Emails stay in Drafts folder after sent

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Level 1

17 points

Emails stay in Drafts folder after sent

In Apple Mail, messages often remain in the drafts folder after they've been sent.

This is an exchange account. When I check the account using the exchange web interface the draft isn't there. Just on the Mac.

These are messages that have been completed and sent. They're not new message windows that I've opened and forgotten to close.

"Store draft messages on server" is deselected in account settings - this was suggested as a fix by others.

Any suggestions? I have to double check to make sure messages have been sent.

Thanks,

Chris

iMac 27″, macOS 11.6

Posted on Oct 27, 2021 7:53 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

bailier

Community Specialist

Oct 28, 2021 9:37 AM in response to Chris Conroy

Thanks for reaching out, Chris Conroy.

It sounds like you're seeing drafts in your Mail app on your Mac. We can help.

According to Save draft emails in Mail on Mac: "For Exchange and IMAP accounts, drafts are stored on the mail server (unless you select a mailbox on your Mac in the Mailbox Behaviors pane of Mail preferences)." So, we'd like to see what happens if you delete the drafts on your Mac and then update your settings to leave drafts on your server instead.

Give that a try, and see if there is any improvement.

We are here for you.

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Answer 2

karina184

Community Specialist

Nov 1, 2021 8:23 AM in response to Chris Conroy

Thanks for following up, Chris Conroy.

That's exactly right. We want to remove the folder on your Mac, and then update settings to leave drafts with your email provider instead of downloading to the Mac.

Keep us posted.

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Answer 3

Chris Conroy Author

Level 1

17 points

Nov 1, 2021 12:19 PM in response to karina184

Thanks for the clarification.

I deleted the drafts folder for that account, went into prefs and checked "leave drafts on server".

Created a message, sent it and there's still a copy in the drafts mailbox.

Chris

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Answer 4

tbirdvet

Level 6

13,707 points

Nov 1, 2021 1:19 PM in response to Chris Conroy

You are correct in assuming the drafts should disappear once sent. Not sure why yours remain. However, in your mail preferences, accounts be sure in the mailbox behavior that the drafts is not in the "on my Mac" section but under your email address section from where you send out emails..

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Answer 5

Chris Conroy Author

Level 1

17 points

Nov 1, 2021 5:10 AM in response to bailier

Hi Bailier, thanks for your help.

To be clear, are you saying to delete the drafts folder on my mac? I have been deleting individual messages after confirming that they’ve been sent.

Thanks,

Chris

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Emails stay in Drafts folder after sent

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