Zombie junk: Deleted junk e-mails keep reappearing?

(Tried to post this yesterday, but when I checked today, the page had been "force reloaded" and the question box was blank)


I'm using Mail in Ventura OS 13.4 on a 2017 13" MacBookPro. Since I updated to 13.4, e-mails in the "Junk" folder for my RCN e-mail account keep reappearing mere seconds after I delete them. The only way I've been able (thus far) to get rid of them is to log into rcn.com "Webmail" in Safari and go to my Spam folder. That deletes them and they stay deleted. This is a royal pain--takes forever, which is why I use MacOS' Mail.


This doesn't seem to happen with my other accounts. I've gone into Settings to see about Mailbox behaviors, but I don't see a solution. Obviously there's something I'm missing (not a "power user"). Anyone have any ideas why this is happening, and can someone walk me through the solution(s)?

MacBook Pro (2017 – 2020)

Posted on Jun 13, 2023 11:03 AM

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3 replies

Jun 14, 2023 6:46 PM in response to Sandra Andina1

Hi Sandra Andina1,


As it seems you've isolated the behavior in question to a single email account, the next step would be to assess how that account is configured. For instance, if set up as a POP account, changes you make on the Mac would not be reflected at the server (i.e. the RNC website you describe) and the next time Mac Mail checks the server, it would redownload those messages.


The article Change Account Information settings in Mail on Mac covers how to make general changes to your account. Not every email provider supports IMAP (though most do), which would allow for changes made on the Mac to reflect at the server as described in the information shown in the "email accounts" link at the top:


"Email account types

You can use various types of email accounts in Mail. Some of the most widely used account types include the following:...


  • IMAP accounts: Messages are stored on a mail server until you delete them. When your account connects to the server, it’s synced so that the messages on your Mac are the same as those on the server. Messages are accessible from different computers and locations where you use the account....
  • POP accounts: Messages are stored on a mail server and are downloaded to your Mac when you access your account. The messages remain on the server until they’re deleted from the server."


Check with your email provider to verify the correct settings and options for configuring that email address in Mac Mail so that changes you make don't impact your ability to send and receive email through that address.


Regards.

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Zombie junk: Deleted junk e-mails keep reappearing?

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