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Saturday, 21 January 2017 16:49

Using IMAP on iPhones

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Using IMAP on iPhones is notoriously difficult because each version of iOS has a different way of handling a standard IMAP mailbox. The differences are subtle but enough to cause end users issues. In this article I hope to try and put some of that right.

  1. when deleting an email the user gets an error message that it could not be moved to trash
  2. not emptying trash
  3. when trash is emptied on iphone trash, the emails are not marked for deleteion (i.e. purge) and are not actually deleted.
  4. the iphone might be utilising a local trash store and not the one on the server

Notes

  • Different versions of office and iphone IOS might have different default ways of handling imap email deletion, ie some purge but do not delete. Outlook 2010 when mail is deleted sends it to trash, when deleted from trash actaully deletes it in the IMAP mailbox.
  • iPhones have the option to delete/prune emails from the Deleted messages folder after a set period, it was mentioned somewhere that this could be set to never.
    http://www.fixedbyvonnie.com/2015/02/cant-delete-emails-ios-8-iphone/
  • The purge thing is a stupid thing, an item can be marked for deleteion and as such gets a strike through appearances (not all platforms), these files by definition in the IMAP protocol are not deleted until the deleted emails are purged. However different OS and software handles this differently and can appear not to use the purge feature because they delete the email and then purge it immediately, or that there is a setting to hide emails flagged for deleteion.
  • purging does not usually happen until you navigate to another folder (unless the software is set different or possibly when a sync is done)

Sent to a client

The issues you have been having are related to how different version of outlook and aplle iOS handle IMAP protocol (your email), every setup is slightly different.

Here are some links to help with your iPhones not deleting emails and general information:

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