Mail does not delete files from server when trash is emptied

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Level 1

124 points

Mail does not delete files from server when trash is emptied

I am reluctantly migrating to Apple Mail after using Eudora as my local email client for the past 15 years.

Compared to Eudora there are many missing features in Mail.

One of the most basic preferences in Eudora is how Junk mail, and Deleted messages are handled.

Eudora allows you to choose in a preference setting whether you want to "delete messages from server when deleted from trash".

After using mail for a few weeks, I decided to check my mail on my iPod touch and discovered that I had 798 messages... most of these were "deleted" messages and "Junk" mail.

I do not use my server's Spam filtering capability because I find that it often blocks important messages form my clients.

The "Mail" project specialist told me that if engough people were interested in this feature, they'd consider adding it.

This could possibly take years.

In the meantime, does anyone have any advice, or can anyone direct me to an email program that has a more advanced set of features?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Jan 18, 2014 7:52 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 18, 2014 8:00 AM in response to zmix

There are a few listed at this web link. I have no recommendations I do use Apple mail and I don't have the problem you are having with the deleted mails.

http://www.macworld.com/article/2058525/ditch-maverickss-mail-other-email-apps-y ou-can-try.html

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Answer 2

Eric Root

Level 10

684,051 points

Jan 18, 2014 10:25 AM in response to zmix

If the account is an IMAP account, try Mail/Preferences/Accounts/Mailbox behavior and un-check 'Store Deleted Messages on Server'.

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Answer 3

zmix Author

Level 1

124 points

Jan 18, 2014 10:48 AM in response to Eric Root

Thanks Eric, I marked your reply as "soved my question", because it's useful. Unfortuately my ISP only has POP email accounts. I do not know why the Apply Mail specialist I spoke with did not provide this detail.

The question remains: Why isn't this option available for POP accounts?

When using a POP account, Apple Mail only provides the option "permanently erase deleted messages when:" which does NOT delete them from the server.

Eudora had the "delete messages from server when:" option even on POP accounts.

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Answer 4

Eric Root

Level 10

684,051 points

Jan 19, 2014 8:37 AM in response to zmix

POP accounts don't sync like IMAP accounts do. I think the best you can do with a POP account is to remove the message from the server when downloaded. It isn't fool proof, but ususally works. Mail/Preferences/Accounts/Advanced.

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Answer 5

zmix Author

Level 1

124 points

Jan 19, 2014 8:54 AM in response to Eric Root

Two things:

1: Deleting mail from the server when moved to trash worked fine in Eudora, even on my POP accounts.

2: I do not want to delete all mail from the server, just the junk and unwanted mail I've moved to the trash.

If I delete all mail from the server once it's downloaded into my local computer, it will no longer be accesible to me from my mobile devices.

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Answer 6

Jan 19, 2014 2:34 PM in response to zmix

This quote is from MS Outlook 2003 for Windows, Outlook is now available for Mac, I think you have to purchase Offiice though.

If you don't mind that it may still be available in Outlook for Mac. you would need to check. Sorry about the font, just copied and pasted. Look under POP3 accounts

http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/outlook-help/leave-e-mail-messages-on-your-e-m ail-server-HA001150793.aspx

Quote "

Remove from server when deleted from 'Deleted Items' E-mail messages are downloaded to your computer but also remain on the e-mail server indefinitely until you delete the e-mail message in Outlook and empty the Deleted Items folder. Just deleting the message doesn't remove the message from the e-mail server.

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