Mail on iOS and iPhone - leave messages on server

[o-v]

hello there

How can I avoid emails being deleted from server when downloaded to iPhone? I can't find the "delete from server" option anywhere in the settings...

The case: when I download a message from the server to iPhone and delete it on iPhone, it will be deleted on the server as well (which is pretty irrational). When I just download the email and leave it in the iPhone's inbox, I can download the same email on my workstation once again after... which is the way I'd like.

Thank you for any info in advance.

Cheers
Ondrej

 

[steve62388]

This is POP3 vs IMAP. These days with multiple devices you should be using IMAP.

If you're using IMAP deleting an email from your phone and having it deleted from the server (and therefore your other devices) is perfectly rational.

 

[bransoj]

I have mine set to delete from server no matter where i delete the email from be it phone, web based etc....the thought of having to delete everything at least twice is completely irrational. I just keep what i need to and delete what i dont no matter which device i happen to be using.

 

[o-v]

well - thats what I do not really want to. I want to read the email on iPhone but remove it for the sake of iPhone's storage right after. my pants are not that large.... I want still be able to download it again to the workstation incl. attachements when I'm back at office. At the moment I have to wait with the deleting until I downloaded it on the workstation... and am I right that iOS 10.1 defaults to IMAP account only? No POP3 option anymore?

 

[BrianBaughn]

well - thats what I do not really want to. I want to read the email on iPhone but remove it for the sake of iPhone's storage right after. my pants are not that large.... I want still be able to download it again to the workstation incl. attachements when I'm back at office. At the moment I have to wait with the deleting until I downloaded it on the workstation... and am I right that iOS 10.1 defaults to IMAP account only? No POP3 option anymore?

How much storage are you saving on the iPhone using POP3 v. IMAP?

 

[o-v]

did not evaluate yet. on the old iphone4, iOS 7.? the amount of storage was significant enough for being cautious about full mailbox. full mailbox = 40 emails or so...

but the way you're asking: you mean IMAP does need much less than POP3?

 

[steve62388]

.. and am I right that iOS 10.1 defaults to IMAP account only? No POP3 option anymore?

With what email account provider? iOS supports POP3. Setup your account manually, if iOS forces IMAP then trick it using a dummy email address. https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4294

Have you seen that email doesn't use a lot of storage space on your phone (in the grand scheme of things)?
[doublepost=1479908112][/doublepost]

did not evaluate yet. on the old iphone4, iOS 7.? the amount of storage was significant enough for being cautious about full mailbox. full mailbox = 40 emails or so...

but the way you're asking: you mean IMAP does need much less than POP3?

40 emails maxes out your storage?!? Something doesn't sound quite right there.

 

[BrianBaughn]

did not evaluate yet. on the old iphone4, iOS 7.? the amount of storage was significant enough for being cautious about full mailbox. full mailbox = 40 emails or so...

but the way you're asking: you mean IMAP does need much less than POP3?

Yes, I was asking because I was pretty sure you're worried over nothing.

As an example, I have an Exchange account on my iPhone. With an Exchange account you can set the number of days (back) to sync in iOS and mine is set to "No limit". My server says my Exchange account is using 3.7GB. Mail on the iPhone is taking 241MB.

Use IMAP.

 

[o-v]

well... 20 emails in the trash (everything else empty) makes around 3 MB... I have no intention storing emails on iPhone. The attachments are the very important thing in my case...
So a pop account is more suitable for me. I guess

EDIT: my mailbox space on the server is around 60MB?

 

[BrianBaughn]

I think we really turned your question around on you!

Have you checked Settings>Mail, Contacts, Calendars>[the-account]>Account for any settings that would apply to deletion?

 

[o-v]

yes. the option is not available anymore... just "deleted emails -> remove after...."

as soon as the emails are in the iPhone's trash - they are gone on the server. As long as the emails are still in the iPhone's inbox - I can get them on the workstation as well. They should be removed from the server after I downloaded those on the workstation only - no matter if they are in any of the "trash" folders on the iPhone.

 

[BrianBaughn]

I'm becoming unconfused, I think. This was never stated: Is your email account set up as IMAP or as POP3?

 

[o-v]

IMAP - but I can't change it after the setup. I have to delete the account and set it as POP3 again.

 

[steve62388]

well... 20 emails in the trash (everything else empty) makes around 3 MB... I have no intention storing emails on iPhone. The attachments are the very important thing in my case...
So a pop account is more suitable for me. I guess

EDIT: my mailbox space on the server is around 60MB?

So effectively nothing. Your iPhone has at least 8GB of storage. Why are you trying to do this?

 

[o-v]

So effectively nothing. Your iPhone has at least 8GB of storage. Why are you trying to do this?

Well I get a lot of emails on a daily basis... 20 was just the result of 15min before I wrote it. And I have a lot of music on the phone - which is much more important than storing emails on the phone for that purpose I have a bl... workstation.
[doublepost=1479913056][/doublepost]PROBLEM SOLVED. I had to setup the account as a POP3 account. Now the option "leave on server" is back.
Thx guys for the infos - those were very helpful and guided me to the solution.

thx a heap!

EDIT: one more thing. I saw ppl complain about the missing option in the e-mail trash "delete all" or "empty trash" without selecting every email separately...

with a POP3 account that option is back.

 

[rjcchan]

hello there

How can I avoid emails being deleted from server when downloaded to iPhone? I can't find the "delete from server" option anywhere in the settings...

The case: when I download a message from the server to iPhone and delete it on iPhone, it will be deleted on the server as well (which is pretty irrational). When I just download the email and leave it in the iPhone's inbox, I can download the same email on my workstation once again after... which is the way I'd like.

Thank you for any info in advance.

Cheers
Ondrej

If your provider will let you set up as POP then you can do what you want. The apple mail program has separate options in the pop settings for when mail is removed from server and from device. To get to the POP setup you have to initially make a "mistake". When you get to the initial setup page enter your password correctly (saves time) and your email address incorrectly. You will get bounced to a page where you can choose POP. You will have to fill in the correct info yourself including servers and ports.