MAIL - How to program "Delete" key to archive instead of actually deleting mail?

[Blazer5913]

I'm realizing that when going through email in Mac MAIL app, I typically just press the delete button on the keyboard (instead of clicking the icon for delete or the icon for archive). However, I've had a TERRIBLE experience trying to search for old mail messages that have been "delete key'd" if that makes sense. When I go through Gmail web, it's search seems to find everything... the same emails that I'm looking for in Mac MAIL app and it doesn't find it. And I've gone through all the various mailboxes (but obviously in MAIL you can search for "all mailboxes" so this shouldn't matter). Am I doing something wrong in my basic MAIL workflow and using the Delete button? Am I forced to click the archive button to prevent this in the future (which would be much slower for me)? Or is there any way to change the function of the delete button while using MAIL app to automatically archive everything instead? I feel like this should be such an easy concept/fix which shouldn't even be an issue in the first place? Thanks

 

[Snørrbjørg]

Learn to use keyboard shortcut ⌃ ⌘ A for archive instead of the delete button.

 

[BrianBaughn]

If "Control-Command-A" is too much trouble (and it is) you can create another key or key combination for "Archive" in Mail. System Preferences>Keyboard>Shortcuts>App Shortcuts

My Matias keyboard (for Mac) has 19 function buttons and I was able to add F13 as a key for "Archive".

 

[Fishrrman]

You can also RIGHT-click on the email header and click "archive" from the contextual menu...