I have over 4 GB of emails stored on my iPad apparently. My Internet service provider gives me one gigabyte of email storage. Is it possible to eliminate the 4 GB of email stored on my iPad without affecting the offsite storage with my ISP?
iPad, iPadOS 16
There isn’t a straightforward answer - as how your email is stored and synchronised with your Mail provider will depend on the Mail App and the Mail-protocol being used - and the specific settings that are configured.
If using IMAP mailboxes, all mail messages are stored on the Mail server - and copies of your mail messages are downloaded to each of your devices. Message status (such as Read/Unread) and deletion are fully synchronised via the Mail Server to all devices; deletion from one device results is deletion from all devices and the Mail Server.
If instead you are using POP3 mailboxes, an individual mail client can be configured in one of two principal modes:
1) Download and delete - mail messages are downloaded directly to the mail client (App) - and the original message is immediately deleted from the Mail Server. In this mode, after download, the mail message is only stored on the individual device until it is deleted from the device. This mode does not work well with multiple clients - as the only the first client to download the incoming mail message(s) will have the message(s).
2) Download and leave a copy on the server - a copy of mail messages are downloaded from the server - and the original message is retained on the server. When mail messages are deleted from the device, both the local copy and the server copy are deleted. This mode allows multiple clients to see the mail messages, but does not synchronise Read/Unread status between clients.
It is possible to mix IMAP and POP3 clients when using Download and leave a copy on the server.
In summary, without a lot information about your mail services and their configuration, it is impossible to provide a definitive answer to your question.
There isn’t a straightforward answer - as how your email is stored and synchronised with your Mail provider will depend on the Mail App and the Mail-protocol being used - and the specific settings that are configured.
If using IMAP mailboxes, all mail messages are stored on the Mail server - and copies of your mail messages are downloaded to each of your devices. Message status (such as Read/Unread) and deletion are fully synchronised via the Mail Server to all devices; deletion from one device results is deletion from all devices and the Mail Server.
If instead you are using POP3 mailboxes, an individual mail client can be configured in one of two principal modes:
1) Download and delete - mail messages are downloaded directly to the mail client (App) - and the original message is immediately deleted from the Mail Server. In this mode, after download, the mail message is only stored on the individual device until it is deleted from the device. This mode does not work well with multiple clients - as the only the first client to download the incoming mail message(s) will have the message(s).
2) Download and leave a copy on the server - a copy of mail messages are downloaded from the server - and the original message is retained on the server. When mail messages are deleted from the device, both the local copy and the server copy are deleted. This mode allows multiple clients to see the mail messages, but does not synchronise Read/Unread status between clients.
It is possible to mix IMAP and POP3 clients when using Download and leave a copy on the server.
In summary, without a lot information about your mail services and their configuration, it is impossible to provide a definitive answer to your question.
As you are using IMAP, deletion of mail from any device will be synchronised with every device - and with the Mail server. So, in returning to your original question, no, it is not possible to delete mail messages without affecting messages stored on your Mail Providers server.
Thank you LotusPilot for your prompt answers. As you can tell, I am a neophyte when it comes to technical issues. What still confuses me is 4 GB of email data on my iPad whereas my ISP server only reflects around 900 MB worth of stored emails. Shouldn’t those storage numbers be approximately the same?
I am using IMAP mailboxes on five devices, two iPhones, two iPads, and one iMac. None of the devices use the
POP3 protocol.
iPad storage of emails
