FAQ.
Mail Shepherd 3.0 (build 454) · Updated October 21, 2026
Does Mail Shepherd read my email?
No. It reads each message’s sender, subject, dates, and read, junk and flag status, never message bodies or attachments, and it never changes a flag. See Privacy.
Does it send my data anywhere?
No. Everything stays on your Mac. The only thing it ever sends is the support log, and only when you click Send in the message it opens in Mail. To check for updates, it asks take66.ai which build is current, without sending anything about your mail.
Will it delete mail without asking?
No. It deletes only messages you select, after you confirm, and it never empties Trash. A Sweep or Auto-Sweep moves junk to Trash but never deletes it. See Deleting and Safety.
Why does it need Accessibility?
To delete messages: Delete Selected and Delete Permanently use Mail’s own Edit → Delete in its window. It also lets Open Mail’s Blocked List… open the right tab of Mail’s Settings. A Sweep and Block Sender don’t need it. See Setup.
Why does it need Contacts?
So mail from people you know is never treated as junk or blocked by a domain. Without Contacts access, Mail Shepherd can’t tell their mail apart, so a Sweep doesn’t run and blocking is turned off. It reads only your contacts’ email addresses and saves nothing from Contacts.
Can I try it without touching my mail?
Yes. Choose Help → Try Mail Shepherd with Sample Mail. Mail Shepherd reopens with made-up messages, lists and results, and a bar above every page saying so. Everything works as usual, including Sweep and Delete Selected, but only on the sample mail: nothing in Mail is read or changed, and your settings and lists aren’t touched. Click Quit Sample Mail to go back.
Does a Sweep ask before it starts?
No. It starts as soon as you click Sweep, and it doesn’t delete anything: it marks mail read, moves junk to Trash or your Inbox, and handles your domains. Stop (⌘.) ends it after the current step.
How often should I run a Sweep?
Whenever junk piles up, or turn on Auto-Sweep on Automate and let Mail Shepherd do it while it’s open. Every Sweep checks every message in Junk and Trash.
Why doesn’t Mail Shepherd tell me when it’s finished?
So it never interrupts you, especially when an Auto-Sweep runs while you’re away. The page simply updates. When something goes wrong, an orange warning icon appears; click it to open the Action Log.
Why is a message on Review Blocked and not Review Junk?
Its sender or domain is blocked. A message shows on one Review page at most, and blocked wins.
How do I keep a sender’s mail out of Junk?
On Review Junk, click one of their messages, then Add to Existing Contact… or Add as New Contact…. Mail Shepherd then moves their junk to your Inbox, and Mail’s junk filter skips senders in your contacts by default. To always allow a whole domain, use Allowed Domains.
How do I unblock a sender or domain?
Senders on Mail’s blocked list: click the sender on Blocked Senders, then Open Mail’s Blocked List… (or choose Mail → Settings → Junk Mail → Blocked in Mail), and remove them there. Senders on Mail Shepherd’s own list: click the sender, then Turn Off Blocking. Domains: check them on the right of Blocked Domains and click Unblock.
Does blocking reach my iPhone and other devices?
Mail’s blocked list syncs to your other devices like any block you make in Mail. Mail Shepherd’s Blocked Senders, Blocked Domains and Allowed Domains are kept on this Mac, and are applied by Sweeps on this Mac.
Does Mail Shepherd have to stay open?
Only for Auto-Sweep. Turn on Open at Login on Setup to keep it running after you restart.
Which email accounts does it work with?
The accounts in Apple Mail, including each account’s Junk and Trash and On My Mac. Mail Shepherd never needs your email password.
Can I use my Mac while it runs?
Yes, including Mail while a Sweep runs. The delete buttons work in Mail’s window, so leave Mail alone while they run, until Mail Shepherd comes back to the front.
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