How do i stop windows 10 mail deleting emails

The frustration of emails disappearing into thin air! Don't worry, I'm here to help you troubleshoot and potentially stop Windows 10 Mail from deleting your emails.

Causes of email deletion in Windows 10 Mail:

  1. Automatic deletion of old emails: Windows 10 Mail has a feature to automatically delete emails older than a certain period (default is 30 days). This can be set in the app's settings.
  2. Sync issues: If your email account is not syncing properly, emails might be deleted on the server-side, causing them to disappear from your Windows 10 Mail inbox.
  3. Account settings: Incorrect account settings or configuration can lead to email deletion.

Solutions to stop Windows 10 Mail from deleting emails:

  1. Disable automatic deletion of old emails:
    • Open Windows 10 Mail.
    • Click on the three horizontal lines () in the top left corner to open the menu.
    • Select "Settings" (or press Ctrl + Shift + S).
    • Scroll down to the "Accounts" section.
    • Click on the account you're experiencing issues with.
    • Uncheck the box next to "Automatically delete emails older than [X] days".
  2. Check your account settings:
    • Ensure your email account is set up correctly:
      • Go to Settings > Accounts > [Your Email Account].
      • Verify that your email address, password, and server settings are correct.
    • Check if your email account has a "Delete" or "Move to Trash" option enabled. If so, disable it.
  3. Sync issues:
    • Check your email account's settings to ensure that it's set to sync emails regularly.
    • Try restarting Windows 10 Mail or your device to see if it resolves the issue.
  4. Disable email deletion on the server-side:
    • If you're using a third-party email provider (e.g., Gmail, Outlook.com), check their settings to see if they have a feature to disable automatic deletion of emails.
    • For example, in Gmail, go to Settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP > IMAP Access and toggle off "Enable IMAP".
  5. Use a third-party email client:
    • If you're experiencing persistent issues with Windows 10 Mail, consider using a third-party email client like Mozilla Thunderbird, Microsoft Outlook, or Apple Mail.

Additional troubleshooting steps:

  1. Check for updates: Ensure Windows 10 Mail is updated to the latest version.
  2. Reset Windows 10 Mail: If none of the above steps work, try resetting Windows 10 Mail to its default settings:
    • Go to Settings > Apps > Windows Mail.
    • Click on the "Reset" button.
    • Confirm that you want to reset the app.

If you're still experiencing issues, feel free to provide more details about your email account, Windows 10 version, and any error messages you've encountered. I'll do my best to help you troubleshoot the issue!