# How to print an email in Apple Mail on Mac: steps and fixes for blank pages

> Learn how to print an email in Apple Mail on Mac with File > Print, the Command-P shortcut, font size fixes, and a workaround for blank pages.

URL: https://www.lazur.app/how-to/print-an-email-in-apple-mail
Updated: 2026-11-07

To print an email in Apple Mail on Mac, select the message, then choose File > Print and click Print in the dialog that opens. Command-P should open the same dialog, but Apple's Mail shortcut list doesn't mention it, so test it before you rely on it.

## Quick answer

- Select the email in Apple Mail, then choose File > Print and click Print.
- Select several messages and Mail prints each one separately.
- Command-P should open the print dialog, but Apple's Mail shortcut list does not confirm it.
- If text prints too small, raise the message font size in Mail > Settings > Fonts & Colors, then print again.
- Attachments do not print from Mail. Some emails print with only the header, and one reported workaround is a custom paper size of 210 × 298 mm.

Applies to: Apple Mail on macOS, steps checked against Apple's Mail User Guide 14.0 path. Time: 3 min. Difficulty: Easy.

## What you need

- Apple Mail set up with at least one account on your Mac
- A printer added in System Settings, or a plan to save a PDF instead
- The message is in your mailbox and you can select it in the message list

## How to Print an email in Apple Mail on Mac in Apple Mail on a Mac

1. **Open or select the email.** Open Apple Mail from the Dock or the Applications folder. Click the message once in the message list so it is highlighted. Double-click it if you want it in its own window. Tip: Mail prints the selected message, so the highlighted row is the one that counts.
2. **Select more messages if needed.** Shortcut: Command-click. To print several messages, hold Command and click each one. Apple's guide says each selected message prints separately.
3. **Open the Print command.** (File > Print) Shortcut: ⌘P. With the message selected, choose Print from the File menu. Mail opens the print dialog. Tip: Command-P should work too. Apple's Mail shortcut list doesn't mention it, so use the menu if nothing happens.
4. **Check the printer settings.** At the top of the print dialog, pick your printer. Set the number of copies and the paper size. Check the preview before you print. Tip: Option names can vary by macOS release, so read the labels on your own screen.
5. **Click Print.** Click Print in the lower right corner of the dialog. The message goes to your printer. For several messages, Mail sends each one separately.
6. **Make small text bigger if needed.** (Mail > Settings > Fonts & Colors) If the printout is too small, open the Fonts & Colors settings and raise the message font size. Then print the email again. Tip: Older macOS releases use Mail > Preferences. The font size also changes how messages look on screen.
7. **Save as PDF instead.** (File > Print) In the print dialog, click the PDF button in the lower left corner, then choose Save as PDF. Name the file and pick a folder. Tip: If the PDF comes out blank or fails, the email may have the blank-print problem described below.

## Print one email or several in Apple Mail

Apple Mail prints the message you select. Click the message once in the message list so it is highlighted. Then choose File > Print from the menu bar. The print dialog opens, and you click Print to send the message to your printer.

You can print more than one message at a time. Click the first message, hold Command, and click each extra message. Apple's Mail User Guide says each selected message prints separately, so the messages do not merge into one document.

The same steps work for a conversation. Apple's guide says you can select one or more messages or conversations, then choose File > Print. A conversation can run long, so check the preview before you print a long thread.

![Person at a Mac reading an email before they print it in Apple Mail](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/print-an-email-in-apple-mail/how-to-print-an-email-in-apple-1-44867b.jpg)

## Use Command-P or the toolbar Print button

Command-P is the fastest route. Apple's iCloud keyboard table lists Command-P for printing an email on Mac. Apple's general Mac shortcut list says Command-P opens a print dialog. Apple's Mail for Mac shortcut page does not list it. Command-P is likely right, but Apple's Mail docs do not confirm it for the Mail app.

Older guides mention a Print icon on the Mail toolbar. iMore's guide, published 14 May 2019, says to click that icon or choose File > Print, then click Print. Toolbar items can be moved or removed, so use the File menu if you don't see the icon.

## Fix emails that print too small

Sometimes an email looks normal on screen but prints in tiny type. Apple's guide says to increase the message font size in the Fonts & Colors pane of Mail settings, then print again. Open Mail > Settings > Fonts & Colors. In older macOS releases, the item is called Preferences.

Change one setting, then print one message as a test. Print a long thread only after the test looks right. This saves paper and ink, and it saves you from a second print run.

The font size also controls how Mail shows messages on your screen. If the text now looks too big in your inbox, set it back after you finish printing.

## Save an email as a PDF instead of printing

If you don't need paper, save the message as a PDF. Apple's guide says you can save messages as files or PDFs. Select the message, choose File > Print, then click the PDF button in the lower left corner of the dialog. Pick Save as PDF, name the file, and choose a folder.

A PDF is useful when you want to send the message to someone who does not use Mail, or keep a copy for your records. The label on the PDF button can change between macOS releases, so read the menu carefully before you click.

![Office printer on a desk, where you pick the printer and paper size in the print dialog](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/print-an-email-in-apple-mail/how-to-print-an-email-in-apple-2-ec8a14.jpg)

## Print attachments from Apple Mail

Mail does not print attachments. Print the email text from Mail, then open each attachment in the app that handles it. iMore's guide describes this path: right-click the attachment, choose Open With, then print from an app that supports that file type.

For a PDF attachment, Preview is the usual choice on a Mac. If you want to write on the file before you print it, read the steps at /how-to/mark-up-a-pdf-attachment-in-apple-mail.

## Print email from iCloud.com in a browser

Apple Mail has no web app. The browser route is iCloud Mail at icloud.com/mail, which is a separate service from the Mail app on your Mac. Sign in, select the email, click More (the three dots), and choose Print. Apple's iCloud guide covers these steps.

Apple's iCloud keyboard table lists Command-P as the shortcut to print an email on Mac. Browsers also use Command-P for their own print windows, so check which window opens before you click Print.

![Man using a MacBook to print an email from Apple Mail on Mac](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/print-an-email-in-apple-mail/how-to-print-an-email-in-apple-3-6d1a3c.jpg)

## What to do when an email prints blank

A blank printout is the most frustrating problem. One Apple Community report says certain emails in Apple Mail print with only the header. That user was on Mail 16.0 (3731.500.231) with macOS Ventura 13.3.1. The same emails could not be exported as a PDF either.

The thread records one workaround. A custom A4 size of 210 × 298 mm printed correctly, while 210 × 297 mm made the content disappear. The poster called it a stopgap, and no Apple fix is recorded.

| Custom paper size | Result reported in the thread |
| --- | --- |
| 210 × 298 mm | Content prints correctly |
| 210 × 297 mm | Content disappears from the printout |

_Results from one Apple Community thread. Apple did not publish this test._

To create a custom size, open the print dialog, open the paper size menu, and choose Manage Custom Sizes. Enter the width and height, name the size, and select it before you click Print. Menu names can vary by macOS release, so check your own screen.

Test with one message before you print a batch. If the blank problem remains, try saving the email as a PDF, though the thread says those emails could not be exported that way either. Then contact Apple Support about the specific email.

## Mail stuck on Generating content to print

Another problem shows up as a print job that sits on Generating content to print. A Macintosh How To article suggests turning off Load remote content in messages. The article gives the path Mail > Preferences > Viewing, then clear that option.

The article is roughly from 2012 and names no Mail version. Newer Mail releases may not show the option at all. Treat this fix as a guess for your version, and check your menus before you spend time on it.

## Which Mail version and macOS version you have

The steps here match the Mac print section of Apple's Mail User Guide 14.0. Apple's current Mail User Guide for Mac is labelled for macOS 27. The page checked had no printing section, so menu names may have moved in newer releases.

Apple's Mail support hub has no printing topic and does not list a macOS or Mail version. The Mail User Guide is the only official Apple source for printing that was found. If File > Print is missing on your Mac, search the Mail Help menu for Print.

## How common Apple Mail is, and what that does not show

Apple Mail is a very common mail app. Litmus data, republished by Outsolvi for July 2026, puts Apple Mail (iPhone, iPad and Mac combined) at 62.26% of email opens, with Gmail at 27.03%.

That figure measures where emails are opened, not how often people print them. No published survey on printing habits was found, so this page gives no printing statistics. Test the steps on your own Mac.

## Common mistakes when printing email in Apple Mail

- Clicking away from the message before you choose File > Print. Keep the message highlighted so Mail knows what to print.
- Expecting attachments to print with the text. Open each attachment in its own app.
- Forgetting to undo a font size change. The setting also changes how messages look on screen.
- Printing a long thread without a test. One test message shows layout and size problems early.
- Trusting Command-P without a test. Apple's Mail shortcut page doesn't list it, so confirm it on your Mac.
- Using iCloud.com steps in the Mac app. The web version uses a More menu, while the Mac app uses File > Print.

## What to do after you print the email

After you print or save the email, you may want to find it again later. Flag the original message so it stands out in your mailbox. The steps are at /how-to/flag-an-email-in-apple-mail. You can also move it into a folder to keep your inbox clear, using /how-to/move-emails-to-a-folder-in-apple-mail.

If you print the same kind of message often, such as receipts from one sender, a rule can file them for you. The page at /how-to/create-a-rule-to-sort-incoming-mail-in-apple-mail walks through that setup. Start with one rule, then add more once it works.

## Shortcuts

- Print the selected email: ⌘P

## If it does not work

- **Command-P does nothing in Mail** Choose File > Print from the menu bar instead. Apple's Mail shortcut list doesn't include Command-P, so the menu is the reliable route. Click the message list first so Mail is the active window.
- **Email prints much smaller than on screen** Open Mail > Settings > Fonts & Colors, raise the message font size, and print again. Change one step at a time so you know which change helped.
- **Attachments are missing from the printout** Mail does not print attachments. Right-click the attachment, choose Open With, and print from an app that opens that file type.
- **Printout shows only the header** One Apple Community user reported this on Mail 16.0 with macOS Ventura 13.3.1. A custom paper size of 210 × 298 mm worked for them, but 210 × 297 mm made content disappear. No Apple fix is recorded.
- **Printing hangs on Generating content to print** A Macintosh How To article suggests turning off Load remote content in messages under Mail > Preferences > Viewing. The article is roughly from 2012, so the option may be missing in newer versions.
- **Your printer does not appear in the print dialog** Add the printer in System Settings > Printers & Scanners, then open the print dialog again.

## With Lazur

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download

- “Walk me through printing this email.”: Lazur points at File, then Print, one step at a time. You make each click yourself, and Lazur waits for it. (Walks you through it)

## FAQ

### Can I print several emails at once in Apple Mail on Mac?

Yes. Select the messages with Command-click, then choose File > Print. Apple's Mail User Guide says each selected message prints separately, so the messages do not merge into one printout.

### What is the shortcut to print an email in Apple Mail?

Command-P is the usual shortcut. Apple's iCloud keyboard table lists it for printing an email, and Apple's Mac list says it opens a print dialog. Apple's own Mail shortcut page leaves it out, so test it on your Mac.

### Why does my printed email look smaller than it does on screen?

The message font size is probably too small for the printer. Open Mail > Settings > Fonts & Colors, raise the message font size, and print again. Older macOS releases use Mail > Preferences for the same pane.

### Can Apple Mail print an attachment?

No. Mail prints the email text only. Right-click the attachment, choose Open With, and print from an app that supports that file type. Preview works for most PDF files.

### How do I print an email from iCloud.com?

Go to icloud.com/mail and sign in. Select the email, click More (the three dots), and choose Print. This is iCloud Mail in a browser, so it is separate from the Mail app on your Mac.

### Why does my email print blank except for the header?

One Apple Community user reported this on Mail 16.0 with macOS Ventura 13.3.1. A custom paper size of 210 × 298 mm printed the content in that thread. Apple has not recorded a fix, so treat this as a workaround.

### Can I save an email as a PDF instead of printing it?

Yes. Apple's guide says messages can be saved as files or PDFs. Choose File > Print, then click the PDF button in the lower left of the dialog. The label can change between macOS releases, so read it before you click.

### Does Apple Mail have a web version for printing?

Apple Mail has no web app. The closest option is iCloud Mail at icloud.com/mail, which has its own More menu with a Print command. Your Mac app steps are File > Print.

## Sources

1. [Print emails in Mail on Mac - Apple Support (Mail User Guide 14.0 path)](https://support.apple.com/en-mz/guide/mail/mail14106/14.0/mac/11.1), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
2. [Mail User Guide for Mac - Apple Support (en-NZ, macOS 27)](https://support.apple.com/en-nz/guide/mail/mail14106/16.0/mac/26), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
3. [Apple Mail Support](https://support.apple.com/mail), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
4. [Keyboard shortcuts in Mail on Mac - Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/guide/mail/keyboard-shortcuts-mlhlb94f262b/mac), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
5. [Keyboard shortcuts in Mail on iCloud.com - Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/guide/icloud/keyboard-shortcuts-mm281e20de/icloud), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
6. [Mac keyboard shortcuts - Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102650), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
7. [Print an email from Mail on iCloud.com - Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/guide/icloud/print-an-email-mm6b1a108c/icloud), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
8. [Certain e-mails in Apple Mail print blank - Apple Community](https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254793388), Apple Community, checked 2026-11-07
9. [How to print an email from the Mail app on Mac](https://www.imore.com/how-print-email-mail-app-mac), iMore, checked 2026-11-07
10. [Apple Mail stuck on Generating Content to Print](https://www.macintoshhowto.com/problems/apple-mail-stuck-on-generating-content-to-print.html), Macintosh How To, checked 2026-11-07
11. [Email Client Market Share 2026 (Litmus + Outsolvi Data)](https://outsolvi.com/tools/email-client-market-share), Outsolvi (citing Litmus), checked 2026-11-07