[1165] How to use offline mode in Apple Mail

How to use offline mode in Apple Mail

You can use offline mode in Apple Mail when your computer is not connected to the Internet.

Offline mode allows you to compose new messages and reply to messages without having an active Internet connection. Before going back into online mode, reestablish your Internet connection.

Offline Mode in Apple Mail

To use offline mode in Apple Mail, do the following:

Log in to Apple Mail. Make sure you have an active Internet connection. If you are off campus, make sure you also have an active VPN connection (see below).
Synchronize your email account by clicking Get Mail.
Click Mailbox > Go Offline. Your mailbox and folders will turn gray.
You are now in offline mode. You may disconnect from the Internet.

You may organize your IMAP folders in Apple Mail while in offline mode. These changes are applied to the mail server the next time you have an Internet connection and select Go Online within Apple Mail.

While in offline mode, message you send are stored in your Outbox; they are queued for delivery. Queued messages will be sent the next time you have an Internet connection and select Go Online within Apple Mail.

Online Mode in Apple Mail

Apple Mail must be in online mode to access the mail server. If you've made changes to your folders in Apple Mail, they will be applied when you use online mode. Likewise, if you have messages queued for delivery in your Outbox, they will be sent when you use online mode.

To use online mode in Apple Mail, do the following:

Log in to Apple Mail. Make sure you have an active Internet connection. If you are off campus, make sure you also have an active VPN connection (see below).
Click Mailbox > Go Online.
Changes to your IMAP folders are applied to the mail server. Also, any messages queued for delivery in your Outbox are sent.

Off-campus users: To check your email from off campus, you need to first establish a VPN connection using either the Cisco VPN Client or Network Connect in WebVPN.