DCJ2010

Q: Deleting incoming emails from iPhone but not laptop

When I delete emails from my iphone 5S Inbox they are also being deleted from the email Inbox on my laptop at home.  How do I stop this?

iPhone 5s, iOS 9

Posted on Sep 23, 2015 7:55 AM

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Q: Deleting incoming emails from iPhone but not laptop

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  • by Kilgore-Trout,Apple recommended

    Kilgore-Trout Kilgore-Trout Sep 23, 2015 1:02 PM in response to DCJ2010
    Level 7 (32,519 points)
    iPad
    Sep 23, 2015 1:02 PM in response to DCJ2010

    Depends. If you are using an IMAP or Exchange account, that is simply the way if functions (i.e. don't delete anything until you done with it). If this is a POP account, you will need to set the account on the iPhone to leave messages on the server.

  • by DCJ2010,

    DCJ2010 DCJ2010 Sep 23, 2015 1:03 PM in response to Kilgore-Trout
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Sep 23, 2015 1:03 PM in response to Kilgore-Trout

    Many thanks - will need to investigate further - or just deal with it!

  • by Doris Nguyen,

    Doris Nguyen Doris Nguyen Jul 21, 2016 6:01 PM in response to Kilgore-Trout
    Level 1 (17 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 21, 2016 6:01 PM in response to Kilgore-Trout

    I am having a similar issue with my Iphone 6, where if I delete my Iphone messages from my inbox, it also deletes it from my server and thus never gets to my desktop/laptop.  And once I download my mail to my desktop, it then deletes the inbox messages from my Iphone thus I can never go back to reference if I'm not at my desktop.  I used to have my mailbox mapped to  a pop. server which allowed me the option to decide whether I wanted messages deleted from server which I had set to no so that I can manage my mail on my desktop and phone separately.  But recently I was trying to 'fix' a calendar invite issue and was advised to delete my mailbox then add it back, well when I added it back I was not given the option to set up my incoming mailbox server, it automatically set it to an imap server which I purposely did not want for the reason that anything I delete will also delete from server.  How can I set the preference to not delete from server from my Iphone and be able to manage mail separately?  Or is that even a choice anymore?  I tried to add the mailbox via Exchange rather than Other in the set up to see if I could manually add it, but it did not recognize my mailbox that way.  Please advise

  • by Kilgore-Trout,

    Kilgore-Trout Kilgore-Trout Jul 22, 2016 5:36 AM in response to Doris Nguyen
    Level 7 (32,519 points)
    iPad
    Jul 22, 2016 5:36 AM in response to Doris Nguyen

    Setting for mail account, mail type aside, will vary from provider to provider. However, typically:

    • if you have a POP account, and your mail client is set to delete from the server upon download, all mail message will be deleted from the server. It is not a pick and choose situation. If you are using POP, check with your provider to determine the correct setting. Having said that, POP is really far more trouble than it is worth when access/managing mail from multiple devices.
    • If you have an IMAP account, yes, deleting from one device will delete it from all of them. Don't delete a mail message until you are through with it or if you need it on other devices. Move it to a folder or consider using a mail app that has a snooze function (Airmail is what I currently use, but there are others).
  • by Doris Nguyen,

    Doris Nguyen Doris Nguyen Jul 24, 2016 10:49 AM in response to Kilgore-Trout
    Level 1 (17 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 24, 2016 10:49 AM in response to Kilgore-Trout

    Thanks for the insight, but it doesn't really resolve my issue.  For me I do need to be able to manage my mail separately.  When my mail was set up on POP I was able to select the option on whether or not I could delete from server or not once downloaded in the settings.  But since I cannot and "forced" to getting mail from IMAP, I loose that functionality.  I can go back to check with my provider and confirm what is allowed currently, and I know I'll just have to accept what is allowed.  And I get it, if I still need the emails just don't delete, but in situations where I need the email on both devices, it doesn't help that once it is downloaded to my desktop, I don't have it anymore on my phone.  Sometimes I need to refer to the email chain as I might have to respond on my desktop because the documents I need to reply back with are saved there, and when I'm away I need to be able to reply back or reference that email, so if it's only allowed on one device it is kind of disruptive.  I was able to control that when set up on POP.  I can't seem to do that on IMAP.  I tried to use the archive folder, but that only keeps it on the phone and it errors out downloading to my desktop.  It would seem there should be some kind of solution for that.  If you have any further suggestions to that dilemma would help a lot.  But if not, I guess it is what it is, and I may have to either switch providers or phones that will allow me to get what I need.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Jul 24, 2016 10:59 AM in response to Doris Nguyen
    Level 8 (37,864 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 24, 2016 10:59 AM in response to Doris Nguyen

    You are not "forced" to use IMAP. See: Forcing creation of a POP or IMAP email account

  • by Doris Nguyen,

    Doris Nguyen Doris Nguyen Jul 24, 2016 11:46 AM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 1 (17 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 24, 2016 11:46 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

    Thank you!!! That tip worked! 

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Jul 24, 2016 12:18 PM in response to Doris Nguyen
    Level 8 (37,864 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 24, 2016 12:18 PM in response to Doris Nguyen

    Great! I'm glad it helped.