Gmail issues and Apple Mail

Question

revDAVE Author

Level 2

350 points

Gmail issues and Apple Mail

What is the best way to set up Gmail with Apple Mail?

Hi all,

Goal : to have gmail working on both Mac Sierra and Apple Mail IOS 10.3

Using mac Sierra, I have a few accounts in Apple Mail including a Gmail account.

I'm having some confusion Setting up the Gmail account.

Previously I was told to setup some Gmail folders (on website) using = [Gmail] prefix like:

[Gmail]Business

[Gmail]Home

etc.

I also have others not using the prefix like:

Family

FunStuff

All these folders on site are set to show in IMAP.

Problem is some folders show in Apple mail - some don't.

I tried the rebuild and synchronize functions but they don't help.

Also Last week I rebuilt the spotlight index....

-on the gmail account - I chose - show info and under subscription list = it is empty. (quota limits does show some folders - but font is too large and can't read it.)

Q: How do I get the gmail IMAP folder to update and show in apple mail?

Q: search - when I search in a gmail folder - it shows results not for that folder but shows mailbox as gmail archive (all mail) - not the current chosen folder - how do I fix all this?

Thanks dave

MacBook Pro, macOS Sierra (10.12.6)

Posted on Aug 16, 2017 8:43 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 16, 2017 12:03 PM in response to revDAVE

All the IMAP folders will show on all devices. All Mail shows messages no matter what mailbox they are in. It is more like a search feature and has nothing to do with archiving messages. It just shows under the Archive mailbox of Mail because that's where Apple has it mapped for whatever reason.

If you would hide it in IMAP, you might get a better understanding.

And All Mail should not be showing under Inbox. As I said, hide the All Mail Folder and see if all problems clear up.

You asked what was the best way to set up Gmail to work with Apple Mail. Here are my settings that work well with Mail:

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Answer 2

revDAVE Author

Level 2

350 points

Aug 16, 2017 1:31 PM in response to Glenn Leblanc

Thanks again for all the help...

I set the gmail settings in browser

ALL MAIL no IMAP etc. and HIDE

reboot mac

open settings .... Well my window looks different:

does NOT say google archive ... just all mail - even though hiding in web settings

btw - the blur folder was not "Archive"

Also how do I set IPHONE to see Archives?

Ideas?

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Answer 3

Aug 16, 2017 12:37 PM in response to revDAVE

Open Mail preferences and Accounts tab, then Mailbox Behaviors and select your account in the sidebar. Set the Archive mailbox to Gmail's server archive folder. Do the same for all devices. Note that this will be an archived mailbox, not the All Mail Folder.

When you archive a message, it should show on all devices.

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Answer 4

revDAVE Author

Level 2

350 points

Aug 16, 2017 2:19 PM in response to revDAVE

ok - turned OFF all mail IMAP - just tried this....

Find Out What the "Archive" Button Will Do in OS X Mail

they say when you 1st archive - then it will create archive folder in apple mail automatically

so that helps

Find Out What the "Archive" Button Will Do in OS X Mail

To know what archiving will do to an email in OS X Mail:

Realize the Archive button and selecting Message | Archive from the menu will move the selected message or thread to the account's archiving folder.

OS X Mail will automatically use any folder called "Archive" for archiving.
If no archiving folder exists for the account, OS X Mail will automatically create a new folder called "Archive" when you first archive a message using the toolbar, menu or an archiving keyboard shortcut.

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Answer 5

revDAVE Author

Level 2

350 points

Aug 16, 2017 9:49 AM in response to revDAVE

apple mail - also the subscription list does not show anymore...

Q: now the imap folders do not show - How can I update the subscriptions and get them bacl?

http://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/email/email-client-setup/subscribe-imap-e mail

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Answer 6

Aug 16, 2017 9:51 AM in response to revDAVE

The All Mail Folder for gmail shows in the Archived mailbox and displays all messages in gmail no matter which mailbox they are in. I hide this folder in IMAP. I see no need for it.

You said some of your folders show and some don't. What's the difference between the ones that do and don't? You shouldn't need to put any prefix in front of a folder name, unless you just want as identifier for some reason.

Check to make sure they are set to show in IMAP in Label settings.

Check in Mail to be sure the gmail account folder in the sidebar is expanded.

Restart Mail will sometimes help to synchronize folders.

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Answer 7

Aug 16, 2017 10:01 AM in response to revDAVE

The article you are reading does not apply to Sierra for some things. Settings have changed and there is no longer an advanced tab.

Unless you are subscribing to other public mailboxes outside of gmail, the subscription list should be empty.

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Answer 8

revDAVE Author

Level 2

350 points

Aug 16, 2017 10:03 AM in response to Glenn Leblanc

Hi Glenn,

The only 2 imap folders that show under gmail account are

Drafts

Trash

- these 2 folders are set in account prefs to be stored local on mac....

no others ones

Check to make sure they are set to show in IMAP in Label settings.

YES - about 5 are set for IMAP

But apple mail can't see them - How do I fix?

Check in Mail to be sure the gmail account folder in the sidebar is expanded.

YES it is expanded...

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Answer 9

Aug 16, 2017 10:11 AM in response to revDAVE

Create a test mailbox within Mail to see if it works. Go to Mailboxes in the menu and create a new mailbox. Be sure to use Gmail (not On My Mac) for the location. It should appear in the sidebar under the account and also at the gmail webmail site.

Also, even if you choose to use the All Mail Folder, hide it in gmail settings so that it doesn't show in Mail. Restart Mail and see if that makes a difference.

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Answer 10

Aug 16, 2017 10:54 AM in response to revDAVE

You didn't say whether or not you did anything above and what worked or not.

Did the new mailbox show at the gmail site? If it did, go to the Label settings and see if there is any difference in setup.

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Answer 11

revDAVE Author

Level 2

350 points

Aug 16, 2017 11:25 AM in response to Glenn Leblanc

Hi Glenn,

thanks for you help!

Well finally I rebooted the computer and the folders have returned... must have gotten messed up...

your suggestions....

ok so I did make a test folder from apple mail on to the gmail account and it did work and also shows in website.

...Also, even if you choose to use the All Mail Folder, hide it in gmail settings...

Q: how do you mean to hide it in gmail settings? do you mean uncheck IMAP on site or ????

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Answer 12

Aug 16, 2017 11:36 AM in response to revDAVE

Q: how do you mean to hide it in gmail settings? do you mean uncheck IMAP on site or ????

Yes. Uncheck to Show in IMAP in Label settings and it will remove it from the Archive folder in Mail. You may need to restart Mail in order to remove it if you choose to do so.

Well finally I rebooted the computer and the folders have returned... must have gotten messed up...

I suggested to restart Mail in my first reply. That should have been all that was needed.

Glad to see it's working.

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Answer 13

revDAVE Author

Level 2

350 points

Aug 16, 2017 11:50 AM in response to Glenn Leblanc

Thanks

Yes. Uncheck to Show in IMAP in Label settings and it will remove it from the Archive folder in Mail. You may need to restart Mail in order to remove it if you choose to do so.

ok - but don't I need it too see archived mail in iphone IOS?

Also currently apple mail gmail inbox items show mailbox column as Archived (All Mail) - shouldn't it just show as gmail inbox - where it is?

(my other gmail account DOES show as Inbox - not all mail)

Q: is there a way to fix this?

sorry about the reboot delay - (I had just rebooted earlier today)

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Answer 14

revDAVE Author

Level 2

350 points

Aug 16, 2017 12:22 PM in response to Glenn Leblanc

Glenn, Thanks for being so helpful!!!

I did what you said and now the column does show as Inbox - not Archive all mail. NICE!

So, next I went to iphone - and archived a test email.

back in Apple mail - the test email went from gmail inbox - to vanished...

Without showing all mail imap - how can I find/search this (and other ) archived gmails? where does it go?

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Answer 15

revDAVE Author

Level 2

350 points

Aug 16, 2017 2:13 PM in response to revDAVE

also - if i put back IMAP show all mail - then the old problem comes back... like:

Google Groups

they said....

I've worked with high-level Apple tech support on this, and they say I need to contact Google. We've already reviewed all the possible adjustments within Apple Mail, and also looked together at my Google gmail account settings online. Nothing looks wrong. Also tried the fix described below*. The problem:

--------------------

About a month ago I updated the older Apple O/S on my iMac to version 10.2, Sierra. I use Apple Mail application for email. Immediately, all the incoming mail from my several gmail accounts -- but not my non-gmail account -- started coming in as Archived. In the Mailbox column of my Inbox, each email says:

"Archive - [account name] (All Mail)"

Also, anything that was already in my Inbox from before the O/S upgrade has been changed to this formula. All mail in my Inbox that hasn't already been moved into another storage folder is not only seen in my Inbox, but in that gmail account's Archive folder.

Deleting an email from the Archive folder removes it from the Inbox; ditto, deleting a mail from the Inbox takes it out of the Archive folder. .

* Also tried: With the Apple tech, I deleted a not-important gmail account from Mail, and then from Google's server, re-started the computer, and then re-created the gmail account within Mail. Quit Mail. Tech sent a test message, which came through -- and went straight to Archive like everything else.

Anyone else have this problem, and solved it? Thanks in advance.

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