If Canary Mail feels slow when used with Gmail or Outlook accounts, the cause is usually related to mailbox size, indexing, or sync state rather than the app itself.
This guide explains:
- Common reasons for performance issues
- How Gmail and Outlook accounts affect indexing
- Steps to improve responsiveness
Common Symptoms
You may notice one or more of the following:
- Slow search results
- Delay when opening large email threads
- New emails appearing later than expected
- AI summaries or draft suggestions loading slowly
- Temporary lag when switching folders
These behaviors are usually related to indexing, mailbox size, or network conditions rather than a defect in the app.
Why Performance Can Vary
Email performance depends on several factors:
- Number of emails and folders in your mailbox
- Size of long email threads
- Initial indexing after adding an account
- Network conditions or VPN usage
- Provider-specific sync behavior (Gmail vs Outlook)
Large or long-lived mailboxes require more time to index, especially when AI features are enabled.
Steps to Improve Performance
Try the following steps in order:
1. Allow Indexing to Complete
After adding a Gmail or Outlook account, Canary Mail performs initial indexing in the background. This process is expected and may take longer for:
- Large mailboxes
- Gmail accounts with many labels
- Accounts with long conversation threads
Keep Canary Mail open and connected to allow indexing to complete. Performance typically improves once indexing finishes.
2. Reduce Synced Folders Temporarily
If your account has many folders or labels, limit syncing to essential folders and re-enable others gradually.
If you use multiple devices simultaneously, review Resolving too many simultaneous connection errors to ensure your provider’s IMAP connection limits are not exceeded.
3. Restart Sync After Account Changes
If you recently changed settings or enabled AI features, restarting the app can refresh indexing and sync state.
4. Check Large Threads
Very long email threads can take longer to load and summarize. Performance improves once threads are indexed.
5. Review VPN or Network Settings
VPNs or unstable connections can slow IMAP or Exchange syncing. If issues persist, review the Connectivity troubleshooting guide for network and authentication checks.
6. Restart the App
A full restart can resolve temporary sync or indexing delays.
AI Feature Expectations
AI Copilot relies on indexed email data to summarize threads and generate drafts.
If AI responses feel slow:
- Confirm indexing has completed
- Reduce mailbox scope temporarily
- Start with shorter or newer threads
AI features are optional and can be disabled if you prefer a traditional email workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Canary Mail store my emails?
No. Your emails remain stored with Gmail or Outlook. Canary Mail syncs and displays your mailbox through your provider connection.
Why is Gmail slower than other accounts?
Gmail inboxes often include large message histories and many labels, which can increase indexing time and slow initial search and thread loading.
Does disabling AI improve performance?
In some cases, yes. AI features can add extra processing during indexing, especially for very large mailboxes. The email client remains fully usable with AI disabled.
When to Contact Support
Contact Canary Mail Support if:
- Performance remains slow after indexing completes
- Emails fail to sync consistently
- You see repeated connection or authentication errors
To help us investigate quickly, please include:
- A brief description of the issue
- Your ticket number (if available)
- Your email logs
Follow these instructions to collect logs: How to export logs in Canary Mail