Apple iphone delete mail on phone but no on server

A common issue!

When you delete an email on your iPhone, it's not always deleted from the server immediately. Here's what's happening:

  1. Local deletion: When you delete an email on your iPhone, it's removed from your device's local storage. This is a local operation, and the email is no longer visible on your iPhone.
  2. Server-side deletion: However, the email is not automatically deleted from the email server. The server still stores a copy of the email, and it may remain there until the server's retention period expires or until you explicitly delete it from the server.

To delete an email from the server, you need to use the email client or web interface provided by your email service provider. Here are some steps to help you delete an email from the server:

Method 1: Using the iPhone's Mail app

  1. Open the Mail app on your iPhone.
  2. Go to the "Mailboxes" tab and select the mailbox where the email is stored.
  3. Swipe left on the email you want to delete to reveal the "More" option.
  4. Tap "More" and then "Delete" to delete the email from the server.

Method 2: Using the email service provider's web interface

  1. Open a web browser on your iPhone or computer and go to your email service provider's website (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo).
  2. Log in to your account and navigate to the email inbox.
  3. Find the email you want to delete and click on the "Delete" or "Trash" button.
  4. Confirm that you want to delete the email from the server.

Method 3: Using IMAP or POP3 settings

If you're using IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) or POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3) settings to connect to your email account, you can delete emails from the server using the following steps:

  1. Go to your iPhone's Settings app.
  2. Tap "Mail" and then "Accounts".
  3. Select the email account you want to manage.
  4. Tap "IMAP" or "POP3" to access the settings.
  5. Tap "Delete" next to the email you want to delete.
  6. Confirm that you want to delete the email from the server.

Remember that deleting an email from the server may not be immediate, as the server may have a delay in processing the deletion request. Additionally, some email providers may have specific settings or policies that affect how emails are deleted from the server.