iOS issue---missing many old gmails on gmail web server

(previously incorrectly posted in servers)

I have used gmail for years and recently noted that in one gmail account, many important emails from 2009 to October 2021 sequestered in gmail folders are gone. I have been in Apple environment that entire time, accessing gmail server via laptop, and thru Apple mail on iphone. I've gone through all of the steps google suggests regarding forwarding, and etc. to no avail. I do note that in some folders within this account (no problem with other gmail accounts) that if I had place an unread gmail into a folder (usually from iphone) those emails are intact within the folder back to the time of the unopened mail. In fact, I have gone back to mark as "unread" those oldest emails in an attempt to preserve data.


Reddit and other sources in online search suggest apple IPOP is the cause for all of this somehow. I cannot begin to express the importance of these lost emails.


Clearly this has been a more common issue than I might have expected. Is there any recourse for recovery? Google communities simply says "go ask Apple, they're the reason, and they won't even admit there is a problem."

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Posted on Mar 7, 2023 7:12 AM

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Posted on Mar 7, 2023 7:24 AM

First off, there is no such thing as “Apple POP”.

POP3 is an industry standard. By default, POP3 will remove messages from the server when they are downloaded to the client. At that point, the client is the ONLY place they exist. If they are deleted from there, then they are gone forever.


For the most part, POP3 is considered obsolete. It does not support multiple clients or synchronization between the server and client. IMAP does, though Google’s implementation of IMAP is horribly non-standard.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 7, 2023 7:24 AM in response to mark bieri

First off, there is no such thing as “Apple POP”.

POP3 is an industry standard. By default, POP3 will remove messages from the server when they are downloaded to the client. At that point, the client is the ONLY place they exist. If they are deleted from there, then they are gone forever.


For the most part, POP3 is considered obsolete. It does not support multiple clients or synchronization between the server and client. IMAP does, though Google’s implementation of IMAP is horribly non-standard.

Mar 7, 2023 7:27 AM in response to mark bieri

  • Have you configured IMAP or POP3? IMAP is short for Internet Message Access Protocol. With IMAP, the message does not remain on the local device, such as a computer, it remains on the server. POP3 is short for Post Office Protocol. With POP3 mail, it will connect and attempt to keep the mail located on the local device (computer or mobile)
  • Are you using any third party mail app or iOS mail app?
  • Have you set any Rule on your email client server to move mails on arrival.


Mar 7, 2023 7:28 AM in response to mark bieri

It would be better if you can please re-post with a screenshot (showing Apple POP), in order to understand the phenomenon better. Images/pictures speak louder than words. 


Please understand this is a public forum: While attaching a Screenshot, do not provide any personal credentials, such as IP address, Card detail, email id, apple id, IMEI number, Serial Number, Phone number, Order ID, if you are sharing a map ensure your location is not identifiable, etc.



With the limited information that you have provided, It is hard to even guess the problems faced by you. 


You may get faster and better responses to your query by --> Writing an effective Apple Support Commun… - Apple ...



Please re-post with detail so that someone else can help.



Mar 7, 2023 8:06 AM in response to SravanKrA

I use the Apple iOS mail app to get my gmail, and, frankly, did not expect an ***-chewing from the "experts" regarding what ever IPOP, POP, IMAP, or whatever it is-- I set up the accounts using whatever-it-is on my iPhone that is Apple's standard software protocol for getting it to my phone within the iOS mail app. I just know that I have been through the gamut with google trying to figure out where many, many important old emails might be. Having exhausted that, and realizing this could be just an Apple vs Google software dispute, I tried to study it online, and there were suggestions that iOS software could be at fault. If there is a way to fix it, fine. If it is not, OK, just say so.



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iOS issue---missing many old gmails on gmail web server

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