iPhone deletes email message before it is opened.

I use Apple Mail on my iPhone and on a new MacBookAir. Since I got the MacBookAir last week and migrated everything from the old computer, emails arrive on the phone and I can see the name of the sender and the title of the message - but they disappear before I can read them. OR if I open them fast enough and read them, the message disappears shortly thereafter - and definitely as soon as a new message comes in. The disappearing messages do not go to either trash or junk on my phone. The email messages arrive and stay on the laptop, as usual. I have reviewed all the settings on my phone, but do not see any obvious issues. Please help. Thanks!

iPhone SE, iOS 15

Posted on Jul 21, 2023 05:35 AM

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Posted on Jul 26, 2023 03:06 PM

Thanks for your helpful suggestions.

I don't have filters.

I moved the sync to 'push.'

I don't think there are server-side rules.

I checked storage space - no problem, but deleted some old stuff.

I removed the email account and reinstated it.

I am not using a third-party app, but my provider is not gmail.

At the advice of the Apple help desk, I downloaded the newest software (I was only one update off)

BUT, my incoming emails since the date I migrated info from the old computer to the new laptop are still erased (not sent to trash or junk or archive) with one half hour of when they arrive/I see them.


What's the next step, please??

Thanks!

7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 26, 2023 03:06 PM in response to _VirenThakur_

Thanks for your helpful suggestions.

I don't have filters.

I moved the sync to 'push.'

I don't think there are server-side rules.

I checked storage space - no problem, but deleted some old stuff.

I removed the email account and reinstated it.

I am not using a third-party app, but my provider is not gmail.

At the advice of the Apple help desk, I downloaded the newest software (I was only one update off)

BUT, my incoming emails since the date I migrated info from the old computer to the new laptop are still erased (not sent to trash or junk or archive) with one half hour of when they arrive/I see them.


What's the next step, please??

Thanks!

May 20, 2024 05:37 PM in response to CarolynMahone

This happens to me too, on both my iPad and iPhone, but oddly only from one sender, at least that I've been able to identify so far. I ask them to send me a test email, it comes in on both iPhone and iPad, but as soon as I touch it to open it, it self deletes on both devices. On my computer the email does not self delete.


The emails that self delete don't appear to show up in the trash, archive, junk or any other folder.

Jul 21, 2023 07:05 AM in response to Puzzled105

If your iPhone is deleting email messages before you have a chance to open them, there are a few potential reasons for this behavior. Here are some possible explanations and troubleshooting steps:

  1. Mail Settings:
    • Check your iPhone's Mail settings to see if there are any rules or filters set up that automatically delete emails upon arrival. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, select your email account, and review the settings for any rules or filters that might be causing this issue.
  1. Email Sync Settings:
    • If you are using the default Mail app on your iPhone, ensure that your email account is set up to sync properly. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, select your email account, and make sure that "Mail" is enabled under "Fetch New Data." You can also try changing the fetch schedule to "Push" or "Every 15 Minutes" to see if it resolves the issue.
  1. Server-Side Rules:
    • Check your email provider's settings or webmail interface to see if there are any server-side rules that could be automatically deleting emails.
  1. Low Storage Space:
    • If your iPhone is running low on storage space, it may automatically delete older emails to free up space. Check your device's storage in Settings > General > iPhone Storage and delete any unnecessary data or apps.
  1. Email Account Issues:
    • Try removing and re-adding your email account on your iPhone to refresh the settings and see if it resolves the problem. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, select your email account, and choose "Delete Account." Then, add the account again by selecting "Add Account."
  1. Third-Party Email Apps:
    • If you are using a third-party email app instead of the default Mail app, check the app's settings for any rules or settings that might be causing emails to be deleted.
  1. Contact Email Provider Support:
    • If none of the above solutions work, reach out to your email provider's support team for assistance. They might be able to help troubleshoot any server-related issues that could be causing the problem.

Last check mail setting if it's IMAP then change into POP setting  IMAP account to POP3 would allow you to alleviate the server from managing your emails, and instead they would be stored locally on your computer. You would just need to create a new POP3 account in your mail client, then drag any messages off the server from the IMAP account you wish to download


Jul 21, 2023 06:57 AM in response to Puzzled105

Which email account are you referring to? Google, iCloud, AOL, Exchange, Outlook, Yahoo or any Other (Refer to the pic )below



  • Have you configured IMAP or POP3? IMAP is short for Internet Message Access Protocol. With IMAP, the message does not remain on the local device, such as a computer, it remains on the server. POP3 is short for Post Office Protocol. With POP3 mail, it will connect and attempt to keep the mail located on the local device (computer or mobile)
  • Are you using any third party mail app or iOS mail app?
  • Have you set any Rule on your email client server to move mails on arrival.
  • You may have accidentally set your iPhone to automatically archive all emails. To check this, open the Settings app, tap on Mail, then Accounts, and then select the account that you're having problems with. Under Advanced, look for the option that says "Archive mailbox." If this option is turned on, then all of your emails will be automatically archived when you delete them from your inbox.
  • You may have a rule set up that automatically archives certain types of emails. To check this, open the Settings app, tap on Mail, then Rules. See if there are any rules that are set to archive emails from specific senders, or emails with certain keywords in the subject line.
  • You may be using a third-party email app that has its own archiving settings. If you're using an app other than the default Mail app, check the app's settings to see if there's an option to automatically archive emails.



If your incoming email messages are automatically moved or placed in Bin / Trash / Junk / Archicve, the primary cause could be misconfigured rule / filter, or a setting on your Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab. To resolve this issue, please make sure you haven't created any rule / filters with the action to Delete / Move it that would affect the email messages being moved automatically to another folder..



  1. Is this your corporate iPhone? Then please contact the system administrator of your corporate
  2. If it is your personal device, in that case, do you have any profile installed by your corporate/organisation/enterprise/School Management?
    1. Erase the profile added by you If you have installed a profile on your own --> Install or remove configuration profiles on iPhone - Apple ...
    2. Or please contact the system administrator of the organisation who provided the profile to you



The behavior you're experiencing with your emails on your iPhone 14 may be due to the settings and filters you have in place. Here are a few possible reasons why a majority of your emails go to the Archives instead of your Inbox:


  1. You might have set up specific filters or rules that automatically direct certain emails to your Archives. These filters can be based on various criteria such as sender, subject, keywords, or other attributes. Ruless can only be set or edited on a web browser. Set up rules to filter email in Mail on iCloud.com - Apple Support
  2. The email client or service you are using on your iPhone 14 might have strong spam filters that automatically detect and move suspected spam or junk emails to the Archives folder. These filters aim to keep your Inbox clean by diverting potentially unwanted or unsolicited emails.
  3. If you have previously manually moved emails to the Archives, your email client might have learned from your actions and applied similar patterns to future emails from the same senders or with similar content.


Move the email that you want in the Inbox from Junk to Inbox manually. Your one time action will trigger learning for the iPhone and all future mails from that domain ID will arrive at the Inbox.


This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

iPhone deletes email message before it is opened.

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