IMAP mail connects to sync with a mail server that has been emptied, everything gone?

I would like to know whether the mail folders (inbox-sent-drafts-etc) get emptied in the device (iOS - MacOS) when the mail syncs with a mail server that has been emptied (not iCloud, a private domain). Tks

Posted on Jan 31, 2024 1:35 AM

Top-ranking reply

Luis Sequeira1

Level 9

74,542 points

Posted on Jan 31, 2024 1:58 AM

Yes, that is how IMAP is supposed to work.

If there are mails that you want to safeguard:

make sure that your Mac is offline to prevent it from reaching the server;
create mailboxes under "On My Mac" and copy or move the messages that you want to keep there (mailboxes and folders under "On My Mac" are kept there, regardless of any server)
reconnect to the server

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IMAP mail connects to sync with a mail server that has been emptied, everything gone?

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