Safe to Delete

Apple Mail Downloads Cache (Mail Downloads)

Space: 2 GB – 20 GB+ macos macOS
Quick Answer: The Mail Downloads folder caches copies of email attachments opened in Apple Mail. Deleting old downloads is safe.

Bottom Line: It is safe to delete files inside Mail Downloads. Every time you preview or double-click a PDF, photo, or zip attachment in Apple Mail, a permanent copy is saved to this hidden folder.

What is the Mail Downloads Folder?

Located at ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Mail Downloads/, Apple Mail automatically caches all opened attachments. Over years of email use, this folder silently hoards 5 GB to 30 GB+ of duplicate attachment files.

Can You Delete Mail Downloads?

✅ Yes, safe to delete.

  • Server copies remain: Deleting local attachment caches does NOT delete emails from your IMAP, iCloud, or Gmail mail server.

How to Clean Up Mail Downloads

rm -rf ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Mail\ Downloads/*

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