Airmail iCloud Sync - Rules and Custom Actions Not Syncing Between Mac and iPhone

When Airmail iCloud Sync is enabled, your accounts list, signatures, rules and custom actions should propagate between your Mac and iPhone (or iPad) automatically. In some cases the sync state gets out of step and items created on one device do not appear on the other. This article describes simple steps to restore the sync.


Typical symptoms


  • A rule created on Mac never appears on iPhone, or vice versa.
  • - A custom swipe / action created on iPhone is missing on Mac.
  • - Signatures or accounts created on one device take a long time to reach the other.
  • - iCloud Sync is shown as enabled on both devices, but changes still do not propagate.

Before you start


  • Use the same Apple ID on both devices.
  • - Make sure both devices are connected to the internet and not in Low Power Mode (which can pause background sync on iOS).
  • - Update Airmail to the latest version available in the App Store / Mac App Store on each device.

Step-by-step resolution


  1. Confirm Airmail has access to iCloud Drive on both devices
  2. - Mac: System Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Drive > Apps using iCloud > make sure "Airmail" is enabled.
  3. - iPhone / iPad: Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Drive (or iCloud Drive) > make sure "Airmail" is enabled.
  4. Confirm Airmail iCloud Sync is on inside Airmail
  5. - Mac: Airmail > Preferences (Cmd+,) > General (or Sync) > Airmail Sync should be enabled.
  6. - iPhone / iPad: open Airmail > Settings (gear icon) > General > Airmail Sync should be enabled.
  7. Force a re-sync
  8. - Turn Airmail iCloud Sync OFF on the device that has the newer rule / custom action.
  9. - Wait about 10 seconds.
  10. - Turn it back ON.
  11. - Fully quit Airmail on both devices (Cmd+Q on Mac; swipe up to close on iOS).
  12. - Re-open Airmail on the device where the change was made FIRST, wait 1–2 minutes, then open Airmail on the other device.
  13. Verify the level of the rule / custom action
  14. - Some rules and actions are stored at the account level, others at the global level.
  15. - Make sure the same account is added on both devices, otherwise an account-level rule will not appear on the device where that account is missing.
  16. Check iCloud storage
  17. - If your iCloud is full, sync will pause silently. Confirm available space in System Settings > Apple Account > iCloud (Mac) or Settings > Apple Account > iCloud (iOS).

Note on the sandboxed Mac App Store version


The Mac App Store version of Airmail runs in a sandbox and relies on Apple's iCloud Drive container for sync. It cannot reach iCloud through any other channel, so the steps above (enabling iCloud Drive for Airmail and checking iCloud storage) are essential. Manual file or library workarounds outside the sandbox are not supported in the Mac App Store build.


Still not syncing?


If rules or custom actions still do not appear on the second device after the steps above, please contact Airmail support and include:

  • Airmail version on each device (Airmail menu > About Airmail on Mac; Settings inside Airmail on iOS).
  • - macOS and iOS versions.
  • - A screenshot of the rule / custom action screen on the source device.
  • - A screenshot of the same screen on the destination device.

This allows us to verify whether the issue is on the sending side, the receiving side, or with the iCloud account itself.

Updated on: 05/15/2026

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