Apple’s recent redesign of its Mail app in macOS Sonoma and iOS 17 has sparked mixed reactions from users. While some appreciate the cleaner interface and enhanced integration with AI-powered search and smart folders, many long-time Apple Mail users find the new layout confusing, cluttered, and even counterproductive to their workflow.
If you’re among those who miss the old Apple Mail design, you’re not alone — and you might be wondering: Is there a way to switch back?
What’s Changed in Apple Mail?
The redesign introduced several major shifts:
- More prominent sidebar and toolbar: Apple restructured how mailboxes and folders appear, pushing them into a sidebar similar to Finder.
- Smart Filters & Categories: Emails are automatically sorted into categories like Promotions, Updates, and Personal — inspired by Gmail’s approach.
- Threaded Conversations Default: Emails in a thread are automatically stacked, even if users previously preferred the old linear view.
- New Compose Window: The email composition screen was revamped to float as a smaller window, detaching from the main app.
While Apple touts these changes as productivity enhancements, many users prefer the simplicity of the older version, especially those accustomed to handling large volumes of mail.
Can You Revert to the Old Apple Mail Design?
Here’s the short answer: Apple does not offer an official “classic mode” toggle to revert fully to the previous design. However, there are workarounds and tweaks that can help you restore some of the older functionality and appearance:
Options to Customize (or Work Around) the New Apple Mail
1. Customize the Toolbar and Sidebar
- Right-click on the toolbar and select Customize Toolbar to remove or rearrange icons.
- Collapse or hide the sidebar if it feels too intrusive.
- Turn off Message Preview to create a more compact list view.
2. Disable Smart Folders and Filters
- Go to Mail > Settings > Viewing and disable automatic sorting features if you want your emails to appear in a chronological, unfiltered list.
3. Restore Classic Layout (Partial Fix)
- Apple removed the official “Classic Layout” toggle years ago, but you can manually tweak preferences:
- Open Mail > Settings > Viewing and experiment with:
- List layout options
- Disabling threaded conversations
- Turning off message previews
- Open Mail > Settings > Viewing and experiment with:
- While this doesn’t fully restore the pre-Sonoma design, it shrinks the sidebar clutter and returns some old-school simplicity.
4. Roll Back to Ventura or Earlier (Drastic Option)
- If you absolutely can’t stand the redesign and rely heavily on Apple Mail for work, some users opt to downgrade macOS back to Ventura or earlier.
- This process requires:
- Full backup (Time Machine recommended)
- Creating a bootable Ventura installer
- Erasing your disk and reinstalling Ventura
- Note: This is time-consuming and not practical for most users.
Third-Party Alternatives
If Apple Mail no longer suits your needs, consider alternative email clients that offer traditional layouts with modern features:
- Spark Mail: Customizable and user-friendly, with both modern and classic views.
- Airmail: Highly customizable, designed for power users.
- Postbox: Popular among professionals who need advanced filtering and sorting.
- Outlook for Mac: Surprisingly improved in recent years, with a customizable interface.
- Mimestream: Built specifically for Gmail users who want a native Mac experience.
Why Apple is Unlikely to Reverse Course
Apple has a history of redesigning core apps (like Safari and iTunes) and rarely offers an official way to revert to old designs. The company’s philosophy centers on pushing users forward, even if the initial reception is rocky.
As Apple leans into AI-enhanced productivity across macOS and iOS, Apple Mail’s new design is intended to be part of that ecosystem, working seamlessly with features like Live Search, Focus Filters, and MailKit extensions.
Conclusion: Adapt or Switch?
For users who prefer minimalism and control, Apple Mail’s redesign may feel like a step back. While there’s no magic switch to fully revert to the old design, some manual tweaks and third-party alternatives can help you regain some comfort. Ultimately, it comes down to how deeply you’re embedded in Apple’s ecosystem — and whether you’re willing to explore better-suited email clients.
