How can I stop my Inbox from disappearing within minutes of opening an email? I am using IMAP and it is happening on the iPhone and an iPad but not on a desktop Windows computer.
iPhone 6s
POP is not the way to handle mail on multiple mail clients. There is something else going on here that is causing the problem. Mail in an IMAP account will not arbitrarily disappear from the inbox for no reason. Mail in IMAP remains on the server, and is only synced to the mail clients. If it is disappearing on the iOS devices, but not the computer, the first thing to check is the computer. Are you sure that the computer is not set up as POP, and the mail is configured to delete from the server once retrieved by the computer. If you have the computer set up as POP, then fetch mail and it gets deleted, that would make it disappear from the iOS devices. What mail client are you using on the computer? Verify its configuration. If necessary, work with your email provider to ensure that the computer is correctly configured for IMAP.
POP is not the way to handle mail on multiple mail clients. There is something else going on here that is causing the problem. Mail in an IMAP account will not arbitrarily disappear from the inbox for no reason. Mail in IMAP remains on the server, and is only synced to the mail clients. If it is disappearing on the iOS devices, but not the computer, the first thing to check is the computer. Are you sure that the computer is not set up as POP, and the mail is configured to delete from the server once retrieved by the computer. If you have the computer set up as POP, then fetch mail and it gets deleted, that would make it disappear from the iOS devices. What mail client are you using on the computer? Verify its configuration. If necessary, work with your email provider to ensure that the computer is correctly configured for IMAP.
I still have IMAP on and I think I may have found the answer. There was a disabled account listed in the accounts list and I removed it. The test emails are still there after 10 minutes so I hope that that is the solution and I can stay on IMAP. Thank you for your replies.
Sorry for the delay, I was called out of town. Did you compare your Mail settings on the iPhone and iPad? So you are sure they are IMAP settings?
As far as Thunderbird for the desktop, I'm not familiar with that program, but I still believe that is where the problem is. To test, have someone send you an email to the address that you use on the 3 platforms. Check the mail on the iPhone and iPad. If it arrives fine, then do not check for mail on the desktop. After 30 minutes, which you gave as a time that mail disappeared before, check the iPhone and iPad again. If the mail is still there, then open the mail program on the desktop and see if you receive the mail, and then check the iPhone and iPad. See if the mail is still there. You may also wish to check the Thunderbird program to see if you have any rules set up to do anything special with mail that has been received, such as move it to another folder, etc. See if the mail disappears. Without being able to see the devices and the mail settings, it is difficult to diagnose anymore than what has been done. There are no settings on the iPhone or iPad that would delete mail as you have described.
What mail client are you using on the Windows computer? The mail client is the program that you use to check mail with?
Next, are you using the native Mail app on the iPhone and iPad? Are you certain they are both set up as IMAP?
Once you can determine what program you are using to check mail on the laptop, we can determine if it is configured correctly.
See this screenshot from the iPhone. The iPad will look the same. Go to Settings>Passwords & Accounts, then tap on the account in question. The top should look like this, and say IMAP.
Perhaps both your email accounts (on iPhone or iPad) are not set up properly.
Contact your email provider, and check with them your SMTP/IMAP parameters.
Regards
Giulio
I am are that I have used the correct settings provided by Hostway. The only way I have found to stop this from happening is to put all the devices on POP.
This has actually been going on for months. All devices were using POP. We got a Windows laptop to replace the desktop. When we tried to set everything up with IMAP it was doing the same thing. We verified settings with Hostway and they said it was not their problem. We returned the laptop thinking that it was the problem. We put everything back on POP. But yesterday I decided to try to use IMAP again. The only other thing I can think of is that either the iPhone or iPad has some issue with IMAP.
For now I have set all the devices back on POP so nothing disappears. We are having a tech guy help us on Monday. I am absolutely certain that my settings for IMAP were correct according to the parameters given to me by Hostway. When we had the laptop we tried a different email client and it did the same thing, That is why we returned the laptop. We thought that it was the defective part. We have also tried opening the emails first on different devices but eventually they always disappear on the mobile devices. It is weird to see it disappear right before our eyes when we know we have not deleted anything. If the tech guy figures out what is wrong I will post and let you know the issue. Thank you for your help.
Checking parameters includes also choosing between IMAP & POP with your e-mail provider.
But I'm glad you worked it out.
Giulio
My pleasure :)
Giulio
It lasted only 30 minutes. Looks like it's POP accounts. I've wasted too much time on this!
Thunderbird for the desktop and Apple Mail on the iPhone and iPad.
By the way, emails that come into the iCloud address are fine. The email address in question is my husband's business address..
Thank you for the update. There has to be something going on. I have an Exchange account on both my iPhone and iPad, and also a personal Comcast account that is IMAP. They both work fine. From what settings there are on the iOS devices, the only thing I can see what would make mail disappear from those devices is if it is deleted from the server. And without you being able to check the settings on the laptop, I still feel it is the cause. I look forward to hearing from you Monday to see what the problem is. Good luck.
Using IMAP and emails disappear within minutes on iPhone and ipad
