WTF is wrong with Gmail & Mail.app (IMAP)?

[badlydrawnboy]

I recently set up Mail.app for Gmail using IMAP. Since then I've noticed that my inbox in Mail.app and in Gmail on the web is always out of sync. For example, I have one message listed in my inbox in Mail.app right now, and there are eight still in the inbox in Gmail. Also, I have several folders in Mail.app (corresponding to labels in Gmail). When I move a message from the inbox in Mail.app to one of these folders, and then try searching for it 30 minutes later, it doesn't appear in the folder or anywhere in Mail.app. If I go to Gmail on the web an search for it, however, it shows up there.

The irony of it all is that I finally decided not to renew my MobileMe subscription and switch over to Gmail. I'm beginning to regret that decision.

Is anyone else having these problems? If not, maybe it has something to do with my configuration?

 

[GGJstudios]

How frequently do you have Mail set to check for new messages?

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[badlydrawnboy]

Good question

Every 15 minutes. So it will only be syncing every 15 minutes, I guess? Duh.

 

[GGJstudios]

Every 15 minutes. So it will only be syncing every 15 minutes, I guess? Duh.

Yep. That's why it's a good idea, when something isn't working the way you want, to assume "WTF is wrong with what I'm doing?" rather than "WTF is wrong with the software?"

 

[badlydrawnboy]

How long does it normally take to sync in your experience? I just changed Mail to check every minute. Then I hit the "check for new mail" button on the toolbar. I would think that would sync Mail.app and Gmail. I go to Gmail and there are still many more messages in my inbox there than there are in Mail.

 

[GGJstudios]

How long does it normally take to sync in your experience? I just changed Mail to check every minute. Then I hit the "check for new mail" button on the toolbar. I would think that would sync Mail.app and Gmail. I go to Gmail and there are still many more messages in my inbox there than there are in Mail.

Mine syncs every minute.... when a new message comes in, it shows up in Gmail and Mail at about the same time. You might check to make sure messages aren't being treated as spam in Mail. Look in your Trash and Junk folders to see if the messages are there. Or just search Mail for the messages to see where they are. I'm assuming, of course, that you've properly set up your folders for IMAP and Gmail.

 

[badlydrawnboy]

I guess a better question is, how long does it take for a message that you delete (or Archive) from Mail to clear out of you inbox in Gmail? I don't have a problem with new messages coming in, but if I move a message from my inbox to another mailbox in Mail.app (which has the effect of archiving it and adding a label in Gmail), or if I delete a message from Mail.app, it hangs around in my inbox for a while.

 

[GGJstudios]

I guess a better question is, how long does it take for a message that you delete (or Archive) from Mail to clear out of you inbox in Gmail? I don't have a problem with new messages coming in, but if I move a message from my inbox to another mailbox in Mail.app (which has the effect of archiving it and adding a label in Gmail), or if I delete a message from Mail.app, it hangs around in my inbox for a while.

That depends on your settings in Mail > Preferences > Accounts:

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