Q: Why is Apple Mail saving attachments in my Mail Downloads folder?

• There's a folder called Mail Downloads in my user directory > Library which has lots of old unwanted email attachments. I have my Apple Mail preferences set to store downloaded attachments on my desktop. What's happening?

Context

• Mac OS X 10.6.4
• Apple Mail v4.3

Answer

• If you double click on an attachment icon in a Mail message, or do Quick View, it will download a copy of the attachment to your user directory > Library > Mail Downloads.

• If you Save the attachment you will have a second copy downloaded to the location specified in Preferences > General > Downloads folder:

• To automatically delete the extra copy in Mail Downloads, change Preferences > General > Remove unedited downloads: to 'when Mail Quits'. Any file placed in the folder "Mail Downloads", which you haven't modified will be deleted.

Be careful. Do not change Remove unedited downloads: unless you are sure that the attachments you want to keep are not saved in the Mail Downloads folder.