Apple's adding some great new features to Mail in El Capitan

Tip 1 of 5: Coming in El Capitan: iOS Mail features coming to Mac

Mail is getting a big update in El Capitan with many features reminiscent of the iOS version of Mail.

For example, if you are composing an email and want to check another message you can minimize the email you are drafting so that it goes to the bottom of the screen (similar to the way it works on iOS 8). This way you can access your email inbox and find the other message that you want to refer to.

Next Tip »

Mail is getting a big update in El Capitan with many features reminiscent of the iOS version of Mail.

For example, if you are composing an email and want to check another message you can minimize the email you are drafting so that it goes to the bottom of the screen (similar to the way it works on iOS 8). This way you can access your email inbox and find the other message that you want to refer to.

Step 2 of 5: Coming in El Capitan: iOS swiping in Mail on the Mac

Speaking of iOS-like features, swipe gestures are also coming to Mail for El Capitan.

These swiping gestures, familiar to any iPad or iPhone user, make is easy to mark an email as unread, for example.

Assuming you have a trackpad, it works in the same way as on the iPhone: Swipe left to delete a message, swipe right to mark it as read.

Step 3 of 5: Coming in El Capitan: Manage multiple threads

Multiple email threads taking over your inbox?

In Mail 9 it’s easy to manage more than one email conversation, switching between active email threads using tabs – similar to Safari tabs.

This will make it easier to locate and keep tabs on the message threads that matter.

Step 4 of 5: Coming in El Capitan: Data detectors

Mail will volunteer to add events to your calendar and contacts to your contact database, this isn’t a new feature, but it is improved in El Capitan Mail.

Mail will add banners in between the address field and the body of the message with data it’s detected and possible actions to take.

In another attempt to be useful, Mail will note that the email of the person who emailed you isn’t in your Address Book and will offer to add it.

Step 5 of 5: Coming in El Capitan: Natural Language search

Mail in El Capitan will use Natural Language search. This means you can type: “Show me emails with ‘El Capitan’ in the subject line” and that’s what you’ll get.

It’s a lot more like the way you speak to Siri (which makes us wonder if Siri will eventually make it to the Mac.)

Read our El Capitan Tips

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn't affect our editorial independence. Learn more.