Mail App: Organizing Mailnbox Subfolders

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Level 1

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Mail App: Organizing Mailnbox Subfolders

Hope anyone can point me in the right direction:

I have a few mailboxes in the MAIL app and created also numerous subfolders (or mailboxes) for my main mail account. I accidentally moved on folder into another folder, so that it is now a subfolder. I want to move the folder back to the main level to make is a main folder, but for some reason I can only rearrange this folder within the folder it is now. I cannot drag the folder out of this folder.

Any idea what I do wrong anyone? Appreciate any advice!

Screenshot:

MacBook Pro

Posted on Mar 25, 2020 6:00 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,246 points

Mar 25, 2020 3:31 PM in response to galvez-architect

The only other thing I can add is you move the folder icon such that the insertion bar goes where you want, not the folder. Notice in my screen shot that the folder is way to the left to get the bar where it needs to be.

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Answer 2

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,246 points

Mar 26, 2020 9:43 AM in response to galvez-architect

You could have just logged into your email provider's web portal and done the same thing.

As I stated, Apple Mail does not support subfolders of the Inbox.

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Answer 3

Old Toad

Level 10

215,706 points

Mar 25, 2020 1:25 PM in response to galvez-architect

Boot into Safe Mode (Use Safe Mode to isolate issues with your Mac and Playing Safe: what does Safe Mode Do?) and try to reset the folder organization from there. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 10 minutes as it's doing some system cache cleaning, volume verifying and directory repairing.

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Answer 4

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,246 points

Mar 25, 2020 6:11 AM in response to salmonelli

You should be able to. You should get an insertion like that pops up when you drag.

Another person posted the same problem. I'm not sure if I am seeing anything different, but I don't have a problem rearranging them. I am running 10.15.4, but I don't know if that makes a difference.

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Answer 5

Mar 25, 2020 12:57 PM in response to Barney-15E

Same problem, but when you get the "placement bar" or whatever you call it, Mail only allows me to arrange within that level, I cannot go "up" a level. Is there some sort of vulcan neck pinch keystroke combination required to do this very simple task. People make mistakes, Apple should accommodate.

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Answer 6

salmonelli Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 25, 2020 2:42 PM in response to Barney-15E

Yers I get this placement bar, but only within the subfolders range. I want to drag the folder outside of the subfolder level and into the main level. But the placement bar doesn't show. I can only drag it into another main level folder, but this would make it again a subfolder of another folder.

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Answer 7

Mar 25, 2020 3:10 PM in response to Old Toad

No joy. Perhaps another piece of information might be helpful. It is an exchange account. However if I moved it once, and the change was reflected on my phone it shouldn't make a difference. I promise I won't touch the folders again, and live with them out of order!

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Answer 8

salmonelli Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 26, 2020 1:50 AM in response to Barney-15E

Yes I did this numerous times. The insertion bar does not show if I want to move the folder outside of this folder level. I want my folder to be in the top level of the folder structure as it was before. I just accidentally dragged it into another folder and now I want it move it back. This seems to be not possible anymore.

Screenshot:

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Answer 9

salmonelli Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 26, 2020 4:09 AM in response to Barney-15E

Thanks for your kind advice Barney, much appreciated.

I actually didn't want subfolders and I don't have any, but because I dragged it accidentally into one of the folders it just became a subfolder. I just want to reverse it. Maybe I can figure out some workaround, like create a new folder and then just move the emails. Then delete the subfolder. Maybe worth a try.

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Answer 10

salmonelli Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 26, 2020 3:39 PM in response to Barney-15E

Great!

This solved my problem. I just moved the folder in the webmail account and then the Apple mail app updated the folder structure upon restart of the mail app.

Just out of curiosity; if the Apple mail app can display a three level folder structure that was created in the mail account provider's web application, why can't the folders be moved in mail as well. I don't think it is technically difficult to do, but maybe there are some limitations on the mail app set by the email account provider?

Thanks a lot to all of you for the support. I am happy with the solution.

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Answer 11

salmonelli Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 25, 2020 2:43 PM in response to galvez-architect

Yes exactly!

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Answer 12

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,246 points

Mar 26, 2020 3:49 PM in response to salmonelli

I have no idea. I imagine they do not expect anyone to create subfolders of the inbox, so didn't spend any time making that possible.

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Answer 13

Mar 26, 2020 9:21 AM in response to salmonelli

Solved it! Tongue and Cheek, but I really did fix it. Go download outlook, install your credentials and then move the folder back up a level. Then it is corrected in mail. Delete Outlook if you want afterwards.

C'mon Apple!

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Answer 14

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,246 points

Mar 26, 2020 3:39 AM in response to salmonelli

Mail doesn’t really support sub folders of the Inbox. It’ll show them if you have them, but everything else is flakey.

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Mail App: Organizing Mailnbox Subfolders

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