Stop Mail from Syncing GMail 'Spam' Folder

GMail online web page > Settings > Labels > Spam. Uncheck the "show in IMAP" box. Your GMail spam folder will no longer show up in Mail on your MBA. The folder and spams will still be available online.

I followed the instructions but my virus scanner was still finding viruses in the SPAM folder. So I took the following additional steps:

• Mail > Preferences > Accounts > uncheck Enable This Account
• Finder > Hard Drive > Users > [my user name] > Library > Mail > V2 > [each IMAP.gmail account folder] > [Gmail].inbox > spam.mbox folder: deleted it. Emptied trash.
• Quit and re-launched mail.
• Enabled the account in Mail again.
• (I also pondered actually deleting the account from Mail altogether, and then re-adding it; that also would probably do it).

When Mail syncs, now I don't see any SPAM folder syncing activity, and the SPAM.mbox folder has not reappeared in Finder. So I think this finally did the trick.

Correction! I had been watching the folder on my backup drive so when I realized it and tried it on my regular hard drive, the SPAM folder was recreated.

So I tried again with the delete-account idea:

• Quit Mail.
• System Preferences > Internet Accounts
• Select my gmail account, and click the minus button. I answered to remove it not from all computers but just this one.
• Finder > Hard Drive > Users > [my user name] > Library > Mail > V2 > IMAP-[username]@imap.gmail.com folder: deleted it and emptied the trash.
• Enabled the account again in Sys Prefs > Internet Accounts (select it, then check the box for syncing Mail on the right).
• Re-launched Mail.

When Mail synced this time, it recreated the @imap.gmail.com folder and its subfolders; except for the SPAM folder. So turning off the account and deleting the @imap.gmail.com folder I presume removed some cached info that was causing it to still remember and sync (and recreate) the SPAM folder on previous attempts.

I have the same problem and did the unchecking of the show in IMAP box. Yes the spam folder doesn't show anymore on the computer, but mail is still downloading the spams in the inbox. In fact it seems that Mail is downloading spams from other accounts than the Gmail BEFORE they reach the spam filter of Gmail.

The Gmail spam filter works very well. But ever since I got my new macbook with Mavericks (which I enjoy beside that spam problem), the sync between Mail and Gmail isn't so smooth anymore. Come guys do something!

Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem solved sooner.

Mail/Provide Mail Feedback

You might want to consider starting a new discussion. Since this one is marked solved, less people are likely to look at it. You can link to this one.

You can actually just get away with unchecking "mail" from the sync list. Bit less intrusive.

I also found the path you gave to vary slightly - ~/Library/Mail/V3/random-guid-id/[Gmail].mbox/Spam.mbox - still eminently discoverable, however. This was on El Capitain, and I realise this was on the ML forum...

Another fun gotcha - my Mac was able to sync IMAP despite IMAP being disabled on my gmail account. I had to enable IMAP in order to see the "hide" checkboxes, and uncheck "Spam". I am now contemplating disabling it again, just for fun.

Now for a life with 99% less grinching from Sophos 😀

You might check your Gmail account settings using a browser to see if something is set incorrectly there.

You also might want to look at/post on the Gmail support forum.

Gmail Support

THANK YOU SO MUCH. This has been driving me nuts for months.

Have they removed the "show in IMAP" box now on GMAIL? I cant find it anywhere!

You might want to consider starting a new discussion. Since this one is marked solved, less people are likely to look at it. You can link to this one.