How to recover deleted POP emails

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samiam1955 Author

Level 1

33 points

How to recover deleted POP emails

I have a Time Machine backup of the emails from a POP account I just carelessly deleted while changing to an IMAP account. I've seen answers in this forum to variations on this issue, but not my specific one. I'm running OS X 10.9.5 on a MacBook Air. I've figured out where the files are on the external hard drive backup (using the trick to see the hidden Library). Do I need to temporarily create a dummy POP account? Can I recreate the old account and somehow import the emails back in?

Can someone help me?

Thanks.

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8), iPad

Posted on Feb 6, 2016 10:29 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Feb 6, 2016 10:48 AM in response to samiam1955

Have you tried using Mail's Import option? You would select the first alternative for an Apple Mail account, then locate the folder containing your old POP mail data, look for and select the Mailboxes folder that contains what you need to restore and click on the Open/Select button. Data are restored into an Import folder in the Mail folder listing in its sidebar.

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Answer 2

samiam1955 Author

Level 1

33 points

Feb 6, 2016 11:03 AM in response to Kappy

Thanks, Kappy. One problem is that when I try to create a new account within Mail, it seems I need to use an existing email address, but of course it's already used in my IMAP account.

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Answer 3

samiam1955 Author

Level 1

33 points

Feb 6, 2016 11:08 AM in response to samiam1955

Sorry for a second message. One more problem - even though I enabled viewing of hidden files (the LIbrary on my Time Machine backup is hidden), when I try to navigate to that location within Mail . . . Import, the Library still seems to be hidden.

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Answer 4

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Feb 6, 2016 11:50 AM in response to samiam1955

Exposing the /Home/Library/ Folder

Pick one of the following methods:

A. This method will make the folder visible permanently. Open the Terminal application in your Utilities folder and paste the following at the command prompt:

chflags nohidden ~/Library

Press RETURN.

B. Click on the Desktop, press the OPTION (⌥) button, select Library from the Finder's Go menu.

C. Select Go To Folder from the Finder's Go menu. Paste the following in the path field:

~/Library

Press the Go button.

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Answer 5

samiam1955 Author

Level 1

33 points

Feb 6, 2016 12:41 PM in response to Kappy

I tried the first option. It allows me to find the hidden files within Finder, but not when I try to navigate to it within Mail. I'd move the folder with the POP account over to a place I can find it, but don't know if that will screw something up because it may be linked to other files in the backup volume.

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Answer 6

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Feb 6, 2016 1:17 PM in response to samiam1955

It should not matter because the POP folders and IMAP ones are separate.

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Answer 7

samiam1955 Author

Level 1

33 points

Feb 6, 2016 1:31 PM in response to Kappy

Partial success. I copied the entire folder called POP-USERNAME@mail.comcast.net from within the hidden Library on the backup drive over to a non-hidden location on my computer's hard drive. Then, without creating a new account, I tried to import the Inbox from that folder. It went through the motions of doing the import, but said some messages could not be imported, and didn't import any of them. It only created a subfolder called text_1.txt within the import mailbox.

To create a new account, I still have the same problem mentioned above: When I try to create a new account within Mail, it seems I need to use an existing email address, but of course it's already used in my IMAP account. Do I just need to bite the bullet and temporarily change the IMAP back to a POP account?

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Answer 8

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Feb 6, 2016 1:41 PM in response to samiam1955

I would just import them to your current account. They will all go into a separate Import folder, so won't mess with your current setup.

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Answer 9

samiam1955 Author

Level 1

33 points

Feb 6, 2016 1:44 PM in response to samiam1955

Thanks, but do you have an idea why the import didn't work?

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Answer 10

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Feb 6, 2016 1:54 PM in response to samiam1955

No. I usually just try it and hope it works. There are other import options you could try. I don't use POP mail. Not even sure what format is used for the data. Did you thoroughly explore the Import folder and any sub-folders for the missing data?

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Answer 11

samiam1955 Author

Level 1

33 points

Feb 6, 2016 2:21 PM in response to Kappy

Success! I've been a total dope. I kept selecting "files in mbox format" at the bottom of the list, not noticing that the first item on the list is "Apple Mail". Thanks again for your help, Kappy.

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Answer 12

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Feb 6, 2016 4:24 PM in response to samiam1955

FYI: To award another points you must do so from one of his/her posts. You did it from one of your posts, thus, marking the topic as solved, but not awarding points to those who assisted you. Award points, level up, and earn new privileges.

Glad you got that solved, btw. 😀😀

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Answer 13

samiam1955 Author

Level 1

33 points

Feb 6, 2016 4:24 PM in response to Kappy

Sorry about that. I realized it as soon as I clicked in the wrong place, and now it doesn't look like I can credit you with solving my problem. I was able to say you helped me.

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Answer 14

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Feb 6, 2016 7:31 PM in response to samiam1955

Happy either way. We got you back in business which is what truly matters. 😀

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