can I delete account without deleting messages?

Question

Level 1

6 points

can I delete account without deleting messages?

I have old email messages from friends and family that I want to keep in my mail folders, but I no longer use that email account. Can I delete the account without deleting all the historic email associated with it? Or do I have to look at that now grayed account name forever in my sidebar?

MacBook 13, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Jan 1, 2010 10:31 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Jan 1, 2010 11:20 AM in response to itsfrancis

If you delete the account all the messages will be deleted as well. If you wish to save them then create a new mailbox in your new account, select all the messages you wish to save from the old account and drag them to the new mailbox you just created. You can then safely delete the old account without losing the messages you just copied to your new account.

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Answer 2

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Jan 1, 2010 11:33 AM in response to itsfrancis

in addition to kappy's suggestion you can make a mailbox (or several mailboxes) in "on my mac' section and move or copy the messages from the old account there. mailboxes in "on my mac" section are local to your computer and are not associated with any account. they will not be affected no matter what you do with any account.

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Jan 1, 2010 11:46 AM in response to V.K.

VK,

Thanks for the clarification as that was my intent. I did not do a good job of making it clear.

Happy New Year!

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Answer 4

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Jan 1, 2010 12:08 PM in response to Kappy

Kappy wrote:
VK,

Thanks for the clarification as that was my intent. I did not do a good job of making it clear.

Oh, I thought you were suggesting to move the messages to the inbox of another account which is also an option.

Happy New Year!

same to you!

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Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Jan 1, 2010 12:11 PM in response to V.K.

VK,

Yeah, like I said I didn't really make it very clear. You did it just fine.

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Answer 6

itsfrancis Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 1, 2010 3:11 PM in response to itsfrancis

thanks. That is just what I needed. I currently have three accounts, including the one I'm deleting.

If I understand you right, all I need to do is move all my messages out of the INBOX of the account I'm deleting, and into other folders I created under the ON MY MAC section. Deleted account messages will only be deleted from the INBOX. (well, HELP should have said so, instead it just said ALL mail from that account will be deleted).

Now, if I SENT mail from the account I delete, that account's mail in the SENT folder be deleted also because it has not been moved into a folder I created in the ON MY MAC section, Correct?

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Answer 7

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Jan 1, 2010 3:22 PM in response to itsfrancis

Any mailbox you don't save by the suggested method will be deleted when you delete the account. You can create as many new mailboxes ON MY MAC to transfer the mail you want to keep including SENT mail, the INBOX, etc.

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Answer 8

itsfrancis Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 1, 2010 5:23 PM in response to itsfrancis

I did as instructed, moved all my emails out of the inbox, and then deleted that account. But now it won't delete. I get a message that says, are you sure, all our messages will be deleted too, and i click OK, yes I'm sure.

and nothing happens, I still have have a gray account sitting there -- it won't leave my left pane part of the window. I've tried deleting it a dozen times, I've quite and re-started, etc. But it won't delete. It's gray because I can't get email there anymore, so, now I want it out of my life, but it won't go away.

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