Syncing IMAP sent mailbox across devices

Question

Level 3

701 points

Syncing IMAP sent mailbox across devices

THE PROBLEM

Sent messages are in different folders on all devices. I cannot make sense of, or find a way of, making the sent messages store in a common folder across all devices.

Here are some examples:

If I send an email from my Macs it will go the Sent folder (the one with the paper aeroplane icon). This is the desired result. However, the Sent Messages folder shows up only in my custom mail folder list on the iDevices.
If I send an email from my iPhone 4, it will store the Sent folder (the one with the paper aeroplane icon), However, the Sent folder (as on the Macs) shows up as a folder called Sent Messages in my custom mailbox list

There are more sent ail syncing problems but to list them is just confusing, and of course does not make any sense.

It seems no matter what combination I choose across devices (even if they all exactly the same) the Sent mail folders across all devices will not sync.

I never had this problem prior to OsX Maverics and iOs7.

THE DEVICES

OsX Mountain Lion 10.9.3 MacBook Pro late 2011 2.7Ghz Core i7
OsX Mountain Lion 10.9.3 MacBook Pro late 2011 2.4Ghz Core 3 i5
iPhone 4 iOs 6.1.3
iPhone 5s iOs 7.1.2
iPad Air iOs 7.1.2

I have an IMAP mail account with custom domain.

I am using Osx's Mail app as the target setting that I am looking for:

InBox - Stores all incoming mail

Sent - Stores all outgoing Mail

Drafts - Stores all incomplete outgoing mail

Trash - Stores all trash

Junk Mail - Stores all junk mail

So no matter what device I send mail from, and what ever device I check it from, all will have the same sent folder in the same location, with the same messages in them.

Note:

The IMAP path prefix in Apple Mail is set to INBOX.

The IMAP path prefix on all other iDevices is set to INBOX also

Here's the most sensical thing I have tried so far:

Setting all devices to use the Sent Messages folder to store sent messages (believing that this is how Apple Mail handles sent messages, even though the Server setup for mail folders may be the default of store all sent messages in the Sent folder).

If anyone can explain the correct, or reliable settings across all devices to keep mail folders synced that would be great.

Christo.

Posted on Sep 1, 2014 7:45 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Sep 1, 2014 8:01 AM in response to Christo

On the Macs, select the mailbox that the sent mail is actually appearing in. Go to the Mailbox Menu (with the mailbox selected) and scroll down to 'Use this Mailbox As" and choose 'Sent Mailbox. Repeat on all Macs. Test and post back,

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Answer 2

Christo Author

Level 3

701 points

Sep 1, 2014 8:13 AM in response to Csound1

I have done that.

On Osx I am using the folder, Sent Messages for sent mail. No problem between the two macs.

On iPhone 3Gs I have just set the sent Messages folder for sent mail. That folder resides in the custom mailbox list, the Sent folder in the head of the iOs Mail App remains empty.

The iPad Air is set to use Sent Messages for sent mail, and works as the Macs do.

I have deleted and reinstalled the email account in the iPhone 5S, and without doing anything, it is now syncing the sent messages as the Macs are.

I have done nothing to the iPhone 4, but now the sent messages are in the Sent Messages folder in the custom mailbox list. As like the iPhone 3GS, the Sent folder in the head of the iOs Mail App remains empty

It is appearing that it is no longer possible to sync the mail on iDevices running 6.13 with Newer Os's.

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Answer 3

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Sep 1, 2014 8:30 AM in response to Christo

If you wish to tell me how to do it that's fine.

but

If you want my help please do exactly and only what I ask, then tell me the results.

What I want to know is if you send an email from your iPhone does it show in the system sent folder (the one near the top) on both Macs, yes or no please.

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Answer 4

Christo Author

Level 3

701 points

Sep 1, 2014 9:06 AM in response to Csound1

If I send an email from the iPhone 5S the sent message does show in the Mac's system sent folder.

If I send an email from the iPad Air the sent message does show in the Mac's system sent folder.

If I send an email from the iPhone 4 the sent message does not show in the Mac's system sent folder.

If I send an email from the iPhone 3 the sent message does not show in the Mac's system sent folder.

I hope this is helpful. Thank you in advance.

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Answer 5

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Sep 1, 2014 9:14 AM in response to Christo

What version of IOS is on the iPhone 4? (the 3 I assume is on IOS6)

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Answer 6

Christo Author

Level 3

701 points

Sep 1, 2014 9:17 AM in response to Csound1

iPhone 4 is iOs 6.1.3

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Answer 7

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Sep 1, 2014 9:26 AM in response to Christo

And everything else (except the 3) is on IOS7?

The Macs are on 10.7 or greater?

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Answer 8

Christo Author

Level 3

701 points

Sep 1, 2014 9:44 AM in response to Csound1

THE DEVICES

OsX Mountain Lion 10.9.3 MacBook Pro late 2011 2.7Ghz Core i7
OsX Mountain Lion 10.9.3 MacBook Pro late 2011 2.4Ghz Core 3 i5
iPhone 3 iOs 6.1.6
iPhone 4 iOs 6.1.3
iPhone 5s iOs 7.1.2
iPad Air iOs 7.1.1

Just did a double check to confirm exact Os versions.

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Answer 9

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Sep 1, 2014 9:55 AM in response to Christo

It seems that IOS6 devices are not using the same mailbox (on your devices) as current software (OS X and IOS) is. But I don't have anything running IOS6 with which to check that theory. You could upgrade the iPhone 4 to IOS7 to check.

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Answer 10

Christo Author

Level 3

701 points

Sep 1, 2014 9:57 AM in response to Csound1

Thank you for your help.

Don't want to upgrade older devices as I use them for testing online.

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Answer 11

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Sep 1, 2014 10:05 AM in response to Christo

I understand, look for a method (in IOS6) of selecting another mailbox for sent mail, if you can.

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Answer 12

Christo Author

Level 3

701 points

Sep 1, 2014 6:44 PM in response to Csound1

I have already done that.

Unfortunately It doesn't seem to work.

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Answer 13

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Sep 2, 2014 12:21 AM in response to Christo

Start using Google to find your alternatives.

I found the first one for you

How to change Sent, Drafts and Deleted mail folders for an iPhone device?

In order to reconfigure an iPhone to keep the sent, drafts or deleted messages on the mail server, you should first login to the e-mail account through the built-in iPhone mail client and then browse the following folders:

Drafts Mailbox

Sent Mailbox

Deleted Mailbox

Next step is to open Settings -> Mail, Contacts, Calendars -> Select your email account -> Select the displayed IMAP account -> Advanced Settings (at the bottom) - > Mailbox Behavior.

You will find the following 3 options listed at the top:

Drafts Mailbox

Sent Mailbox

Deleted Mailbox

Each of these options lead to a page that allows you to configure your phone in which folder to store a copy of the respective messages. Each page will display a directory tree from the server, and you need to mark one of the listed folders, under the "On the server" section in order to force the mail client to store the messages there.

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