Sent items show twice on MAIL (IMAP)

Right after I posted my last message I tried something that I hadn't tried before. I completely removed the outlook.com account from my mac and re-configured it from scratch, only this time I set it up as an Exchange account (see attached pic).

This may be premature as I've only had it running in this config for about an hour but so far I'm no longer getting duplicate sent messages when sending or replying using outlook.com account from Mail in OSX (10.11.5). Maybe others who are still experiencing this issue can try the above and report back. Hope this helps.

Did you have any luck with the above options? I've recently set up my new iMac & set up mac mail, was using a macbook pro laptop with mac mail working fine for the past few years. But now with the new iMac I started to have the same issues as everyone else. When I reply to an email I receive duplicate copies in my sent mail. Apparently my clients aren't receiving two copies which was the main worry but still I am getting double ups which is real inconvenient. I also use a outlook email, it's a @live.com if that helps. Any updates on this issue?

Hi. I tried the exact same thing but for me it does not solve the problem. There is no problem when sending emails with ipad and iphone. One copy of sent items on iphone, ipad and imac. However, if I uncheck the "store sent message on server" box on imac in Apple Mail and even with "never" delete a message, then I have one copy of a sent message on my imac, but this message does not reflect on my iphone or ipad since these synch with the server and I told the server to not save a copy. So it is strange to me that it worked for you. The problem really seems to be that Apple Mail does not have a selection box for "store (or rather do not store) sent message locally" like Outlook for Mac and other third party programs have. To me the problem definitely lies with Apple Mail. Outlook.com (the server) keeps all the files and the apps access them remotely. If no app saves a copy locally, then there is no problem with dupes but as I said, Apple Mail does not let you opt out of saving locally. What is also weird is the inconsistency across users. Why does it work for some but for others it doesn't? I mean it is just a box we check or uncheck. Why would the result not be the same for everyone???

but that will remove copy from server and if i need that email i couldn't get that email in future. so i guess this solution will not give 100% fixed.

Guys I have just fixed this on my iPhone 6, so simple in the end. When setting up your hotmail account in iPhone make sure you use the outlook option not other. Fixed it instantly for me. Hope this helps

I have a solution which worked for me!

I'm running my hotmail account on the default mail application on my MacBook Pro 2015 (El Capitan).

Simply go to Mail -> Preferences -> Accounts Tab -> Select your problematic email account on the list on the left -> Uncheck 'Store sent messages on the server'.

Problem was solved for me, no more double sent messages on my MacBook Pro and my iPhone!

UPDATE:

Unfortunately, none of my outgoing emails appeared under 'sent'! So its either double sent emails or none at all with this method 😟

I found out what the problem with duplicates in sent folder is. I've discovered it after reinstalling El Capitan from scratch and reconfiguring everything again. Basically, I let all the settings as default, that means store sent mail on the server for outlook.com, but whenever I compose a new email from my mac, I get duplicate sent mail but now one is stored on the server and the other is on my mac.

What everybody else was doing in earlier OSX versions is this:

1. Select the folder you want to use for sent messages on the IMAP server from the side-bar

2. Mailbox menu => Use This Mailbox For => Sent

If you do as above, both versions, 'on my mac' and on the server will be stored on the server, thus the duplicates on the server. If you don't do as above, you will still be getting duplicates in sent folder, but only one on the server, not two anymore. Just empty sent mail on my mac from time to time.

Hi svkrzn,

So what should the settings be to not have duplicates?

arexisree wrote:

Hi svkrzn,

So what should the settings be to not have duplicates?

you will still be getting duplicates in sent folder, but only one on the server, not two anymore. Just empty sent mail "on my mac" from time to time.

Mail wasn't meant to be used to keep sent mail. All you need on your server is our incoming mail. 99% of the times when you send someone an email you get quoted in the answer and you can delete the sent one.

Currently my sent mail 'on my mac' does not have any mail when I send out emails. The duplicates only appear in sent 'hotmail'. How do I set it such that the duplicate copy appears under sent mail 'on my mac' and will be cleared by simply emptying the sent mail 'on my mac'?

I don't want to suggest anything wrong but I guess the only way is to delete all Mail preferences and ~/Library/Mail folder but don't trust me on that. I just explained you guys my experiences and the reason why those duplicates were going into Outlook sent folder on the server.

I found that turning off "Organize by conversation" Mail doesn't produce duplicates. To this extent I am assuming that somehow Mail is assuming what the server is flagging as "sent" is not the same as what it has locally and displays them a different emails.

For now I am turning off "Organize by conversation" - though I don't know for how long as I find it very useful.

You're wrong, actually. This issue has nothing to do with iCloud.

Which solution worked for you?

But doesn't this mean that you don't have access to your sent emails on all of your devices???

I need access to sent emails from my iMac, laptop, and phone.