Mail repeatedly downloads deleted Gmail messages

Question

Level 1

4 points

Mail repeatedly downloads deleted Gmail messages

Since 6th January (2 days) Mail has been repeatedly downloading messages from my 3 gmail accounts after I delete them. How do I stop it? I've been using Mail with these email addresses for several months.

MacBook Air (M4, 2025)

Posted on Jan 7, 2026 7:42 PM

Reply

Answer 1

brbo

Level 8

38,743 points

Jan 14, 2026 12:51 AM in response to lanmclen

Re: "Mail repeatedly downloads deleted Gmail messages"

if you have recently set-up iCloud to sync Mail ... there may be a setting there you can change ?

Could GMail be set up to keep your Mac Mail and GMail Inbox in sync with same messages in both places?

You may need to log-in to your account at GMail and check what actual settings are currently in place there: Try: https://accounts.google.com/ ( GMail may have added new features ?)

In GMail: At the top right, click Settings

(ie: the gear icon) > See all settings

Eg: If you are able to set that an email deletes on GMail when you delete an eMail on Mac ... then GMail will no longer have that message to download.

___________________

Resources : If needed:

iCloud User Guide - Apple Support

Mail User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

Apple Mail Support website: (info. / support / Conyact options tc.)Mail - Official Apple Support

Reply

Answer 2

lanmclen Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 14, 2026 4:49 PM in response to brbo

Thank you for your reply. A few other people replied but I couldn't follow any of their suggestions as my screens look different. Weirdly, without me therefore doing anything, that problem stopped. Now I'm trying to work out how to stop Mail from sending my deleted emails to archive and why it is copying emails. I've looked at the resources you have suggested but they don't help: the instructions don't line up with what I see on my screen.

Reply