mail > Settings > Rules. Add or edit a narrowly scoped rule, inspect conditions and actions, and consider whether applying it to existing messages would move or expose data.
Check the result
Test with a controlled message and inspect the destination. Preserve a recovery copy before broad mailbox moves or deletion.
Troubleshooting and support
If labels differ, use the Apple guide for the installed macOS release. For a certificate mismatch, verify the provider's secure hostname instead of accepting a guessed exception.
Contact support from the owning account with the domain, product/version, exact error, time/time zone and redacted evidence. Exclude credentials, session URLs, payment details and private customer records. Confirm any separate application-support scope.
Original historical tutorial
The original tutorial link and any earlier written lesson are preserved below as historical material. They show an earlier interface and may depend on an old player. Use the current written guidance above and its references when labels or capabilities differ; the old interface does not establish current hosting availability.
Related help
- Use webmail to separate a mailbox problem from a device problem
- Collect useful evidence when an email message is missing
Official references
Written guidance reviewed November 1, 2026. The preserved historical tutorial has not been recertified for current software.
