Apple Mail Notifications Not Working – macOS Sequoia 15.8.2
Since you're running macOS Sequoia 15.8.2 on an M4 Max MacBook Pro, and other applications produce notification sounds normally, I'd like to check a few additional settings that are easy to overlook.
One important distinction: The swoosh sound when sending email and the notification sound for incoming messages are separate functions in Mail. Hearing the outgoing sound doesn't necessarily mean incoming notifications are working.
Here I’d what is suggested:
1. Check Mail's New Message Notifications setting
- Open Mail > Settings > General.
- Find New message notifications.
- Select the broadest available option that includes all your incoming mailboxes.
This setting is separate from macOS notification permissions. For example, selecting VIPs would prevent ordinary incoming messages from triggering notifications.
Apple reference: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/mail/mlhlc8ab2bf1/mac
2. Check Mail's notification sound permission
- Open System Settings > Notifications > Mail.
- Confirm the following:
- Allow Notifications: ON
- Alert Style: Alerts (temporarily, for testing)
- Show on Lock Screen: ON
- Show in Notification Center: ON
- Play sound for notification: ON
Selecting a new-message sound in Mail doesn't override macOS's separate permission to play notification sounds.
Apple reference: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/mac-help/-mh40583/mac
3. Verify Mail is checking for new messages automatically
Go to Mail > Settings > General and make sure Check for new messages is set to Automatically.
Then visit Mail > Settings > Accounts and confirm your email accounts are enabled and connected.
Apple reference: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/mail/cpmlprefgen
4. Test incoming messages
Have someone send you an email while Mail is open.
Check:
- Does the message appear immediately?
- Is there no notification banner or sound?
- Does the Mail icon in the Dock show an unread-message badge?
If the message appears immediately but there's no notification, the problem is likely notification-related rather than email delivery.
Also, check whether the affected conversation has been muted. Muted conversations won't generate new-message notifications.
5. Restart Mail and your Mac
Quit Mail completely using Command-Q, restart your Mac, reopen Mail and send yourself another test message.
This can resolve temporary problems with background processes and notification delivery.
6. Try Safe Mode
If the problem persists, test whether background software is interfering.
On your M4 Max Mac:
- Shut down completely.
- Hold the power button until startup options appear.
- Select your startup disk.
- Hold Shift and click Continue in Safe Mode.
- Open Mail and send yourself a test message.
If notifications work in Safe Mode but not during normal startup, a background application or login item may be interfering.
Apple reference: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/mac-help/mh21245/mac
7. Check for macOS updates
Go to System Settings > General > Software Update and check whether a newer compatible update is available. Back up your Mac before installing.
Apple reference: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/108382
8. If nothing works
As a final diagnostic test, create a temporary Standard user account under System Settings > Users & Groups. Configure Mail with one email account and test notifications.
If notifications work in the new account, the problem may be specific to your original user profile. If they fail in both accounts, macOS, Mail or the email account itself may be involved.
Apple reference: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/mac-help/mchl3e281fc9/mac
I wouldn't recommend deleting Mail data, notification preference files or rebuilding databases at this stage.
If the problem remains unresolved, Apple Support is available here: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/contact
