Deleted items (IMAP)

Deleted items behave differently when using IMAP?

Understanding deleted items

IMAP servers do not delete messages when you click on the delete button, instead they are marked as deleted, usually with a score through (see Outlook Express example below).

Deleted items

To delete messages it is necessary to “purge” deleted messages which tells the server to phyically remove the items. Click once on the folder which you wish to purge and then follow the relevant screen shot below depending on your mail program:

Purging deleted items in Outlook XP

Purge Deleted items

Purging deleted items in Outlook Express 6

Purge Deleted items

Switching off display of deleted items

By default most IMAP email programs will show deleted items scored through. Depending on your email program you can hide this behaviour by following the instructions below:

In Outlook Express make sure you have clicked once on your Inbox, then from the View menu uncheck Current View -> Show Deleted Messages.

Setting up Outlook Express image 19

In Outlook make sure you have clicked once on your Inbox, then from the View menu tickCurrent View -> Hide Messages Marked for Deletion.

Setting up Outlook Express image 19

Automatic purge in Outlook Express

An alternative to manually purging is possible in Outlook Express which allows you to automatically purge deteled items when you switch between different folders. To set this up select Options from the Tools menu.

Setting up Outlook Express image 17

Under the Maintenance tab place a tick in the second box called “Purge deleted messages when leaving IMAP folders” as shown below:

Setting up Outlook Express image 18